7+ Most Useless Degrees To Get (FAQs)

The last thing that you can worry about as a student looking to enter college is if there will be a degree program for you.

This cannot be an issue because every college provides several courses that cut across different fields.

On the other hand, it is always essential to pick a major that interests you, not one in which you can get a job after completing your education.

Why Are Some Degrees Termed “Useless”?

Some degrees are called “useless” because people think they won’t help them get jobs or make much money in those areas.

This way of thinking may come from how quickly technology changes and how job markets change, making some skills less valuable.

Also, degrees that focus on general theories and don’t have clear applications in the real world may not be seen as useful in the job market.

But this view doesn’t look at the wider educational value or the critical thinking skills these degrees teach.

Remember that the value of a degree can change depending on your goals and how the job market is changing.

However, when making a choice, here are some of the college degrees that you should avoid:

1. Advertising

Going to college to acquire an advertising degree is a terrible decision.

Although an advertising degree may appear attractive and may enable you to land a job in digital marketing or commerce, it is critical to understand that you can only get a good-paying job in an advertisement-related field if you have a degree that is directly related to that area of practice and not advertising.

Advertising lectures focus on marketing items and their sales via media channels such as social media, billboards, and TV.

And anyone who studies advertising will gain knowledge of the aspects of advertising that most appeal to people.

However, this degree subjects students to very few job prospects post-graduation.

People who successfully enroll in and complete an advertising program may be hired by advertising firms, even if finding work is difficult.

Moreover, they also have limited opportunities for educational and professional development.

2. Anthropology and Archaeology

A degree in anthropology and archaeology can seem nice for anyone who cherishes history loves traveling, or is an extrovert.

Nevertheless, it is only recommended for anyone willing to sacrifice their time and money to complete a doctorate and still put in several years as a mere research assistant or a poorly paid intern.

Anthropology studies humanity and culture, whereas archaeology studies human history.

Anyone pursuing a degree in these fields must devote significant time to searching for excavation sites that appear to contain historical information.

However, finding a job like this is not easy and is scarce.

3. Art history

Art history is one of the most useless degrees to get. Anyone who is fascinated by art and design will quickly like this major.

An art history program will expose you to the knowledge of art composition and other art history-related knowledge.

You will also acquire knowledge of some of the greatest artists ever to walk the earth.

Even though art history majors are fascinated by learning about old art and sculpture, getting an excellent job with your degree is challenging.

Although graduates of art history programs know so many things about art, it is hard to get a job where the knowledge will be helpful.

Art history remains one of the most challenging career paths, and it is pretty challenging to excel in this career path.

Suppose a graduate of art history even manages to find a job opportunity. In that case, the job may demand several years of experience before they are considered.

4. Criminal Justice

Criminal justice is another useless degree that no one should look forward to acquiring.

Several students draw inspiration to study criminal justice after watching movies like “Suits” or “How to Get Away with Murder.”

Nonetheless, the truth about a criminal justice career is that you risk being killed, though this is uncommon. Also, finding a job as a criminal justice graduate is so hard.

As a result, many criminal justice graduates work as secretaries or in corporate clerical offices.

Others acquire advanced education to embark on a career as law enforcement officers or even foster care workers.

5. Creative writing

Creative writers have the skills people with a passion for a story or novel writing most desire.

Nevertheless, the level of education that creative writers acquire is so shallow.

Throughout their degree program, creative writing students are empowered with the knowledge of how to construct a story with great words and craft poetry, even though they are also taught how to write professionally.

Moreover, even though possessing a creative writing degree will enable you to develop excellent writing skills, you may never make enough money to satisfy your needs unless you become the author of novels and story books.

The worst thing about this degree program is that the lessons do not focus on journalism, so you will lack the technical ability to engage in news writing and editing.

This alone reduces your chances of finding a job.

6. Communications

Communication is one of the most useless degrees to acquire. It focuses on the study of the science that supports communication.

