9 Insane Degrees You Can Earn From an Online College

Just as Netflix made niche movies possible, so too are online academic programs able to construct some truly “unique” courses that traditional universities could never offer. In theory, this novelty may be awesome; however, in reality, it is bringing out the study of some, for lack of a better word, insane topics. Here are nine of the most crazy degrees and certification programs available to today’s students.

Gunsmithing

The study of firearms is probably something to be done only under the supervision of a trained professional. Ashworth College seems to disagree - they offer a career diploma in gunsmithing. Lock and load? No, gunfighting 523 becomes available next term.

Master of Professional Studies in Turfgrass Management

Does astroturf require an education? Apparently so. This Penn State online master’s degree program will spend as much as two years teaching land managers about the appropriate grasses for their space as well as how to care for them.

Master’s Degree in Anthrozoology

Let’s call it the Doctor Doolittle degree. This degree program offered by Canisius College takes a long hard look at how we “walk with the animals, talk with the animals.”

Consciousness Studies

Only Life Studies would be vaguer. No one may have a definitive answer or statement about this subject, but you can get a master’s or PhD from Bhaktivedanta Institute. Consciousness Studies is one of the newest disciplines out there and requires students to contemplate the possibility that studying consciousness is impossible.

Master’s of Art in Adventure Education

Do you feel the driving need to guide people in trust falls, teach companies about group synergy, and weave intricate metaphors about teamwork into the creation of the perfect s’more? Prescott College offers an online Master’s of Art degree in Adventure Education.

As strange as some of the above mentioned may seem, they are real programs, bestowing degrees that are both intriguing and useful, to some extent. There are also a number of fake degrees, some of which have lost grip on reality entirely. Here are some of the more interesting classes offered by Flamel College.

Parapsychologist Certification

With a website that looks like a geocities site from the late 90s, Flamel College offers degrees in parascience, a word that word-processors underline with an evil red squiggly. Learn about past life experiences, ESP, channeling, and precognition among a dozen other equally dubious topics.

Wiccan Practitioner Certification

It doesn’t matter how much you know about the Gardnerian Book of Shadows, if you don’t fork over $45 to get your official certification, you can’t really call yourself a Wiccan.

Cryptozoology Certification

Short of becoming a crewmember for some A&E documentaries, there is no practical application for this degree, which certifies graduates in the study of animals that are not acknowledged to be real.

UFO Investigator Certification

UFOs are notorious for their invisibility and invincibility, so only the keenest, best-prepared minds will be able to follow their trails. Stay on top of your game for this certificate, and you will embark on a treasure hunt that will last for the rest of your life.

If you were to take all of these programs, write them down on small bits of paper and toss them into a hat, would you be able to discern the real from the fake? At first glance, separating fact from fiction might seem difficult, but after spending a few minutes on the Flamel College website, you could tell.