You 🧑
What are some of the most insane sounding, and arguably valueless degrees that US universities are producing at the moment? Focus on ones that have attracted significant critical feedback.
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Assistant 🤖
Great question! Let me share some of the most eyebrow-raising degree programs and courses that have drawn serious criticism from politicians, pundits, and the public. Here's what I found:
This is probably the most politically targeted one. Ron DeSantis made it a centerpiece of his higher education reform crusade, specifically name-checking it as the go-to example of worthless degrees:
"I'm not a believer in plunging people $150,000 into debt with a degree in 'zombie studies.' That is not a pathway to success." — Ron DeSantis, 2022
Where it exists: Courses have been offered at Cal State East Bay, ETSU (a "Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse" course incorporating teamwork and survival skills), USC, Saint Xavier, Rollins College, George Mason, and Michigan State. While mostly individual courses rather than full degrees, the criticism has been fierce.
The defense: Scholars say zombies are a vehicle for studying sociology, death, and even slavery (the zombie myth originated in Haitian slave narratives). Critics like Emory's Mark Bauerlein call it "fluff" that crowds out the classics.
Political heat: DeSantis signed a law explicitly targeting programs like this, arguing students end up in jobs they could have gotten out of high school.
This one's been making headlines. Brown University's pre-college program offered a course on "fatphobia" exploring "the social, medical, and cultural implications of fatness." The University of Maryland also faced criticism for offering "Introduction to Fat Studies" — which notably framed the topic through a racial lens (how "fatness and Blackness intersect").
Criticism: Conservative outlets have called it "the Ivy League's latest and craziest academic trend." The field's leading scholar, Dr. Cat Pausé (Massey University, NZ), was frequently ridiculed online by figures like Steven Crowder before her death.
This field examines how "whiteness" functions to maintain racial privilege and systemic inequality. It's been a political lightning rod, with critics arguing it's divisive and promotes racial essentialism.
Criticism: FrontPage Magazine called it "the ugly racism of whiteness studies programs." It's been caught up in the broader anti-CRT political wave, with multiple states proposing or passing legislation to defund or ban such programs at public universities.
Yes, UConn offers a full Bachelor's degree in Puppet Arts. Students spend years studying puppetry, from design to performance. It's one of the only programs of its kind in the US.
Criticism: It regularly appears on "weirdest/useless majors" lists. Critics say: "A degree in puppetry in 2026?" Defenders note there's a real industry — think Broadway's The Lion King, theme parks, film, and children's TV.
A full degree program dedicated to the science of baking — not just culinary arts, but the chemistry of bread, pastries, and baked goods at industrial scale.
Criticism: Mocked as "a degree for making cookies." However, the defense is strong: the commercial baking industry is enormous and needs food scientists who understand fermentation, dough rheology, and production at scale. Still, it's a perennial entry on "weird/valueless degree" lists.
This is the perennial punching bag. It's the go-to "useless degree" that politicians and pundits invoke constantly (Rick Scott famously name-checked it). It's been targeted by laws in Florida, Texas, and other states seeking to restrict or defund such programs.
Criticism: The "underwater basket weaving" comparison is so worn out it's become a meme itself. Critics argue low job placement and ROI; supporters argue it develops critical thinking and research skills applicable across sectors.
They offer "Introduction to Surfing" as an actual credit-bearing course. Combined with broader "Surf Studies" or "Surf Science" programs at places like Plymouth University (UK), these are often lampooned.
Criticism: "You're paying tuition to catch waves?" The defense is that it involves oceanography, physics, physiology, and tourism economics.
Full degree programs in the science of beer making.
Criticism: "Beer degree" is an easy target. But this one actually has strong ROI — the craft brewing industry is huge, and graduates get real jobs. UC Davis's Master Brewers Program is well-respected. Still, it gets mocked relentlessly.
In early 2026, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Grand Canyon University by former students claiming the university deceived them into enrolling in degree programs that didn't meet accreditation and licensure requirements — effectively rendering the degrees "worthless" for the career they were supposedly for. This is a different flavor of "valueless" — not about weird content, but about deceptive marketing.
It's worth noting a fascinating reversal happening in 2026: many degrees traditionally mocked as "useless" (Art History, Philosophy, Creative Writing, Anthropology, Theater) are now considered more AI-resistant than supposedly "safe" degrees like Accounting, Finance, and General Business. The EDsmart analysis ranks creativity-heavy degrees as having just 0–15% AI automation exposure, while "practical" business degrees pipeline graduates into jobs where 56–79% of tasks can be automated. So the goalposts are shifting!