Top 10 Useless College Degrees and Classes
10.
David Beckham studies -- Staffordshire University, UK
It might sound like a joke, but the squeaky-voiced soccer star actually has a degree course dedicated
to him.
The course, which is technically classed as "Football Culture", has been defended by its
founder, who argues that degree courses must keep with the times.
Celeb-style degrees can also be found in the US, with Madonna studies injected into the
Gender course at Harvard (no less) and Oprah Winfrey studies at Illinois.
9.
Parapsychology -- various colleges
This degree is perfect for starting a career with Ghostbusters.
Oh wait, Ghostbusters are fictional -- that's four years wasted.
Nevertheless, this course dedicated to the study of the paranormal (Slimer and haunted
houses included) is popping up in universities and colleges worldwide.
Coventry, Edinburgh, Northampton and Liverpool in the UK, plus Belford and Flamel in the
US all offer the course, which makes you wonder if people are watching too many Most Haunted
episodes.
8.
Doctorate of Philosophy in Ufology -- Melbourne University
In August this year, Aussie Martin Plowman became the first student to become a real
Dr Who after passing his studies of unidentified flying objects.
After his major in culture and communications, he decided he wanted to do something a bit
different, so he chose little green men.
However, despite his new status, he remains open-minded about things: "When I meet someone
who says they've seen something strange, that's fair enough, because maybe they have.
I don't know what it is, though,"
7.
The Phallus -- Occidental College
It's difficult to get to grips with the exact nature of this course -- if you'll pardon
the pun.
It's cited as studies "between the phallus and the penis, the meaning of the phallus,
phallologocentrism, the lesbian phallus, the Jewish phallus, the Latino phallus, and the
relation of the phallus and fetishism" but is actually a survey offered by this distinguished
college's department of critical theory and social justice.
6.
Surfing Studies -- Plymouth / Melbourne
Gone are the days of dumb surfer dudes riding the waves without a care.
Now, surfing means business.
With Plymouth Uni in the UK offering a BSc (Hons) in Surf Science and Technology and
Southern Cross University in Australia offering Surf and Sport Management, is seems the seaside
slackers want to be taken seriously.
What next?
Wrestling degrees?
5.
Philosophy -- various colleges
Philosophy, like sociology and psychology, is one of those degrees that people do when
they're not quite sure what vocation they want to follow . It's a fun-time four years,
open to stoners, egocentrics and those that love the sound of their own voice, who will
finish the course even more confused at what they want to do in life and probably end up
working at a convenience store.
4.
Queer Musicology -- UCLA
Due to seemingly popular demand, the UCLA have actually combined queer theory -- the
study of gender, feminism and gayness -- with the science of music, to produce a very open-minded
course within their Herb Alpert School of Music.
The LA Times reported that the course will introduce debates like: "the idea that if
you're gay, then music by gay composers such as Benjamin Britten will sound different to
you than it would if you were straight."
3.
Star Trek -- Georgetown University in Washington
It's a degree, Jim, but not as we know it.
The Georgetown faculty of Philosophy argues that "Star Trek is very philosophical.
What better way, then, to learn philosophy, than to watch Star Trek, read philosophy,
and hash it all out in class?"
The Trekkies have also landed at Indiana University, who curiously combine their Star Trek Studies
with religion.
If only there were more vacancies for professional dorks...
2.
Golf Management -- University of Birmingham / Florida Gulf Coast University
Here's another useless sport degree spreading through Universities across the world, but
this one lands the number two position because it's not even fun.
There's nothing much duller than playing golf apart from studying golf, so why these two
Universities have offered courses covering the psychology of golf; equipment technology;
financial performance and coach education, is a mystery.
1.
Art History -- various colleges
What career would you ever get with a degree in art history?
Maybe an art gallery curator, but how many of those does the world actually need?
Most art history courses consist of a selection of well-to-do teenagers and arty-hippy types
deliberating over the same Dali and Magritte paintings for four, even five years straight.
It's time to move on!
Honorable Mentions:
The Science of Harry Potter -- Frostburg University
Maryland's Frostburg University provides this honors seminar, which is really a physics
class that investigates the supposed magic of Harry Potter.
Seems like an excuse to watch the Harry Potter movies.
Learning from YouTube -- Pitzer College
California's Pitzer College has added a class named, Learning from YouTube.
TechCrunch reports that "the class consists of students watching YouTube videos and then
discussing them.
They also leave comments on the videos themselves."