Unique Majors Allow Students To Find Their Passion
By Lee Nelson
The sky seems to be the limit these days when it comes to picking a major. Sure, the standard bachelor’s degrees still keep colleges strong with applicants and keep the world a better place with nurses, teachers and doctors.
But the world is changing. Institutions of higher education are on the edge of teaching future leaders, environmentalists, techno wizards and medical geniuses.
To do that, colleges and universities continually offer new and more diverse majors to keep up with technology, the demands of society and ever-changing student interests. Just look at any college brochure and you’ll see an unbelievable variety of unique majors.
For instance, the University of Iowa in Iowa City offers everything from Chinese to exercise science to astronomy. Music business audio production is another combined major offered at the Minnesota School of Business & Global College in Rochester. Animation and web design can be the choice of students at Ashford University, Clinton, Iowa. Game art and design, along with visual effects and motion graphic degrees, are part of the curriculum pickings at The Illinois Institute of Art in Schaumburg.
Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, is the only private college in Iowa offering a major in music therapy. The University of Missouri – Columbia is well known for its programs in journalism, agriculture and veterinary medicine. But the institution is investing great dollars in life science programs to establish the school as a premiere university in the growing field of biotechnology.
Sports marketing has become a popular major at Minnesota State University, Mankato, while commercial music and music business majors are being offered at Millikin University, Decatur, Ill.
Whatever you desire to do in life, a major can be found or one can be made for you while at a university. Many professors help students combine two or three specialty areas to create a major, usually called an interdisciplinary major.
It can be anything from corporate communications to art therapy.
“As new technologies are developed and new industries created, we feel the need to continue to prepare our students for the world of work with academic preparation,” said Stephanie Levenson, director of admission at Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Ill.
“We choose our new majors very carefully and research the long-term viability of the major as well. We want to maintain the quality of our programs and develop our curriculum accordingly.”
This fall, the college for the first time is offering a major in computer game and entertainment technology.
“Many students are truly undecided on his or her major, but they would like to choose a school that has many options and will allow the student to explore the varied interests that they may have,” she added.
Elmhurst selected the new major because of the popularity in the field, as well as the growing demand for these types of skills.
“I have personally visited over 100 high schools over the past 10 years and can attest to the interest on the part of high school students,” said Jim Dauer, professor in Elmhurst’s department of computer science and information systems.
“Our program is not tied to a specific hardware or software platform, nor are the skills developed limited to the entertainment field.”
He believes the job opportunities for those graduating in the major will not only be in the game and movie fields, but also in manufacturing, law enforcement, medicine and the military.
“We’re told as counselors that the big up-and-coming thing is companies are investing in environmental technologies,” said Sue Schrader, head counselor at Clinton (Iowa) High School. “They are trying to find people with great ideas in that area. And colleges are trying to catch up to train them. Biotechnology in the food production arena is big, too, along with medical technology. Some companies are racing to grow the first heart for transplants.”
Most of her students do go the traditional route of majors, but she talks with them about the future outlook of industry and the Midwest’s needs.
How about a career in ayurvedic medicine? Some of the medical world is slowly, but surely adapting a holistic approach. This degree allows someone to view the entire overall health of an individual, from their mental to their spiritual being. They use everything from diet to drugs to exercise to bring someone the best quality of life. Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., now offers a biomedical science degree. It is a fundamental education in science and health, which allows the student to take it in many different directions.
Those with a major of exhibit designer and technician put together exhibits and displays at all kinds of public venues, from museums to zoos.
Entrepreneurship majors can create, promote and manage their own businesses. They also can mentor existing businesses to be more profitable and self-sufficient.
Even Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., offers a degree in non-profit leadership studies. Professionals currently employed in non-profit organizations actually teach the students. The institution boasts that one out of 10 of its alumni currently serve as president or CEO of an organization.
There is a major out there for almost any interest. But experts advise not to get bogged down on your major right away, unless you absolutely know what you want to do.
You may not even find your great passion until you are a sophomore or junior in college. Relax. Enjoy the college experience.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 10 fastest growing occupations from 2004-2014 for college grads and the percentage they would rise included:
Network systems and data communications analysts, 55 percent.
Physician assistants, 50 percent.
Computer software engineers, applications, 48 percent.
Physical therapist assistants, 44 percent.
Dental hygienists, 43 percent.
Computer software engineers, systems software, 43 percent.
Network and computer systems administrators, 38 percent.
Database administrators, 38 percent.
Physical therapists, 37 percent.
Forensic science technicians, 36 percent.
