BA in English Literature, MA in the Humanities. My MA was a newfangled interdisciplinary thing where you could choose from classes in any subject as long as you produced a coherent thesis by the end. Most of my classes were either literature classes or sociology/history classes connected to Korean-American literature (topic of my thesis).
I have always been a literature geek but lately I’ve been contemplating getting another degree in science so I can take advantage of the UK’s golden hello system when we move there (currently I’m a teacher).
First degree: Until the end of the second year, I had enough subjects to major in either English or Mathematics. At that time, I decided to major in English.
Second degree: Legal studies in a commerce degree.
B.A. in English Literature. It was probably one of the last majors I imagined for myself as a senior in high school, but that’s where I ended up after my last spin of Wheel of Majors. Never really bothered me, as I was of the philosophy that one liberal arts degree was as good as any other. It’s served me fine, but I do nothing related to my major (and never intended to.)
Started as undeclared Science intending to eventually do Biology, but at the end of my Freshman year I switched to BS in Psychology. I generally avoided the behavioral classes though and focused on the neuroscience aspects. I had enough bio/science classes by the end to get my Minor (or maybe Cognate) in Biology anyway.
Originally Biochemisty, but this was in England where, in those days anyway (I understand it is all different now) you didn’t have majors, you had subjects. In my case we had absolutely no choices about what other courses we took: first year it was biochem., organic chemistry and physiology, second year was 2/3 biochem. and 1/3 inorganic & physical chem., third (and final ) year, all biochem. (I believe at some other universities you got the option of doing either physiology or microbiology. Softies!)
I started off doing 1st year Medicine, then changed to a science degree majoring in biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology. As I finished that degree, I decided a career in science wasn’t for me, and did a business degree majoring in commercial law and marketing.
I’ve worked in marketing now for 12 years or so, and still am happy with the decision. The science has come in handy when working with complex insurance definitions etc - and it’s always something I’m interested in in my spare time.
Major: Animal Sciences, subspecialty in Animal Biology. It met all the pre-vet requirements. And it was intended more for those looking further studies (grad school or veterinary school), than for those willing to work in the industry. The last group usually took either equine, beef cattle, or dairy cattle concentrations.
Minors: Zoology, which was basically built in around my Animal Biology electives, and Portuguese, which was something completely random.
I’m now a veterinarian doing a residency. Of my undergrad concentrations, I use Portuguese the most on a daily basis.
BA in communication and journalism, and MS in communication studies. I’m currently pursuing a master’s in teaching with the goal of being a high school social studies teacher. Surprisingly, the communication thing is working well with it because my BA involved a lot of electronic media, which is the hot new thing in education, and my MS is basically in social sciences. I minored in history and took some government and poli sci courses, so I’m not exactly an idiot in that regard, either.
First time I attended, I wanted to get a teaching degree in French and Spanish. But I dropped out after the first year - turns out I wasn’t ready for college. So I joined the Navy, worked as an electronics technician, then the Navy sent me to school to become an Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineer. Naturally with such a background, I ended up in the Pentagon as a Communications Officer… :rolleyes:
After my 5-year obligation was repaid, I was hired by the Navy as a mechanical engineer, and later was assigned as an aerospace structural engineer. As I creep up on retirement (any time I want to go) I’m working as a mechanical engineer again. But I did use my foreign language skills when I was deployed in Spain and vacationed in Paris, so the first degree attempt wasn’t a total waste.
Philosophy. I originally planned on going pre-med, but then shadowed a surgeon and hated it, and was enjoying my philosophy classes, so went with that. I’ve never used the specifics of that degree, and if I could do it over, I’d pick something different, probably art (I’m a professional artist now).
I did a semester as a criminal justice major, realized I didn’t want to hang out with cops. Switched to Natural Resource Sciences (Forestry), now I earn my money by hiking in circles.
BA in Religious Studies; MPhil, PhD in Sociology of Religion.
Left academia more than 20 years ago, have had various editing and writing gigs ever since. Currently content manager for a higher education website start-up, which I guess completes some kind of circle.
Danish mag. art. degree (which is different from a MA degree - it takes longer for instance) in History of Religion and Indology (4.5 years of History of Religion, 2 years of Indology).
