In this post we are going to answer the question ‘’What are the most useless degrees?’’ If you are thinking about what to study and want to avoid going down a path that is not worth it, we will present you with the 10 most useless degrees.

What are the most useless degrees?

The 10 most useless degrees in the world are:

1. Culinary arts. 
2. Fashion design. 
3. Art history. 
4. Music. 
5. Biology.
6. Communications …
7. Liberal arts. 
8. Studio arts and fine art.
9. Performing arts.
10. Anthropology and archaeology. 

We are in an age where we can study what we want. And when I say whatever, it’s because it’s true.

At the University of Glasgow you can study “The Philosophy of Homer Simpson“, and the truth must be a little more interesting than sitting eight hours a day studying chemical engineering, while you think about what life situation you are going to use what you learn in rational mechanics II.

We have already touched on the discussion about whether studying within a university was really worth it. 

But what about all the college degrees like “Homer Simpson Philosophy”? Worth it? It would be nice to think that in so many job interviews, the person you are recruiting would ask us more about Homer’s philosophy of life than about our qualifications for that job.

Without a future profit on their savings, nobody wants to graduate. Anyway, you must keep in mind avoiding useless degrees, of course, maybe that will probably be very personal. Many individuals might consider resort management a crazy choice, but if you’d like to manage luxury hotels for a living, then it’s an essential requirement.

But, this list focuses more on subjects where future jobs and wage rates are insufficient or where you are not going to be distinguished from non-graduates by a degree.

1. Culinary arts

Young aspiring chefs may have previously assumed that it is obvious and even totally necessary getting into culinary college, but recent statistics certainly recommend otherwise.

With university fees increasing out of line with salaries, there are clearly no more profits on a costly degree, and neither is the necessity, with graduate chefs earning just 2 – 11 percent more than their peers from school leavers.

Although some restaurants see culinary college as an important career move, most are persuaded that academic qualifications are inferior to pure expertise and skill. Therefore, instead of in the classroom, your effort and cost could be spent better in a kitchen.

2. Fashion design

A degree of fashion design, on the surface, is not inherently a losing battle. After all, the ability to develop some relationships inside the business is actually very useful in an industry where who you know is just as important as what you know.

The key problem is that fashion design involves an intrinsic creative talent and a deep competence for imagination, comparable to many design-based disciplines, things which no school in the world can offer.

If you think the competitiveness for employment in the fashion world is extremely intense, building a good resume and a confident personality might well be a more effective use of your resources, with demand greatly outweighing supply.

3. Art history

On lists such as this, art history is something of a simple target, but there is a convincing explanation for it: it is a high niche topic that is sadly not translatable unless you choose to follow brief and increasingly precarious curatorial or academic positions.

Which, of course, would be fine, except when you spend more than $40,000 annually to differentiate your Monet from your Picasso; you need some form of checkable profit.

Sadly, this also poses itself as an option, complete with the additional spending that comes with it, between working different jobs to pay back those investments or starting completely fresh in a different sector

4. Music

The truth is, this path is not easy, it requires more effort than other careers, the opportunities are few and many times people do not respect this profession.

In general, professional musicians need theory-heavy instruction and training. But unless you’re accepted a spot in one of the world’s most important music colleges, such as Juilliard,  or Berklee, you’re more likely to spend time teaching music than you’re going to end up playing it for a career. Rather, you might want to spend the cash on equipment or an easier student experience.

5. Biology

Biology is an important topic that, like pharmaceutics and medicine, appears to be a requirement for various other degrees. However, since biology degrees concentrate more on theory instead of practice and research, the experience and competencies you learn as an undergraduate in biology will leave you with few choices and a fairly poor career outlook.

We’re not suggesting that a degree in biology is absolutely useless, but instead that it can only be used as a necessary step for any further studies to develop a good career. So, sadly, if you seek postgraduate education and future training, you will find that there are only a few limited options around in this sector.

6. Communications

The degree in communication is extremely ambiguous. Yes, communication applies to any medium, be it visual arts, radio, television, etc. However, it is not designed to provide specialized skills to students. In addition, more and more social networks are displacing traditional journalism.

In this way, a degree in communication usually serves as a starting point, as a reference course. Also, learning communication skills in four rigorous years in college might not be such a good idea, as you could better invest your time.

7. Liberal arts

The liberal arts have always been considered a pointless, silly and easy degree. But this might not be entirely true. Liberal arts classes promote critical thinking and other soft skills important in college and career education.

