I never knew someone could get a PhD in....

[starofdawn]

As I refresh the results page every 3.5 seconds, sometimes I find myself saying, "I never knew someone could get a MS/MA/PhD in that subject!" or, "I didn't know a program for ____ existed at [insert university]!"

 

What new, unique grad programs have you discovered from looking at the results page(or looking from a school's website)?

[Queen of Kale]

I knew someone who had a PhD in Turf Grass Management from Virginia Tech (might have the school wrong).  Made pretty good money and seemed to have a good quality of life.

[astreaux]

Demography. Fascinating!

[Jungshin]

Piano studies.

 

I mean, come on, really? 

[hj2012]

History of Consciousness at uc santa barbara.

It's a sweet program.

[lonestarflag]

PhD in Reading at Sam Houston State University.

[I am not sure yet]

Phd in Old Testament at Princeton (something related to Hebrew studies...)

[roguesenna]

I've seen one or two programs for Fan and Audience Studies which I'm strongly considering applying to next go around.

[hj2012]

History of Consciousness at uc santa barbara.

It's a sweet program.

 

Wow -- totally meant to say UC Santa Cruz -- was on my phone and not thinking correctly.

[TakeMyCoffeeBlack]

PhD in Reading at Sam Houston State University.

 

I think that's reading as in literacy as in education.

[livenlearn]

music composition

[eriatarka]

Second Language Acquisition. Before I googled it, I thought "Sweet! Someone will pay you to learn another language?"

[tingski]

A PhD in food technology (nothing surprising there) BUT specializing in chocolate! CHOCOLATE! 

[m-ttl]

Comic Books and Visual Rhetoric at UF 

[astaroth27]

A PhD in packaging. I didn't even know there was an undergraduate degree in packaging.

[lonestarflag]

I think that's reading as in literacy as in education.

It was from the college of ed. I would give it more credit if they did call it literacy though...it was rather painful to watch so many PhDs of Reading be awarded.

[lonestarflag]

Comic Books and Visual Rhetoric at UF 

That seems incredibly specific.

[Maleficent999]

A PhD in packaging. I didn't even know there was an undergraduate degree in packaging.

At my undergrad, "packaging" was a specialty you could choose as a business major. My college roommate's boyfriend at the time was a packaging guy. It's exactly what it sounds like, they come up with new, more convenient product packaging. His claim to fame was a twist-up ketchup bottle.

[Kleene]

Education and artsy things (Music, Theater, etc.). Those things are not taught at research universities in my country, though it is probably possible to study it as a specialisation of a much broader course. I now recall that we do have courses like Film Studies. I suppose that kind of courses can be related to these artsy PhDs.

 

I like the Packaging!

Edited January 27, 2014 by Kleene

[bobkindles]

I'm struck by how many different kinds of psychology people can study in the US (I'm an international student). If I were in a critical/analytical mood I'd suggest it says something about the US being an incredibly medicalized society, where negative emotions and experiences of every kind are transformed into pathologies that demand treatment =p That being said, as a humanities student, in an "obscure" field, I'm not overly inclined to criticize other people's subjects as being "random" or "useless". 

[marsmat]

Higher Education Administration. Not the broadest of fields!

[roguesenna]

I'm struck by how many different kinds of psychology people can study in the US (I'm an international student). If I were in a critical/analytical mood I'd suggest it says something about the US being an incredibly medicalized society, where negative emotions and experiences of every kind are transformed into pathologies that demand treatment =p That being said, as a humanities student, in an "obscure" field, I'm not overly inclined to criticize other people's subjects as being "random" or "useless". 

 

not all psychology is studied for the purpose of treating patients. a lot of it is done in conjunction with advertising or research surrounding the brain and how it works (neuropsychology for example). some of it is concerned with teaching computers to think more like humans (psychology/philosophy of artificial intelligence) and still more is concerned with the differences in how different species think. Considering how fathomless the mind can be it doesn't really seem that strange to me. then again, I was born and raised here.

[lonestarflag]

Higher Education Administration. Not the broadest of fields!

So, a degree in giving people degrees?

[Johndg2]

Biological interpretive dancing!

[m-ttl]

That seems incredibly specific.

 

Comics & Visual rhetoric? I don't think so; but I'm largely jealous that it's in the English department when comics, by nature, is a visual medium accompanied by words. I think Art historians should steal it back! Comics have roots in art too!