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There's great opportunity for research and academic progress in all areas of study. Even what people consider useless like sociology and psychology... we're seeing an increased demand in academia. More college students are dropping out of college after achieving their bachelors and never finishing. It's created a gap in these areas of study.
A bachelor's degree is often a terminal degree: people simply don't want to study more.
It used to be that you could count on getting a PhD to teach, but universities have fewer and fewer tenured positions, so that career choice is often not lucrative.
The following and common excuse I hear as to why people get useless degrees:
1.) I like studying "X". (X = Useless major)
No one cares what you "like". Unless you are independently wealthy, your goal is to get a job that pays well after college. You better study something that gives you an actual skill set so you can earn a decent living to support the lifestyle that you want.
2.) I'm smart enough to study "Y", I was just too lazy. (Y = Useful major such as engineering, accounting, etc.)
Sure you are... This is a very common excuse as no one like to admit to being too stupid to pass the required math, science, and engineering classes to get an useful degree.
The educational system doesn't do a great job of preparing students for the real world. I definitely think following one's interests is a good thing, but practicality has to be taken into account as well. It's about finding the bridge.
I am getting a Bachelor's in General Studies because nothing interested me at the time at my university. I will graduate May 2015, and have pinpointed my interests. I will then get a Master's in Human Resource, and eventually get a PhD in Human Resource. I know; my projected end date is April 2022. I just cannot imagine 2022. However, I am very happy I was not forced to specialize my bachelor's degree, because it is just a start. With a General Studies degree I have any job open to me, as long as I get the experience.
I didn't even know there was such a thing as a General Studies degree. I graduated 20 years ago with a double major, in economics and English. Neither of them really had that tough of requirements, as far as required classes. I may not have the designation of "General Studies" but honestly, it's pretty much what I got. I had classes in math, both physical and biological science, and ethnic studies, in additional to my classes in econ and English. I know that I only needed 4 specific econ classes, plus 4 additional econ classes of my choice, to complete the major's requirement. I would have only had to take one per semester, if I had decided on it as a major right away.
But, I think "General Studies" as a label doesn't sound quite as marketable as a more specific major, to an employer. To me, it just sounds like an extension of high school, like you couldn't make up your mind about what you wanted to do.
There is no point in earning a degree in underwater basket weaving if all you can do with it is become a professor of underwater basket weaving.
In other words, self-perpetuation in the realm of academia is worthless.
Some people do want to become a professor of underwater basket weaving BUT the labor market of being a college professor has suffered as universities try to make teaching as cheap as possible.
The educational system doesn't do a great job of preparing students for the real world. I definitely think following one's interests is a good thing, but practicality has to be taken into account as well. It's about finding the bridge.
That's because it is not at all the educational system's job to prepare students for the real world. That is the workplace's job. The problem here is that the American workplace has abandoned the concept of on-the-job training and the entry level job. It used to be the expectation that you came into a new industry with no marketable skills for that industry, only the potential to develop those skills.
Some people do want to become a professor of underwater basket weaving BUT the labor market of being a college professor has suffered as universities try to make teaching as cheap as possible.
Those people need to choose a field that serves a purpose other than self-perpetuation. More importantly, universities should stop offering these pointless programs.
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