Hiking the Appalachian Trail, Ice Cream, Street Fighting Math: There’s a Course for That Choosing a career path is complicated, especially when you just finished high school. But for the most part, we are familiar with the more traditional and popular curricula: social sciences, history, engineering, psychology, communications, and education (to name a few). But what about the more obscure offerings?
Walking, Fermentation Science, and Ice Cream are some of the more unusual degree programs you can find at various universities across the country these days. Here are seven learning opportunities that have inspired students to approach their education at a whole new level.
1. Semester-A-Trail Course with Emory & Henry
Take a class that teaches you how to face the elements of the Appalachian Trail.
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Have you ever dreamed of hiking the Appalachian Trail? You don’t have to be the only one. Emory & Henry College, founded in the early 19th century and known as the oldest institution of higher education in Southwest Virginia, offers students a unique opportunity to earn college credit while walking the trail.
In addition to the challenging and fun skills you learn while braving the elements on this historic hike, students are equipped with a complete hiking kit and must complete a wilderness first aid course. How long are we talking about walking? You can choose your own adventure: the hiker section covers 470 miles from Springer Mountain to Damascus, while the hiker section takes you the full 2,190 miles. Learn more about the Semester-A-Trail program here.
A report: Let’s Talk Active Retirement: How One Retiree Found Meaning and Purpose Working on the Appalachian Trail
2. Specialization in Fermentation Sciences at Maryville College
Fermentation is all the rage at Maryville College in East Tennessee. Fall 2023 will be the first semester in which students will be able to enroll in a fermentation science major. The details are as follows: you need 21 hours of study, eight hours dedicated to chemistry and microbiology, seven hours to a series of new fermentation courses, and six hours to hospitality (designed to help you understand the psychology and interpersonal skills you need). need to be successful in the food industry).
The main theme is related to brewing beer, partly due to the influx of breweries in the area. However, the school says students will also learn the concepts of distillation and food preservation along the way. One of the most exciting aspects of this program is that local craft breweries have already agreed to partner with the school to provide hands-on experience to students. Learn more about fermentation science here.
3. Student-Led Course on Storytelling Through Taylor Swift Songs at Stanford
Discover the power of Taylor Swift.
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Attention all Taylor Swift fans, this is not an exercise: Stanford University offers a student-led course on storytelling using Taylor Swift songs. Ava Jeffs, who led this unusual course, wrote an essay about mental health as part of her application process using Swift’s song “Clean” and has since decided to continue creating a class that allows her classmates to talk about composition and music. art forms using the renowned artist’s discography.
The 10-week course is officially titled “The Last Great American Songwriter: Storytelling with Taylor Swift Through the Ages” and aims to help students understand and appreciate what Jeffs calls “the narrative power of music.” “. Learn more about Swift’s storytelling lesson here.
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4. Cow Cone Ice Cream Short Course at Penn State
You’ll want to go back to college just to have this ice cream class.
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Everyone loves ice cream, but not everyone knows what it takes to go from cow to cone, or so the Penn State saying goes. This short course explores the ice cream production cycle and takes students from the field to food service. This short course lasts seven days and includes more than 20 workshops that educate participants on everything from ice cream production technology to the science of flavors.
While you may not be familiar with college courses on ice cream making, it’s nothing new. This program is celebrating its 128th year and has welcomed more than 4,400 participants from around the world (from every continent except Antarctica). Learn more about the Cow ice cream in a cone class here..
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5. Rockets and Instrumentation – University of Washington
Let’s be honest: how many of us intended to build a spaceship out of cardboard boxes when we were kids? No? Only U.S? Well, if you’re a kindred spirit, the University of Washington’s Instrumentation and Rockets course will blow you away.
This hands-on course will guide you through the process of building a real rocket, including its telemetry system and payload. If you’re scratching your head in confusion, don’t worry. It’s certainly more complicated than the days of cardboard boxes, but by the end of the course you’ll be able to launch your own rocket, even if it doesn’t make it to space. Learn more about Rockets and instrumentation here..
6. Street Fighting Math
Math Fans Gather; this one is for all of us. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers what is arguably one of the most engaging mathematics courses out there. Street-Fighting Mathematics is about using mathematics to learn the art of guessing results and solving problems.
For the more curious, the course techniques include everything from extreme case reasoning and dimensional analysis to successive approximations and pictorial analysis.
We have to admit that we’re not entirely sure what that means, but we do know that the school confirms that no epsilon or delta will be harmed while training mathematical geniuses. Learn more about Street Fighting Math Here.
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7. The art of walking
Do you have a pair of elegant feet? You could also earn college credit for them. Center College in Danville, Kentucky, opened this course in 2002 to give students the opportunity to rediscover humanity’s natural rhythm after the rise of airplanes, trains, and automobiles. How does it work? This curious course is part of their study abroad program, which means you get credits for traveling to some of the most interesting and historic places in the world. Along the way, students participate in lessons designed to show the connection between a slower pace and the natural beauty and art that surrounds them. Learn more about The art of walking here.
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