10 Newest College Majors

Choosing a “new” college degree program in an emerging field helps boost your potential career options. If you enroll in a relatively new college major, the competition in the job market won’t be as intense as a common degree that’s been around for years!

Did you know that the majority of new college disciplines and degree programs today involve technology? Let’s explore 10 of the newest and growing college majors today. 

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is one of the most highly anticipated technologies of the 21^st century. This is where you will learn how to understand and control matters at the nanometer scale. You will learn to convert your knowledge of nanoscience theories to useful applications by measuring, observing, assembling, manipulating, and manufacturing matters at the nanometer scale. 

On the nanometer scale, materials exhibit peculiar properties. For example, if you try to change a particle size, the material will change its color as well. That is because in particles of the nanometer scale, how atoms are arranged will affect how light reflects.

In the US, nanotechnology courses are the second best in the world. This field is expected to bring groundbreaking changes in technology related to the environment, energy, agriculture, health, and more. At present, the US government is spending a lot of money on developing nanotechnology in practically all sectors, thereby opening new doors of opportunities for those who are interested in the field.

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• Northwest Missouri State University offers a nanoscience major where students can specialize in nanoscience chemistry, nanoscience biology, or nanoscience physics. This interdisciplinary and comprehensive major focuses on providing students with practical laboratory experiences, synthesizing nanoparticles to create solar cells, and isolating DNA.
• For those who are looking into a graduate program concentration, Stevens Institute of Technology offers cross-disciplinary education training in nanotechnology. This nanotechnology concentration provides an interesting and cross-fertilizing educational education in nanotechnology to contribute to the school’s research institute. This is jointly administered within the four founding academic departments of SIT that help bridge different disciplines and address the ever-increasing cross-cutting nature of nanotechnology research. 

Popular Culture Studies

Movies, literature, music, and TV shows have been critical parts of society and culture. Even before the onset of the internet, people were always crazy over stories. As its name implies, popular culture studies take a closer look at how media affects the public, why some songs or stories make a huge impact on others, and how these things challenge and change social values. 

Society members recognize popular culture as a set of artistic output, beliefs, and practices, as well as objects that are generally prevalent or dominant in society at a given point in time. Popular culture studies are taken from a critical theory standpoint, combining cultural studies and communication studies.

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• The Department of English at Michigan State University offers a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Popular Culture Studies. Those who enroll in this concentration will complete five different courses focused on Popular Culture Studies within the BA English program. The school also offers a Popular Culture Studies minor where students will only complete four courses (13 credits) plus a 3-credit elective course.
• Western Kentucky University’s Popular Cultural Studies covers courses such as Independent Studies in Popular Culture Studies and Special Topics in Popular Culture Studies, as well as the capstone Senior Seminar in Popular Culture Studies. 

Biomedical Engineering

A few colleges have offered Biomedical Engineering over the past decades. However, it remains a very low-key major because of the lack of career prospects. But in recent years, huge scientific and technological advancements have launched this field to the front. 

Also called medical engineering, biomedical engineering (BME) is the use of engineering design concepts and principles in Biology and Medicine for healthcare, such as therapeutic or diagnostic. This is also a logical science to advance health care treatment, like therapy, monitoring, and diagnosis.

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• Drexel University offers a BS in Biomedical Engineering designed to prepare students to create, design, and develop systems and devices that help improve the quality of life and overall human health. Students are required to choose at least one of the following concentrations, with each concentration requiring three courses that provide depth in a specific area of biomedical engineering:

• Biomaterials
• Tissue Engineering
• Biomechanics
• Neuroengineering
• Biomedical Imaging
• Biomedical Informatics 

• Michigan Technological University’s Biomedical Engineering degree program is at the intersection of biology and engineering. The program seeks to improve the many facets of health care, where students will learn to develop methods for replacing or repairing diseased and damaged organs, measure the human body’s internal structure, and create new and better diagnostic tools. 

Social Media Majors

Social Media degrees combine training in Business, Graphic Design, Advertising, and Statistics with Marketing and Journalism strategies. These majors are offered at both the baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate levels. Students will study how social media can be utilized in the workplace and how this data can be examined and tracked. Some courses to take include:

• Social Media Strategies
• Web Analytics
• Search Engine Optimization
• Digital Media 

Social media managers are the experts in creating metrics that allow organizations to know if their messages are conveyed and received correctly. These managers are also highly skilled in generating sales leads and making social media strategies that help increase ROI, which is very crucial to any organization.

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• Arkansas State University offers a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication (with Social Media Management Certification) program where students will learn the basics of strategic communication and an in-depth study on social media measurement, case studies, and social media as a whole. The courses are designed to prepare students to become both Hootsuite- and Google Analytics-certified upon completion of the degree. 
• Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor’s in Technical Communication – Social Media Management concentration. In this project-oriented course, students learn about design, writing, management, and other techniques for producing different content. They will also have the chance to learn about grant writing, podcasting, usability testing, or data visualization. 

Computer Security

As computers become more advanced, so must computer security measures! Computer security specialists are very in demand these days, especially by the government or big corporations. In a computer security program, students will have classes in systems analysis and design, basic operating systems, advanced computer forensics, and calculus. As computer and internet security professionals, they will be responsible for protecting systems against cyber-attacks and keeping user information safe, too. 

One of the most popular college majors for Computer Security is Cybersecurity. Earning a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity will teach you foundational computing knowledge and skills with an emphasis on information security issues. Students will also focus on specialized topics like network security, ethical hacking, and security risk management.

