Unconventional and Interesting College Courses: A Guide to Unique Educational Paths

For students seeking a college experience beyond the ordinary, the world of higher education offers a plethora of unconventional and fascinating courses. From institutions focused on niche subjects like cannabis studies and gelato-making to programs that challenge traditional academic structures, there's a unique educational path for every curious mind. This article explores some of the quirkiest and most interesting institutions and courses of higher learning, proving that college can be about more than just engineering or medical degrees.

Schools Focused on Specific Niches

Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service: Preparing for a Career in Death

For students drawn to the funeral service industry, Gupton-Jones College in Decatur, Georgia, offers a specialized curriculum. Founded in 1920 as the Gupton-Jones School of Embalming in Nashville, the college merged with the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in 1954 and eventually moved to Georgia in 1969. The college prepares graduates for a career in the funeral service industry. You’ll be taking classes ranging from embalming to microbiology to restorative art, a trade term for making the dearly departed look their best.

The school requires students to dress in a way that shows respect for the serious topics being discussed, mandating collared shirts, slacks, and blouses. Graduates earn an Associate of Applied Science in Funeral Service degree, ready for a life dedicated to death.

Carpigiani Gelato University: Mastering the Art of Gelato

Aspiring gelato artisans can hone their skills at Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, Italy. Roughly 2000 people attend Carpigiani each year for its cutting-edge gelato technology and access to its esteemed gelato experts, and many more take online courses. The university provides students with cutting-edge gelato technology and access to esteemed gelato experts. Attendees experience eight-hour classroom days and a crash course in gelato production as well as the ins and outs of opening a gelato business. Classes are offered in French, English, and Spanish.

Oaksterdam University: Pursuing a Career in Cannabis

In Oakland, California, Oaksterdam University stands as America's first cannabis college. The school offers certification courses in horticulture, business, manufacturing, and budtending. While a master's in weed isn't available, students can earn credits toward a Bachelor's Degree in Cannabis Business.

Despite facing challenges like a federal raid in 2012, Oaksterdam remains a pioneering institution in a rapidly evolving industry.

Schools with Unique Approaches

Deep Springs College: Combining Academics with Ranch Life

Deep Springs College, located in California’s Deep Springs Valley, offers a unique blend of higher education and nature. The fully-accredited two-year liberal arts school drops students on a combination cattle ranch and alfalfa farm. In addition to academic responsibilities, they’re expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week to help foster a sense of community. Students milk cows, make farm repairs, and set gopher traps.

The college also emphasizes self-governance, allowing students to participate in the day-to-day administration of the campus and running committees, including overseeing admissions. With a no-drinking policy and restrictions on leaving campus, Deep Springs offers an exclusive and immersive experience, accepting only a small number of students each year on a full scholarship.

Reed College: Embracing Nudity and Nuclear Power

Reed College, a liberal school in Portland, Oregon, has a history of embracing nudity as part of the college experience. The apparel-averse student body has roots in the 1960s, when two headline-worthy events took place. In 1967, a group of students decided to go skinny-dipping in the indoor swimming pool and caused a minor furor. After some faculty complaints, special skinny-dipping hours were allotted. In 1968, students protesting what they felt was an aggressive anti-shoplifting policy in the campus bookstore arrived naked to demonstrate they couldn’t be smuggling any books out in a bookbag or-well, anywhere.

Beyond its clothing-optional reputation, Reed also houses a working nuclear reactor used as a learning tool for nuclear power. The reactor sits at the bottom of a 25-foot deep tank and has been in operation continuously since 1968. Students who oversee it must be licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

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Bard College at Simon’s Rock: Starting College Early

Bard College at Simon’s Rock in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, allows students to enroll as young as 16, even before completing 11th or 12th grade. Students can pursue a variety of majors without needing a high school diploma. Simon’s Rock founder, Elizabeth Blodgett Hall, created the all-women college in 1966 on the principle that college starts too late for some. The college merged the last two years of high school with the first two years of college before becoming a full four-year co-ed university. It merged with Bard College in 1979. The college has produced 10 Fulbright Fellows since 2010 and counts journalist Ronan Farrow and filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen among its alumni.