The problem is that we are living in a world driven by the STEM economy, companies often refuse to hire liberal arts graduates because of their low technical skills or work experience. Unless you want to stand out and spend a lot more money to earn qualifications and certifications, it is highly unlikely that you will get a return on your investment.

8. Studio arts and fine art

It’s dumb to spend thousands of dollars doing something you can do anywhere and where your accomplishment depends solely on others’ arbitrary views and tastes. In addition to a more stable source of income, it may be a much more realistic idea to work individually of your artistic talents.

If photography is your passion, for example, while you are focusing on creating a more artistic portfolio, commercial jobs such as wedding photography could pay the rent. Later on, you might even turn your creative talents into a profitable business.

9. Performing arts

The plunge into drama school is taken by many aspiring performers, but the main ingredient to success is not taught in any teaching course, like all the artistic careers on this list: talent.

To be able to act, sing or dance a degree is not enough. You must cultivate your talent; fill yourself with experiences, attending auditions, theaters, stages in the hope of making some contacts.

Yes, there are tons of movie stars who make millions of dollars, but the reality is that acting is a low-paying job.

10. Anthropology and archaeology

None of the careers, although they seem attractive, are requested, and none offer a realistic trajectory. In fact, if you want to at least develop yourself as a researcher, you will at least need a doctorate, and even after all the years, the effort and the money invested, there are no guarantees.

It is extremely unlikely that you will ever have a practical use for your degree unless your sole purpose is merely to fulfill your own personal interest in the topic. Sad to say, there is a reason why the only archaeologists you know are pure fiction; they are just too few and far between in the real world.

Should I study one of those degrees?

After the school stage, many doubts about our future emerge. What am I going to study? Where? And a very important one: Do I choose the career for vocation or for money?

Choosing a career by vocation is choosing the discipline that you like and for which you have aptitudes. Choosing a career for money means choosing an option that has good job demand and in which you think you will earn a lot of money.

Both alternatives have the idea of ​​the future very latent. Surely, your parents have told you once that you have to think about your future and that implies thinking about the way you will earn a living in order to be an economically independent person. But, also, thinking about the future involves drawing up a plan that will make you become a fulfilled and happy person.

It is important to bear in mind that both expectations do not have to be entirely opposite, that is, deciding to study what you are passionate about does not imply not thinking about the way you will function in society.

Choosing a career requires an orientation and research process, so do not be discouraged thinking that what you want to study is not profitable, if you have not investigated well the situation of that profession in your country.

On the other hand, the decisions you make will always be personal and will depend on the context in which you are.

One piece of advice we can give you is that instead of asking yourself if you have to study for money or for vocation, ask yourself what are the advantages and disadvantages of studying the careers you have in mind and investigate the reality of those careers in your country.

Ask professionals in these areas to tell you about their real experiences and what you can do when you graduate, instead of being carried away by the opinions of people who do not know the area and by the stereotypes that say which are the careers that make money and those that no. T

he important thing is that there is not a big difference between your expectations and reality.

Then, make sure that you like the career you are going to study and that you have the necessary qualities to pursue it. That will always augur you a promising future as a professional.

If you get involved in temporary jobs while studying the career you like, you will acquire contacts and you will be able to get a good space when you graduate.

The important thing about this decision is that it is made by you, that you do not decide the future of your life based on what others expect. If you make this decision being honest and true to yourself, you will have a better chance of succeeding in any career.

FAQS: What are the most useless degrees?

What majors are useless?

The most useless majors are:

• Fine Arts.
• Drama and Theater Arts. 
• Film, Video, and Photographic Arts. 
• Commercial Art and Graphic Design. 
• Architecture. 

What are the most useful degrees?

• Computer Science. 
• Business & Administration. 
• Engineering.
• Finance.

What is the least useful degree?

The most useless degree is Composition and rhetoric.

What is the best degree to get in 2020?

In 2020, the degree with the highest demand is pharmacology, followed by computer science and health sciences.

What is the most fun major?

Without a doubt, the majors with the most fun with Animation and viticulture.

In this post we answered the question ‘’What are the most useless degrees?’’ If you are thinking about what to study and want to avoid going down a path that is not worth it, we’ve already presented you with the 10 most useless degrees.

If you have any questions or comments please let us know!

References

Degrees, M. U. The Daily Beast. Recuperado http://www. thedailybeast. com/galleries/2011/04/27/20-most-useless-degrees. html.

Siôn Phillpott. (2020, September 3). The 10 Most Useless University Degrees. Retrieved November 10, 2020, from Careeraddict.com website: https://www.careeraddict.com/useless-degrees

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