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• The University of South Florida offers a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity that is built on a technical foundation of information technology and computing.
• Capitol Technology University offers a Cybersecurity bachelor’s degree online and on campus, introducing students to the fundamental concepts of Cybersecurity, including data integrity, confidentiality, and availability. Students are also taught virtualization, risk management, and digital forensics. 

Petroleum Engineering

Petroleum Engineering can be one of the most lucrative college majors for your students. Although the market in this field is extremely competitive, the financial rewards you get are incredibly high. Petroleum engineers create and develop ways for extracting gas and oil from deposits below the Earth’s core. They can be seen working in offices or at wells and drilling sites. 

Students who opt to enroll in this major should expect a highly intensive program that features a diverse collection of classes, including economics, engineering, and environmental studies. Since there is high competition for future jobs in this field, it’s best to consider taking a post-baccalaureate degree to improve your chances of success in joining the job market.

Colleges Offering this New College Major:

• The University of Texas in Austin offers a BS in Petroleum Engineering program that produces competent engineers in the gas and oil production and services industry. Degree holders of Petroleum Engineering have a clear understanding of the basic principles of engineering and the science behind the technology of this profitable field.
• The Petroleum Engineering bachelor’s degree program at the University of Oklahoma uses the latest and most advanced research facilities to prepare students for the future of the gas and oil industry. Students learn about contemporary gas and oil issues, engineering processes, extraction methods, and resource development. 

Nuclear Engineering

Nuclear engineering is a specialized major with amazing financial rewards for those who will earn a bachelor’s degree in this field. While this is more of a niche field, finding a job is exceptionally beneficial from a financial perspective. As our planet is moving towards more renewable energy sources, the demand for jobs in this field is growing. 

Those who plan to major in nuclear engineering, however, expect to do extra work as this is challenging. Plus, you need to work more on your math skills. Learning how nuclear energy works and understanding nuclear physics, together with the relevant safety procedures, are integral parts of a nuclear engineering major. 

While this is a very lucrative job, keep in mind that many employers expect more of nuclear engineers. Ideally, you should hold a master’s or a PhD in this field to ensure you get the best jobs.

Colleges Offering this New College Major:

• North Carolina State University offers a Bachelor of Science program in Nuclear Engineering that prepares graduates for future positions in national laboratories, in the nuclear industry, or for graduate study. This program incorporates engineering and basic sciences, with an emphasis on physics and mathematics, followed by coursework in nuclear science and technology.
• Texas A&M University’s Nuclear Engineering degree program, offered through the Department of Nuclear Engineering, produces competent engineers who meet the technical workforce demands in space applications, nuclear energy production, and radiological health technologies. Students learn the fundamentals of Nuclear Engineering that hinge on Mathematics and Engineering Science principles.

Construction Management

Construction Management provides a project owner with efficient management of the project cost, schedule, safety, quality, function, and scope. This field is geared toward hands-on builders. Because of the constant need for more business buildings, schools, homes, and hospitals nationwide, a construction management major is continuously in demand to this day. 

A degree in construction management is one of the best ways to prepare yourself for a position working as a construction manager. This job is a suitable choice for those who are interested in business, construction, and supervising others.

Colleges Offering this New College Major:

• The University of Colorado Denver’s Bachelor of Science in Construction Management provides students with a solid foundation in Engineering, Construction Engineering, and Management courses. Offered through the College of Architecture and Planning, this program requires students to complete a capstone course in construction design and fulfill a 12-week, full-time internship requirement with an engineer, architect, government agency, and contractor agency.
• The Bachelor of Science in Construction Management program at the University of Florida is a four-year course featuring construction operations, techniques, management, and other related areas in the construction industry.

Software Engineering

Software engineering is a computer-related college program that is quickly becoming popular in recent years. This increase in popularity, though, does not come as a surprise, with the job markets always expanding in this field of technology. 

Software Engineering involves creating, testing, and implementing computer applications to help solve real-world programs by following a set of engineering practices and principles. This field applies an organized and disciplined approach to software development with the goal of improving time, quality, and budget efficiency, together with the guarantee of engineering certification and structured testing. 

Software engineers can work in different job positions, with software and application programming and development being one of the most popular future career paths chosen.

Colleges Offering this New College Major:

• Southern New Hampshire University offers an online bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering that focuses on the development and design of computer software to solve real-world problems.
• Western Governors University offers an online Software Engineering degree featuring scripting and programming, mobile application development, web development, software quality assurance, and UX design courses. It is presented in two tracks to allow students to become fluent in either C# or Java.

Game Design

Game Design is a relatively new type of college major that is quickly becoming popular, thanks to the continued demand in the gaming industry. A bachelor’s in Game Design will teach students the fundamentals of creating an application or a video game and will guide them in brushing up their general software development and coding skills. This is a great college major for creative and detail-oriented gamers who love to code. 

Schools Offering this New College Major:

• A Bachelor’s in Game Design and Development is offered at the University of Arizona, focusing on virtual interactive environments. Students get opportunities to connect with local and national companies like Octavia Digital Media, Hydrant, and the Enterprise Technology division of State Farm.
• Old Dominion University offers a BS in Game Design, Development, and Criticism degree in two tracks: Design and Criticism (emphasizing game writing and design) and Development and Criticism (focusing on game programming concepts).