Naropa University: Integrating Buddhist Philosophies

Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, emphasizes Buddhist philosophies and contemplative education. The school is named for Naropa, an 11th-century Buddhist scholar of legend who was involved in Nalanda University, a spiritually-focused learning institution in India. Among the first faculty members was Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, who co-founded the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics, a creative writing curriculum. While meditation isn't mandatory, students may be expected to spend several hours a week in deep repose.

Hampshire College: Ditching Traditional Grades

Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, does away with conventional A to F grades, instead providing narrative evaluations from teachers about student progress. This "ungrading" system aims to reduce student stress and eliminate pressure to perform.

Webb Institute: Studying Naval Architecture in a Batman Setting

Webb Institute, a naval university in Glen Cove, New York, offers a dual degree in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. Its main building has been used as Wayne Manor in several Batman projects. Warner Bros. has used it repeatedly for exterior shots of Bruce Wayne’s estate in several Batman projects, including Batman Forever, the Fox TV series Gotham, and the first Joker movie with Joaquin Phoenix. The school has a 90-foot long towing tank used for model ships. Tuition for all incoming American students is free.

St. John’s College: Immersing in Classic Literature

St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland, focuses on reading and discussing classic literature. Students are assigned dozens of examples of classic literature instead of textbooks. Their undergraduate curriculum hinges on the reading and reviewing of over 200 titles, some of which date back 3000 years. Then, students participate in roundtable discussions of the works. Freshmen explore the writings of Archimedes, Aristotle, and Virginia Woolf. Sophomores move on to the Bible, Chaucer, and Shakespeare. Juniors enjoy Austen, and seniors peruse Karl Marx, Emily Dickinson, and Supreme Court decisions.

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Unique College Majors

Beyond unique institutions, many colleges offer unusual and specialized majors. Here are some of the top unique college majors that may pique your interest and enhance your future career opportunities.

Baking Science: The Chemistry of Goodies

Baking is more than just putting ingredients together. Bakery science majors study the chemical reactions that occur when heat interacts with food.

Viticulture and Enology: The Science of Winemaking

Viticulture and enology majors study the science of winemaking, from growing grapes to crafting the perfect vintage. You could use this degree to work at a vineyard growing grapes, open your own vineyard, or eventually become a sommelier with an extensive background.

Entertainment Engineering: Building the Show

Entertainment engineering majors work on sets and build props for television and film, combining engineering principles with the world of entertainment. While studying entertainment engineering, you’ll get to work on sets and build a variety of props you see on television today. You’ll also study how multiple elements combine to create the perfect concert venue or movie set.

Mortuary Science: Caring for the Deceased

A mortuary science degree allows you to work as a mortician and even help run funeral homes. There is always a demand for this job since it is not one that everyone is capable of doing.

Floral Management: The Art of Arrangement

Floral management majors learn how to create floral arrangements for various events and manage flower shops. With this degree, you’ll learn how to put together a variety of floral arrangements for multiple types of events. You can even know how to manage a flower shop and find locally sourced flowers to run a business.

Popular Culture: Studying Trends

Popular culture majors study celebrity news and trends, analyzing their impact on society. This degree is a great way to get into public relations in the celebrity world if that is your end goal.

Adventure Education: Exploring the Outdoors

Adventure education majors learn about the natural world and how to educate others about it, leading expeditions and outdoor activities. you’ll learn about the beautiful outdoor world and then have the background to educate others on it. You can lead expeditions in parks or even work at a camp doing fun outdoor activities.

Sustainability: Saving the Planet

Sustainability majors work in various fields, including sustainable fashion, food, and environmental planning. You can work with sustainable fashion, food, environmental plans, and more. Saving the planet is at the top of the to-do list for many countries, so you could also potentially get a job working for the government.

Comic Art: Visual Storytelling

Comic art majors learn the art of comic storytelling, creating characters and narratives through visual media. It’s an amazing creative outlet for students and very sought after by production companies, especially if you learn animation design alongside it.

Costume Design: Creating Characters Through Clothing

Costume design majors learn to create costumes for shows and plays, bringing characters to life through intricate outfits.

