Degrees are not just about preparing for a job. Some areas such as flower arrangement and puppetry to re-memtion a couple are areas of study that people would like to focus their studies for many different reasons, mostly personal. Not every university offers the same ones. These are opportunities for people who have a strong interest and academic stregnths to focus on an area of deep personal interest. No, they will not lead to some job that requires that degree, but they are areas that make us more human, and I celebrate those areas of study. Usually, these are extra degrees pursued by those already seaking other degrees, or already have other degrees. Come on now, if you were also established financially, wouldn't you love an opportunity to study the history of pipemaking, or the impact of environmental comditions on development of different strains of tobacco? I would. Degrees are not always sought for employment. Sometimes they are for studying the aspects of the human condition that may seem novel to some, but many parts of our culture deem important.
My adopted father wanted to explore something creative. He had already grown up in With a father that was a jeweler. So, he studied watercolor painting and ceramics to expand hisnown creativity. He then went on to start the nugget jewelry craze of the 80's, seven jewelry stores and a production company. I followed suit by studying Japanese printmaking and world folklore for the same reasons. Not everyone is the same, but durring all of my studies I always knew what I would do when I graduated. I work in ideas to my designs, and I feel that having studied these things makes me a better person. Not better than someone else, but better than I was. I Was very fortunate to have a family that supported its kids in pursuit of knowledge and creativity. I now farm, run a jewelry repair business that does work for half of my state's jewelry stores that no longer have bench jewelers, and I pursue my own inyerest in the jewelery arts that has a hint of Japanese printing and folklore. It makes me happy. My oldest daughter is working on a degree in early childhood education and Appalachian weaving. My step son has his degree in social work amd African Languages and is finishing up a two year stint in AmeriCorp and is in the process of interviewing with the Peace Corp. His focus is on a career in finding some way to make the world a tad bit better. I am very proud of these guys. But, some aspects of their studies sounds fruity by themselves, but combined makes for some personal interest as well as something they can use in their other areas of study.
Just my 0.02. What might sound weird as an area of study by itself can be useful when combined or heck if someone just wants to study it for personal reasons. Not everything has to be a cog in the BIG MACHINE of industry. And, these side degrees can help prevent us from just being corporate cogs, making is more human.
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