Gr∑∑K - College Magazine

A Concoction of Classes
MIxING ANd MATChING YouR
WAY To CoLLEGE SuCCESS
by vALerie bonk > JUnior > JoUrnALism > University oF mAryLAnd, CoLLege pArk / photo by AndreW CoLe > senior > Fine Arts > toWson University
If you can’t find a major that fits you, plenty of schools allow students
to create and propose their own academic plans. By making
your own major, you’d follow in the footsteps of famous successes
like University of Maryland alum Jim Henson, who created a “puppetry”
major for those looking to release their inner muppet. Other
students have created majors ranging from science journalism to comic
book art to the bagpipes. Yes, the bagpipes.
Davey Winyall, a senior at Virginia Tech, chose to major in ocean
engineering, a hybrid of oceanography and engineering. “I chose
ocean engineering because I’ve always liked being on the water,
sailing and fishing, so this was a chance for me to combine that with
engineering, which is what everyone was telling me I should do since
I have always liked math and science,” says Winyall. To complement
his academic decision with real life experiences, Winyall joined his
school’s Sailing Club, the Sea Scouts, and has an internship at the Navy
Shipyard in Washington, D.C.
Alexander Stokes chose to major in psychology and minor in music
at McDaniel College. “I majored in psychology because I want to work
STRANGEST
SuBjECTS To
STudY>
CONCRETE MANAGEMENT: Middle
Tennessee State University offers a
concrete industry management (CIM)
major for those wishing to manage
construction sites. The CIM program
combines education in the technical
aspects of concrete construction with
broader studies in communication,
management, math and science.
WILDERNESS PROGRAM: Earlham
College in Richmond, Indiana, offers
a wilderness education program that
teaches students through outdoor trips
and courses such as rock climbing,
backpacking and kayaking. Pursing the
program's minors in outdoor education
or environmental studies can make you
a prime candidate for organizations
like Outward Bound, the National Park
Service and the National Outdoor
Leadership School.
with people,” says Stokes, “and I chose to minor in music because it’s a
great interest of mine, and I wanted to gain more of an appreciation for
music history and theory.” With his combined degree, Stokes wishes to
be a counselor at an arts school.
The place to start concocting your own career path is at your
college’s interdisciplinary or individual studies department. If you
aren’t sure that your school has one, check the course catalog,
which should list all available academic departments. Next, you’ll
have to actually create the major and get it approved by a faculty
review board. The application process for most colleges includes:
1) defining an area of concentration and making a course list; 2) finding
a faculty mentor; 3) writing a proposal; 4) completing and submitting
departmental notification forms; and 5) meeting with the board.
Before you go through all that, be sure to check that you can’t
already major in your chosen area—no matter how strange it may be
(see sidebar). With a little bit of creativity and determination, a puppetry
major with a minor in viticulture and enology could be waiting
for you.
Are you undecided about your major? Are you just plain sick of a typical “safe” major and want to spice
up your academic career, but aren’t sure if you have the creativity to make your own course of study?
Don’t settle. The opportunities to shape your degree to your personality are endless. From Egyptology to
poultry science, there is a major out there for just about everyone. Maybe some of these odd majors from
around the country are right for you.
GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT: This
four-and-a-half to five-year program
leads to a bachelor’s degree in
business administration with a major
in marketing and a specialization
in professional golf management.
What might seem like fun and
games is actually serious business
though: experienced golf course
superintendents and head pros can
earn over $100,000! Entry into these
PGA accredited programs, offered at
only twenty colleges in the country, is
extremely competitive.
VITICULTURE AND ENOLOGY: Want a
scholarly excuse to drink wine and
get graded for your reactions? Cornell
University offers a major in viticulture
and enology, the study of winemaking.
You’ll learn how to grow grapes, pair
wines with food and even take a class
with an age limit of 21—Understanding
Wine and Beer—because tasting is key
to really learning the ropes of the wine
business.
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