This degree focuses on making communication easily accessible while enhancing good communication techniques.

If you are fascinated by the field of communications, you can enroll in courses in oral language that will enable you to express yourself better.

However, since communications is a field that has several areas of specialization, your degree program will not concentrate on one main field but on several sub-fields.

Although it may make sense at first glance, you will find it hard to land a good job once you graduate.

7. Culinary arts

A culinary arts degree program empowers one with the knowledge of how to prepare meals and enticingly serve food.

Although a degree in this program can seem like a great idea, especially if you want to become a chef or cook once you complete school, finding a job in a non-culinary-related field is impossible.

Culinary students are empowered with the knowledge of preparing food items for cooking. Still, their skills are limited to the kitchen alone and useless in other jobs.

This is why many culinary graduates end up without a good job after college.

8. Computer Science

A degree in computer science can look so good from the outside and even seem like you are positioning yourself for a great career once you graduate.

Nevertheless, like several of the most useless college degrees on this list, it can be hard to find employment if you are a computer science graduate.

This is because the general computer science field is vast. Many people studying computer science do so because they want to learn how to code, acquire IT knowledge, or discover how cybersecurity works.

Although the computer science major looks good on a CV alone, it is not as straightforward as it seems.

Factors To Consider When Choosing A Degree

Before deciding on a degree, it’s essential to think about the following:

1. Interest

Choosing a college degree based on what interests you is the most crucial consideration. It is much more challenging to succeed in college if you do not enjoy the required subjects. 

If we don’t care about something, it’s only natural that we won’t try to grasp it fully. On the other hand, time flies when you’re engaged in a pursuit you enjoy. 

2. Rates of Employment

Consider future employment opportunities when deciding on a major. Investing in your education is like investing in your future. 

So, it can be very challenging to start reaping the benefits of a degree in a field with intrinsically limited work options. 

It would be best to consider the availability of jobs in your field of study or whether you will need to switch tracks when you graduate. 

If money is a significant worry, you might look into the job market to determine which fields are experiencing shortages and then steer clear of them.

3. Income potential 

Having a high wage is crucial for many people. There is some correlation between your chosen field of study and the pay you can earn after graduation. 

You can expect a higher pay commensurate with your level of expertise and the field in which you work if you major in a field currently in high demand. 

Thus, do some digging around to find out what the average pay is for those who graduated with your intended degree before you commit to a course of study.

4. Planned profession

Even if you have a clear idea of where you want your career to go, you may need to take a particular course of study to get there. 

For example, if your goal is to enter the engineering field, you can’t do better than earn a degree in engineering, as it is tough to get into engineering-related fields without one.

5. Academic accomplishment 

Before committing to it, check to see if you already possess the necessary traits and abilities for the major. 

Sometimes, colleges need you to take an aptitude test before admitting you to a program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On The Most Useless Degrees To Get

What is the most accessible degree to get?

English literature is the most accessible degree to obtain. It offers fantastic job opportunities, and several online schools offer it. Moreover, most of the jobs available for holders of English literature degrees pay very well.

What is the scarcest college degree?

Some of the scarcest college degrees are in citrus science, meteorology, sexuality studies, mortuary science, and Egyptology.

What are the lowest-paying majors?

Social work, health and physical education, design, and applied arts are the majors that pay the least.

What is the best major for me if I have no interest?

If you are not interested in any field, the best major for you is one in liberal arts.

Conclusion

Enrolling in a useless degree program can prevent you from getting a good job and drastically limit your options.

Besides those already discussed, education, entrepreneurship, and fashion design are some of the most useless degrees.

Awesome one; I hope this article answers your question.

Editor’s Recommendations:

If you find this article good, please share it with a friend.

Abasiofon Fidelis
Abasiofon Fidelis

Abasiofon Fidelis is a professional writer who loves to write about college life and college applications. He has been writing articles for over 3 years. He is the Content Manager at School and Travel.

Articles: 602