You Studied What?

If you’re having trouble choosing your degree subject, here are four undergraduate qualifications you’ve probably never considered!

A. Bagpiping
The sound of bagpipes is immediately associated with Scotland. But you don’t have to be Scottish to study this instrument – in fact, it might be more convenient if you’re American. The Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania was the first institution to offer a Bachelor’s degree in Bagpipe Performance, thanks to the Scottish heritage of its founders, and is still one of very few to do so. The four-year course is naturally based in the arts department but students are encouraged to work across disciplines. For example, a recent graduate who was also a keen scientist designed a bagpipe-playing robot that went on to perform at the Scottish Parliament! In addition, Carnegie Mellon has a touring ‘pipes and drums’ band in which all undergraduates play. It is made up of both bagpipe players and snare drummers, in the traditional Scottish style.

B. Adventure Education
Yes, that’s a real degree! Students enrolling on a course in Adventure Education learn how to lead outdoor activities such as trekking, canoeing and rock climbing with adults and children. They focus particularly on how engaging with the natural world can be helpful for ‘at risk’ groups, such as those with mental health problems. Plymouth State University, which offers the course, is an ideal location for the programme as it’s surrounded by mountains and lakes; students may find themselves in the great outdoors as often as they’re in a lecture theatre! The unique programme brings together skills from science, geography and psychology, resulting in a diverse group of students. If you want to share your love of nature with others, this could be the course for you.

C. Turfgrass Science
Are you a keen golfer? Have you ever wondered how golf courses look so beautiful, all year round? Ask a turfgrass scientist! On a Turfgrass Science degree course, of which there are a number in the United States, students learn how to plant and maintain grass sports fields (including golf courses). If that sounds simple, it isn’t; factors to consider include climate, soil type, pollution, pest control and many more. And in spite of the name, the course teaches business skills as much as biological ones. Graduates of the programme have a high rate of self-employment, commanding top salaries as consultants for local authorities and private land-owners. After all, this is specialist knowledge that few people acquire – and that never comes cheap.

D. Auctioneering
OK, we’re cheating a little with this one. There’s no degree in Auctioneering but Harrisburg Area Community College offers a six-month diploma in the subject, leading to a professional qualification. The intense course prepares students for work in an auction house, selling items to the highest bidder, by conducting regular practice sales. The college promises to help you develop your own ‘chant’ – the sing-song voice particular to each auctioneer; to understand legal issues surrounding antique items and works of art; and to know where and how to buy objects for auction. As with turfgrass science, auctioneering can be a profitable career and especially at higher levels. In addition to a basic salary of $50,000, auctioneers can expect to receive a percentage of the money made at each sale.

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