Education in San Antonio

There is absolutely no assurance that newly minted graduates, professionally green and facing unprecedented competition for jobs, will land solid work just on the strength of a college degree. In fact, liberal arts, shmiberal humanities. Observe the specificity of majors pursued by some of today’s grads. (Cue “Pomp and Circumstance”.)

Equine Studies. Centenary College is a loosely-held secret among the horsey set. This curriculum offers a study-abroad semester at the University of West England, during which scholars prepare for the British Horse Society’s Preliminary Teaching Certification exam. (Duh.) Parents: do not think this is a practical field of study? You’ll note that available in the major is a concentration in Equine Business Management.

Fashion Merchandising. The University of Delaware is one of the many large establishments to offer this major, a specialised degree one might look forward to finding only at a art and design school. The curriculum is designed to tailor (ahem) what’s essentially a business degree into a fashion-specific cut (ahem, again). Beyond core classes in marketing and social sciences, funky electives include textile preservation and historic costume.

Leisure Studies. Thought this one was a myth? Ah!, the ancient leisure activity of mythery. The University of Iowa offers a bachelor of science degree. [Hear that? A joke just wrote itself.] The University of Tennessee Knoxville recommends it’s graduating seniors to take the national examination to become credentialed Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, thereby making them more marketable to employers. What a country.

Forest Operations Science and Forestry. The University of Maine’s School of Forest Resources has been attracting treehuggers since “green” was just blue + yellow. Coursework engages environmental studies, biology, history and other educational areas. Applicants are a self-selecting group of exceptionally focused students who may plan careers in land management, conservation, forestry administration, government work or tourism.

Musical Theater. 525,600 minutes. That is how they measure, measure a year at Pace University in N. Y. Majors graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, doubtlessly after confirming the rain in Spain falls mainly in the plain, and that the show must go on. Mamma Mia!

By Alison Minion. Alison is a freelance writer and editor, and a frequent contributor to education, curriculum, and learning resources website Funderstanding . She has also written on teacher evaluation .