We have all heard of the basis majors. English. Math. Economics. Engineering. Computer Science. Political Science. Sometimes I feel like I hear about the same majors over and over. So, here are some majors you may not have heard of that are either not well-know or just obscure...

1. Environmental Economics and Policy

learn the fundamentals of microeconomics applied to problems of the environment, natural resource and international development. Careers in: investment, finance, government, academics, nonprofit organizations, law, and public policy

2. Ancient Egyptian and Near Eastern Art and Archaeology, Near Eastern Languages and Literatures

These majors in the Near Eastern studies department put an emphasis in ancient near eastern art and archeology and emphasis in Egyptian art and archaeology and an emphasis in a modern language (arabic, Hebrew, or Persian) or emphasis in an ancient language (Egyptology). The goals for either of these somewhat obscure majors is a familiarity with the entire area of the Near/Middle East from ancient to modern times, awareness of the importance of the Near/Middle East in today’s global society, the ability to formulate a well-organized argument, and the ability to write and to communicate orally, among others…

3. Comparative Literature (variation of an English lit degree)

Comparative literature is one of those obscure majors that no one really knows about and I sure as hell hadn’t either. Now I am a proud comp lit major so there is a definite bias towards this as a major. Basically, comp lit is a literature major but with a twist: you must be proficient in a foreign language. You also are recommended to have a third language but that is no longer a requirement of the major, at least at Berkeley (guess I learned Latin for nothing).

4. Peace and Conflict Studies

This super exciting Berkeley major is being retired soon and replaced by Global Studies so, if it appeals to you, declare by Friday, December 8, 2017! This is an interdisciplinary major which provides students with both the academic training and the tools to engage critically the complex issues of conflict and peace in local, national, and global contexts. So, it is basically training for postgraduate education in social science disciplines or careers in either the public or private sectors. See page info here.

5.Civil Engineering (Variation of Engineering)

This UC Davis major preps the civil engineers of tomorrow who will be responsible for the design, construction, and maintenance of structures that form the transportation, resource distribution, environmental systems, and physical infrastructure of contemporary society. Basically the people we can thank for non-collapsible buildings in earthquake country.

6. Community and Regional Development Major

Another UC Davis major, community and regional development is geared to those fascinated by the roles of culture and ethnicity in society who have an interest in social change and community involvement. The Community and Regional Development majors help shape the quality of life and deal with social concerns (hunger, homelessness, gender issues, and abuse, etc.) This major sets you on the path for law/med school and can also kick start careers in city and regional planning, community health, community law, and community medicine. Go community!

7.Global Disease Biology Major

A major found at UC Davis, Global Disease Biology majors study disease and its relationship to the health of people, animals, plants and the environment in a global context. This major gears its graduates with the skills and experiences to go into global health, the environment, food safety and security, biological safety and security, and health policy. If you choose to go on to grad school, you can pursue a career in medicine, veterinary medicine, public health and plant pathology, and work for organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control, the World Health Organization, state and local public health agencies and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

8. Hydrology Major

Yes. You can major in water. It may sound funny but come one, water is important. Basically this major studies the occurrence, distribution, circulation, and behavior of water in Earth’s environment. Major career paths for this one can range from private consulting firms, environmental interest groups and government agencies dealing with water resources. Major employers include the U.S. Geographical Survey, USDA, EPA, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and California Water Resources Control Board. This one is a mix of math, natural sciences, and basic concepts of engineering.

9. Viticulture and Enology Major

Hey all you wine-lovers!!! This one is essentially a wine major (wish I knew about this one). Viticulture and enology graduates find work in; you guessed it, vineyards and wineries. They can also enter careers in production management, quality control and research and many go onto graduate programs in related fields (food science, horticulture or agricultural and environmental chemistry).

10.Computer Game Science (Variation of Computer Science)

This is one of the majors at UC Irvine and it is probably a dream come true for you video game people. This major is more than just a lifetime experience-playing Halo. It combines computer science with a focus on designing, building, and understanding computer games. Students receive a foundation in the fundamentals of information and computer science, augmented with courses in film and media studies, math, physics, and game tech.

11. Individual Field of Concentration

If this list were a menu, this UCLA major would be the build-it-your-way option. The Individual Field of Concentration Major is a chance for student in the Colleges of Letters & Science to design their own major. This sounds pretty cool but students still must adhere to the Individual Major Guidelines Form.

12. Entomology

AKA the insect major because yes. That is a thing. At least it is at UC Riverside. But hey, if you’re interested in biology, physics, math, and chemistry with a love for bugs and insects, this is perfect. This major is especially geared towards students intending to specialize in grad school in insect toxicology or insect physiology and biochemistry.

13. Comparative Ancient Civilizations

A degree in Comparative Ancient Civilizations focuses on a variety of pre-modern cultures of the world that flourished economically, politically, and culturally. People should major in this if they have a particular affinity in studying the perceptions and interactions of ancient civilizations with one another and with later civilizations.

14. Human Development Major

Personally, I had never heard of this major but plenty have at UC San Diego. The Human Development Program is for those interested in human behavior, in learning how people relate to one another and about how to make a difference in their lives. HDP majors, as they are called, learn about how individuals develop and change from birth to old age, how families and communities influence these processes, and how to apply this knowledge in order to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions designed to improve people’s lives. These are the future leaders in human services.

So there you go. There are 14 majors that you may not have heard of.