Other Unique Majors

Auctioneering: Learn the art of selling goods at auction.
Bagpiping: Master the instrument and its history.
Citrus: Study the cultivation and management of citrus crops.
Comedy Writing and Performance: Hone your comedic skills.
Egyptology: Delve into the history and culture of ancient Egypt.
Farrier Science: Learn the art of trimming and shoeing horses.
Floral Management: Study the art of floral design and retail operations.
Jazz Studies: Explore the world of jazz performance and improvisation.
Maritime Archaeology: Study shipbuilding and nautical history.
Poultry Science: Learn about poultry production and management.
Puppet Arts: Master the art of puppetry and performance.
Sexuality Studies: Explore the history and culture of sexuality.
Surf Science: Study the science and business of surfing.
Turfgrass Science: Learn about the management of turfgrass for various applications.
Wine and Grape Chemistry: Study the science behind wine production.
Wildlife Ecology: Learn about wildlife conservation and management.

Interesting College Courses

Most colleges offer unique and bizarre courses that leave lasting impressions on students.

The Cultural History of Wine: Students study the history of wine regions and their cultural and physical environments, grape variations, the roles of technology and policy, and wine-focused podcasts and magazines. Students become wine connoisseurs, participating in wine tastings during the course if they are age 21 or older.
Paintball: The paintball class is for students who are at a “novice” level. The course can also get students involved if they choose to join the paintball club at the university, which claims it is the largest competitive team in the National Collegiate Paintball Association.
Vampires: Students study vampirism from numerous countries, such as Russia, Serbia and France. The course examines movies, music, novels and studies about vampires and the culture surrounding them.
DJing: This elective course provides Music Production, Technology and Innovation graduate students with the basics of DJ skills - such as scratching, beat matching, mashups and mixing - and teaches how to "use the turntable as a musical instrument." Students also learn about the history of hip hop, radio production and DJing.
Ice Cream Short Course: Entrepreneurs and curious students learn about ice cream from cow to cone. Students also learn about milk and ice cream composition, the safety of ice cream manufacturing, flavoring techniques and the creation of vegan and nondairy frozen desserts, among other topics.
Sabermetrics: Students learn the basics of coding languages R and SQL and how to analyze baseball data.
All Too Well (Ten Week Version): The instructors will facilitate an in-depth analysis of the artist’s song, "All Too Well (Ten Week Version),” released in 2022 with a short film.
Zombies: This undergraduate class studies how the culture of zombies has affected humans' social anxieties over time.
Avalanche Safety: This course teaches students about avalanche hazard management. Multiple course levels of avalanche rescue skills instruct about safety in snowy environments.
Golf Course Design: Students are introduced to design theories and the architecture necessary to create a renowned golf course.

Innovative Academic Programs

Many institutions are rethinking higher education, offering innovative academic programs designed to challenge students and prepare them for a rapidly changing world.

Colleges with Open Curricula

Amherst College (Amherst, MA): Amherst has no core curriculum or distribution requirements.
Bennington College (Bennington, VT): Bennington students specify what they want to study and how they intend to study it.
Grinnell College (Grinnell, IA): Students design their own curriculum.
Hamilton College (Clinton, NY): The College's open curriculum allows students to zero in on their passions.
Hampshire College (Amherst, MA): Hampshire's Divisional System offers students a framework for taking responsibility for their own learning and customizing their curriculum.
St. John's College (Annapolis, MD): St. John's program is based on reading and discussing the major works of Western civilization.
St. John's College (Santa Fe, NM): St. John's program is based on reading and discussing the major works of Western civilization.

Unique Programs in Sweden

Strategic Communication: This master’s program is designed to prepare you for a career as an analyst or researcher in the private or public sector.
Ecotechnology and Sustainable Development: Studying ecotechnology would train you to work in green business.
Game Design and Graphics: This course covers the basics of game design, including character drawing, computer graphics and 3D modelling.
Media, Communication and Sustainable Change: This course is interdisciplinary, drawing on anthropology, sociology, psychology and the sciences.
ICT and Learning: This two-year master’s program will prepare you for a leading role in the digitalization of government.
Outdoor Studies: This master’s degree in outdoor studies should be right up your alley.
Automotive Engineering: This focuses on three areas of automotive engineering: powertrain, vehicle dynamics and safety.
Spacecraft Design: This program will teach you how to design a spacecraft.

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