You can never be too careful when choosing a course to study in the university because if you make the wrong choice you’ll end up with a useless degree. Some would argue that there is nothing like a “useless degree” but in Nigeria and Africa as a whole there is. There are courses offered in African universities that are close to impossible for you to get a job with, and the information learned is hardly transferable to other areas. The reason I’m writing this article is to sternly warn you to steer clear of them.
As the world changes and the graduate market becomes more and more crowded, secondary school graduates are feeling more and more pressure to choose the right courses to study at the university. None of us wants to graduate without a potential return on investment.
As a result, it’s critical to stay away from pointless degrees. In this article, I will outline 10 courses where the chances of employment after graduation are close to zero or where a degree is unlikely to set you apart from non-graduates.
1. Physical and health education
Unless you plan to become a PHE teacher, I see no reason why you should study this course. Even if you plan to, it’s not necessary to study this course for four years just so you can become a PHE teacher.
In affluent nations, the course will create a fantastic career, but in a place like Nigeria, the likelihood of landing a job as a fitness teacher or coach is quite low.
Even if you have a keen interest in the area, your time and money will be better spent going to the gym than obtaining a PHE degree in Nigeria.
2. Zoology
The science and study of animals is the focus of zoology. Zoologists typically work as researchers or teachers in universities or museums. In a nation like Nigeria, where people do not value wildlife, the course is not viable.
There are several deficient areas in the economy, so as a nation, it would be stupid to invest in wildlife conservation and research. The few zoos we have are not cared for well enough to warrant the employment of several zoologists. So the work opportunities available for zoologists are highly limited.
If you can’t get government work, the only other area is to join an NGO since you can’t possibly start a private practice as a zoologist. Joining an NGO without connections is a task that is close to impossible.
3. Horticulture
The agronomic science that studies the growth of trees, vegetables, and flowers is called horticulture. This is one of the worst courses you can study as horticulturists have few employment options.
Everyone enjoys a nice view, but few are willing to invest in it. Even among the rich, very few are willing to procure the employment of a horticulturist to plant flowers. The best option you have to market this skill is to open a flower shop, and if you have plans for that gaining practical skills will benefit you much more than obtaining a university degree.
4. Culinary arts
Although many in the culinary industry believe that attending culinary school is a necessary step in the profession, the majority believe that experience and natural skills are more important than formal education. As a result, it could be wiser to spend your money and time in a kitchen than in a classroom.
It doesn’t matter how much you read about cooking, it’s your experience in the kitchen that matters. As long as you can cook delicious food, employers and customers won’t care whether you have a degree in culinary arts or not.
5. Fashion design
Obtaining a fashion design degree might sound like a good idea. Indeed, the opportunity to establish some relationships inside the sector is extremely helpful in a field where who you know matters just as much as what you know. The main problem is that, like many design-related fields, fashion design requires a high creative aptitude and an intrinsic artistic skill, which are impossible to teach in any institution.
With fashion design, practice makes perfect. The more you design and make clothes, the better you become at your art. So you don’t need a fashion design degree to become a great fashion designer.
6. Art history
Art history is a highly specialized topic that, regrettably, isn’t transferable unless you choose to pursue a career in academia or curating. Hardly anyone will employ your knowledge in the history of art, and you can’t even use your knowledge to start a private practice.
There are not a lot of museums in Nigeria for a career as an art curator to be successful. In the end, if you decide to study art history, your best chance at earning money will be to become an art teacher.
7. Music
If you ask any great musician how they got started in the business, they’ll probably tell you that a lot of things contributed to their success, including practice, hard work, and stage experience. One thing they won’t have depended on is a degree in music.
There are, of course, exceptions. Particularly for classical musicians, theory-heavy instruction and practice are necessary. Regardless, the only use for your music would be becoming a music teacher.
8. Anthropology and Archeology
I lumped these two together because they share a lot of similarities in their areas of study and marketability. Archaeology is the study of past human societies by studying physical evidence left behind, while anthropology is the study of human society and culture both past and present.
Studying anthropology or archaeology seems to be an appealing option as they are both truly fascinating topics. They also help build highly sought-after cognitive and analytical abilities. The one minor drawback is that neither provides a feasible professional path. A PhD is a must to succeed in any area, and even then, a successful career may not materialize despite the expense, time, and work involved. It’s quite doubtful that you’ll ever find a purpose for your degree in the real world unless it’s only to fulfill your interest in the topic.
9. Philosophy
The writings of Aristotle, Friedrich Nietzsche, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Arthur Schopenhauer, and many other influential philosophers may be discussed for hours. However, as a career option?
This is not the best choice you can make since finding a philosophy-related solid career and money will be unattainable. It is not the best choice to pursue philosophy as a major since there aren’t many job opportunities after graduation.
10. Tourism and travel
A degree in travel and tourism may seem like the ideal option for those who want to work in an industry that will transport them all over the world. If only that was how life was.
The unfortunate truth is that, particularly in the current climate, it is more difficult to find a job opportunity that pays a respectable wage. Naturally, there’s always the chance to become a well-known YouTuber or traveller on Instagram, but there’s no assurance in either case.
Conclusion
Nigerian universities have a track record of offering courses some of these courses to students who do not meet the cut-off mark for their chosen courses. Instead of studying one of these courses, you’re better off learning a skill or waiting another year to apply again because these degrees are practically useless. Choose wisely before deciding on a course to study and steer clear of the above 10 courses.
