Weird University Courses You Never Knew Existed

Deciding on your major is not an easy process, especially when you are interested in more than one field. To determine which major you are interested in the most, research some university courses you feel are interesting. Search any subject that interests you, and you will find a university that provides courses for it. Nowadays, there are many bizarre and unusual university courses. Here is a guide to some of the weirdest university courses you never knew existed. One of these courses might be the right choice for you if you have unusual skills and interests.

Weird Courses in the UK

1. Ethical Hacking

Hacking is a word that scares both individuals and organisations. One of the less-known university courses in the UK is Ethical Hacking, offered by Abertay University. You are probably wondering how “hacking” is “ethical” and how these two words are combined in an academic course title. It is simple! Black-hat hackers break into computer systems to cause damages or steal data. To stop them, white-hat hackers, or ethical hackers, use penetration testing techniques to test an organisation's IT security and identify flaws in order to protect the organisation’s networks and the valuable, sensitive information it stores. Majoring in this degree, you will gain a practical and theoretical understanding of cyberattacks, cybersecurity, hacking, digital forensics and underlying computer sciences. 

2. Horology

The West Dean College offers a foundation degree in Historic Craft Practices - Clocks. In this course, you acquire the practical and theoretical skills needed in the clocks’ historic horological manufacture. You get to learn how to repair, manufacture and craft clocks. After graduation, you can work as a Clock Repairer and Manufacturer. If entrepreneurship is your cup of tea, then start your own business and make clocks!

3. Fire Engineering

Specially designed for holders of senior positions within fire-related careers, the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) offers a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Fire Safety Engineering. There, you study fire ignition, fire prevention, the structure of flames, and how water spray affects smoke clouds. You also study chemistry, physics, heat transfer, law, toxicity, risk management and design. 

4. Animal Behaviour and Psychology

The University of Chester’s Animal Behaviour and Psychology bachelor's degree is a unique university degree in the UK. It focuses on how wild animals think and feel and how they adapt to their environment and ecological issues. Each animal has its own personality and behaviour, which you can study in a human-managed environment. For example, you can determine pet welfare and endangered animals in zoos’ best farming and breeding methods. 

Weird Courses in the USA

5. Pain Medicine

Shifting from looking at pain as a symptom or as a burden to bear to understanding that pain is a sickness that should be treated responsibly and ethically, the University of Southern California (USC) has designed an MSc degree in Pain Medicine. It is available to any licensed clinicians (Physicians, Dentists, Pharmacists, Nurses, Psychologists, Physical and Occupational Therapists, etc.). It helps professionals develop ethical pain-relief systems for patients with chronic pain and focuses on the nature of pain, pain assessment and measurement, pain management, pathobiology and clinical conditions. In this degree, you study medical and pharmaceutical courses, like advanced pain physiology and neuroscience, pharmacotherapeutics for pain and neuropathic pain.

6. Turfgrass Science

If you are interested in grounds, golf and other sports and ready to make an impact on safety and playability, Turfgrass Science is the right major for you. It is a Bachelor's degree provided by Penn State University, College of Agricultural Sciences. This university degree qualifies you to diagnose diseases and harm to golf courses, supervise sports fields, and monitor irrigation systems. You will study diverse topics such as plant pathology, entomology, organic chemistry, pesticides, genetics, turfgrass breeding, plant nutrition and fertility, soil science and water quality. You will also develop your communication and business management skills. Some of the career opportunities this degree offers include athletic fields maintenance, maintenance of golf courses, and sod design. 

7. Digital Mapping

Maps are an essential means in navigating the world around us. And with the technology growing every day, digital mapping has become a demand. Therefore, the University of Kentucky designed a degree for Digital Mapping to help its graduates make highly sophisticated and impactful web maps. This study integrates geography, computer science, design and other fields. As a student of this degree, you learn traditional cartography, data visualisation, Geographic Information Science (GIS), critical design sensibilities and statistical knowledge. Additionally, you develop your skills in geospatial analysis, interactive coding, web development and programming. Data Scientist is one of the fastest-growing and newest digital mapping-related careers. Designer and Data Journalist are also possible careers that you can look for after graduation.

Weird Courses in Australia

8. Maritime Archaeology

Are you interested in archaeology, old-world seafaring, diving, marine science, wooden ship construction and naval history? Maritime Archaeology, offered by Flinders University, is the perfect choice for you. Shipwrecks exploration, underwater cultural heritage management and underwater excavation are the most important subjects in this degree. You will better understand the historical cultures and the connections between them by exploring their seafaring practices. By finishing this postgraduate course, you have the opportunity to occupy several positions, including a Maritime Archaeologist, a Heritage Manager, a Museum Content Specialist, and an Environmental Consultant. 

Weird Courses in Cyprus

9. Digital Currency

Bitcoins, cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology will be the future of finance, commerce and banking. The University of Nicosia is the first one to realise that, and that is why it designed an MSc degree in Digital Currency. It enables you to find job opportunities at the intersection between management, computer science and finance. If you would like to be an Entrepreneur, you can establish your own enterprise in the field of blockchain and cryptocurrencies. In this course, you will gain knowledge on how to identify and analyse challenges and risks of cryptocurrencies, and compare different regulatory environments, like payments, banking, legal, commerce, etc.

Weird Courses in India

10. Tea Tasting

Are you a tea lover? In India, there is a course on Tea Tasting, offered by the National Institute of Technology and Management (NITM). On this course, you will gain a good understanding of tea cultivation and manufacturing. Also, you will be able to give advice on how to improve some types of tea, evaluate their quality and understand the concept of tea marketing.

Now, our journey has come to an end. You have explored some of the weirdest university courses around the world. If you are interested in enrolling in one of these degrees, research it deeply, read more about the individual modules on the university website and start your application! Your future is whatever you make it.