As society and technology continue to evolve, so does higher education. Recent years have seen vastly increased interest in what were once niche programs and even the creation of entirely new majors. Here we list just a few majors and programs that are gaining momentum and becoming more widely available.
Nanotechnology might sound like science fiction, but it’s a major field of scientific study. Nanotech deals with the manipulation of matter at a microscopic level (think atoms or molecules). The applications of this emerging technology are vast, from biotech and medical devices to electronic and industrial engineering. While many schools have offered a few classes or even a concentration within a major in nanotechnology, it’s only recently starting to show up as its own undergraduate degree program.
Here are some of the schools with dedicated majors in nanotechnology:
- Louisiana Tech University – BS in Nanosystems Engineering
- Rice University – BA or BS in Materials Science and NanoEngineering
- SUNY Polytechnic Institute – BS in Nanoscale Engineering or BS in Nanoscale Science
- UC San Diego – BS in NanoEngineering
- Virginia Tech – BS in Nanomedicine or BS in Nanoscience
Robotics is another area where it’s common to see a few undergraduate courses available in an engineering program, but specialized programs for undergraduates are still relatively rare. Robotics majors are more focused than general engineering programs and often involve the interdisciplinary education necessary to think about both software and hardware. If you’re interested in anything from autonomous vehicles to assistive medical devices, this might be a major to consider.
Schools with undergraduate robotics majors include:
- Carnegie Mellon – Robotics as an additional major or a concentration
- Rochester Institute of Technology – BS in Robotics and Manufacturing Engineering Technology
- SUNY Plattsburg – BS in Robotics
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – BS in Robotics Engineering
- Virginia Tech – BS in Robotics and Mechatronics
Sustainability is the broad concept of maintaining a process over time; in academic contexts, we tend to think of this as the study of the future impact of our practices on natural resources, ecosystems, and the economy. Undergraduate programs in sustainability might include topics like urban planning, environmental conservation, and waste management. While issues related to sustainability are often covered in other majors, like environmental science, sustainability programs tend to be more interdisciplinary and touch upon many interrelated subjects.
Schools that offer undergraduate programs in sustainability include:
- Columbia University – BA in Sustainable Development
- Hofstra University – BS in Sustainability Studies
- Pennsylvania State University – BS in Energy and Sustainability Policy
- University of Massachusetts, Amherst BS in Sustainable Community Development or BS in Sustainable Food and Farming
- University of Texas at Austin – BA in Sustainability Studies
Video games have come a long way, even in just the last decade. The smartphone created a revolution in the accessibility of gaming, and new technologies like augmented and virtual reality are making a splash in the video game industry. Increasingly, academic institutions are recognizing that there is enough complexity to the design and programming of video games to merit specialized undergraduate programs. Video games need writers, artists, designers, and programmers, and majors are starting to emerge to address those needs.
Here are some schools where you can focus your studies on game design and programming:
- Michigan State University – BA in Games and Interactive Media
- NYU – BFA in Game Design
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – BS in Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences
- Rochester Institute of Technology – BS in Game Design and Development
- John’s University – BS in Game Development and Emerging Media
- USC – BS in Computer Science (Games) or BA in Interactive Entertainment
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute – BA or BS in Interactive Media and Game Development
Pop Culture Studies
Do you love thinking about why a certain pop song is such a hit? Or how TV and social media affect our everyday perceptions? You might be a pop culture major. Popular culture both shapes and is shaped by our social norms, values, and attitudes, and increasingly, schools are realizing that it’s a serious topic of discussion. Pop culture studies examines how media affects our lives and challenges our social values. If you’re interested in a career in TV, film, music, or social media, this could be an interesting major to pursue.
Here are a few of the schools that offer pop culture studies: