22 Sep 2016

You’ve heard of Law and Medicine and Communications and Science, but if you’ve ever looked at a course list for a university or college, you’ll know that there are literally hundreds of different degrees to choose from.

While the tried-and-true routes are usually good options, they can also get pretty competitive.

So, if you wanna use the road less travelled and complete a course that’s a little bit out-of-the-box, then we’ve got you covered.

1. Bachelor of Visual Arts Majoring in Glass

Fancy yourself a keen glass blower? No? I’m not sure there would be many glass extraordinaires in our midst, but why not become one? If you’re creative and keen on trying an art form that’s a little bit different, why not give glass a go? You could be creating anything from practical objects like wine glasses, to glass jewellery and intricate glass sculptures – the sky’s the limit!

Potential career paths: Glass blower, glass designer, jewellery maker, sculptor, art teacher.

2. Bachelor of Planning

Do you have a good eye for creating spaces? Are you interested in the environment and sustainability? Want to create something great for your community? A Bachelor of Planning will help you to become and urban or regional planning whiz, creating beautiful, functional and environmentally sustainable public spaces for the people in your community and beyond.

Potential career paths: Environmental planner, local government planner and development assessor, social or environmental consultant, social planner and strategic planner.

3. Bachelor of Zoology

Animal lovers rejoice! There is the perfect degree out there for you, and that is the Bachelor of Zoology. Study anything and everything to do with all animals, from land to sky to sea. This is a science-based course, so on top of animal behaviour and ecology, you’ll be studying things like biochemistry, genetics and even palaeontology (Ross Geller, anyone?).

Potential career paths: As a qualified zoologist, you could work for CSIRO, governments agencies, zoos, museums, national parks, research stations, breeding businesses and heaps more.

4. Bachelor of Plant Science

If you consider yourself rather green-thumbed, then Plant Science is right up your alley. In this degree, you’ll basically be studying what plants are, how they grow and how they interact with the world around them. The human race relies on plants to survive, so in a way, the entire world would be depending on your research. You’re basically a superhero.  Plus, plant scientists are in high demand rn, so jump on it.

Potential career paths: Plant scientists can consult for and be employed by a number of industries, including environmental management and agriculture, biotech companies, government departments, statutory authorities and universities.

5. Bachelor of Science in Game Development

Have you only just managed to tear yourself away from a video game long enough to read this article? Are you constantly critiquing the games you play, wishing the creators did something a little differently? Well, why not be the one calling the shots with a Bachelor in Game Development. You’ll get an all-rounded education in IT, plus everything you need to know about game design.

Potential career paths: Animation/graphics specialist, game developer/designer, or a bunch of other roles in IT, including programmers, IT project managers, software developers, software engineers or web developers.

6. Bachelor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Are you the next Steve Jobs or Richard Branson? Got an idea or business venture you wanna pursue one day? Want to make real social change? A degree in Innovation & Entrepreneurship will help you learn the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur, be that in a big business, small business or not-for-profit organisation. Note that many unis offer Entrepreneurship as a branch of their Bachelor of Commerce.

Potential career paths: Other than being self-employed and/or starting your own business, this degree could also lead to business consultancy, business analysis, management or working in the innovation sector of large businesses.

7. Bachelor of Classical Studies

Was history your jam in high school? Love hearing about all things ancient? Classical Studies is perfect for you. You’ll be exploring the classical worlds of Greece and Rome from about the 3rd millennium BC, up until the beginning of the Medieval Period around 500 AD. You’ll probably be encouraged to visit the sites of one of these ancient cities too, which is a massive plus.

Potential career paths: Teaching, research, historical societies, translation, the public service, tourism, museum work.

8. Bachelor of Policing

Think the police force is something you might be interested in, but still keen on uni? Not to worry, just complete a Bachelor of Policing, where you’ll learn everything you need to know about modern law enforcement. These courses are created in conjunction with Australian police forces to ensure you’re prepared for a career in policing or other areas of law enforcement.

Potential career paths: Police officer, justice agency worker, law enforcement.

9. Bachelor of Design Computing

We’re living in a world where technology is changing all the time, and there are very few degrees that can keep up with new trends. If you want to get ahead of the curve and study a degree that will prepare you for the jobs of the future, Design Computing will ensure you have a variety of skills in different creative computing programs. You’ll learn about graphic design, user experience, interaction design, object design and programming.

Potential career paths: You could be designing products and services for big companies or boutique creative studios. Careers could include interaction designer, digital producer, graphic designer, or many roles in IT. 

10. Bachelor of Criminology

Want your life to be like an episode of SVU (or as close as it could possibly get)? Try studying a Bachelor of Criminology. You’ll be studying crime and justice from all different angles; legal, social, cultural, and psychological. You will delve deep into the world of crime and how it is punished, as well as what policies and laws are in place to prevent crime and what other reforms should be made to further prevent crime. Sign me up, sounds interesting as heck.

Potential career paths: Community development worker, police officer, case worker, case manager, youth worker, policy developer, correctional officer.