Last week, I brought you the list of 15 ‘useful’ university degrees with high employment prospects and provided justifications for each. I promised you that I would bring you the list of ‘useless’ degrees to balance the discussion so that you can have a comprehensive overview of both sides and make a judgment for yourself. Here you have it.
If you are a high school student or leaver with aspirations of entering university, or if you are already enrolled in university but uncertain about the career prospects and job market demands of your chosen programme, then this article is tailored to address your concerns and provide some valuable insights.
This article might seem harsh and controversial, but you’re free to share your thoughts on it and even disagree with me. After all, the term ‘useless’ is subjective – that is, what might be ‘useless’ to one person may not necessarily be so to another. Therefore, permit me to establish a working definition of “useless” as used in this article.
A university degree can be considered “useless” if it fails to provide practical skills, knowledge, or opportunities that are valued in the job market or society at large. A degree is also ‘useless’ if the job opportunities it provides can be filled by graduates from other disciplines.
Eight (8) Ways to Determine a Useless Degree
Before I proceed to list the twenty (20) ‘useless’ university degrees, let me give you the eight parameters I used to determine the ‘uselessness’ of a university degree. So that, if your degree is not captured in my list, you can use the eight (8) parameters to determine if your programme of choice is useless or not. Yes, it is possible the degree you want to pursue or are pursuing now, is useless but not captured in my list. Therefore, these factors below could guide you to assess your programme.
Lack of alignment with personal interests and goals:
A degree that does not align with an individual’s personal interests, aspirations, passion, or long-term goals is ‘useless’. When there is a disconnect between one’s passion and the degree programme they pursue, it leads to dissatisfaction and a sense of wasted time and effort, diminishing the usefulness of the degree.
- Lack of demand and low employment outcomes:
A degree is ‘useless’ if there is little to no demand for the skills and knowledge it offers. If there are few job opportunities or career paths associated with a particular degree, it may be difficult for graduates to find meaningful employment. A degree’s usefulness can be influenced by its track record in terms of employment outcomes. If graduates from a particular programme consistently struggle to find employment or secure positions that align with their education, it may raise concerns about the degree’s practical value.
- Rapidly changing or declining industry:
If the industry or field associated with a degree is experiencing significant decline or technological disruption, the degree may lose its relevance. For example, a degree in a declining industry or a field that has been heavily automated may be considered less valuable in the job market.
- Limited transferable skills:
Some degrees provide knowledge and skills that are not easily transferable to other industries or sectors. For instance, highly specialized degrees that focus on a narrow field of study without offering broader skills may limit graduates’ job prospects.
- Lack of practical experience:
Degrees that emphasize theoretical knowledge without providing opportunities for practical application are ‘useless’. The world of work thrives on practice, not theory, or at least a balance of both. Practical experience, such as internships, cooperative education programmes, or hands-on projects, enhance the value of a degree by providing real-world skills and industry connections.
- Saturation of graduates:
If there is an abundant supply of graduates in a particular field compared to the available job opportunities (higher supply than demand), it devalues the degree. This saturation can lead to increased competition and lower wages, making it harder for graduates to secure desirable employment.
- Rapidly evolving job market:
The job market is constantly evolving, and some degree programmes may fail to keep pace with emerging trends and industry needs. Degrees that do not adapt to changing market demands may become less relevant over time.
- Poor reputation or accreditation:
A degree that is not accredited or obtained from an unaccredited institution is a ‘useless’ degree. Such a degree will not be recognized by any society or employer. Indeed, the reputation and accreditation status of the university granting the degree affect the degree’s usefulness. Also, degrees from institutions with a history of low academic standards, lack of rigorous curriculum, or questionable accreditation may be viewed as less credible by employers and society.
The Twenty (20) Useless University Degrees
Now, let’s go to the 20 useless degrees. These degrees have low tendencies of landing the holder a job upon graduation. While the ‘useless’ degrees might be many, for the purposes of this article, I have listed only twenty (20). If your degree is not part of the list here, just use the eight (8) parameters above to evaluate yours and make a decision. This list is compiled after thorough research, observation, and consultation with industry experts. The list is arranged in alphabetical order.
- Anthropology/Archaeology:
This degree can be considered less valued in the job market due to limited demand for professionals specializing in these fields. Graduates from this programme do not have many job openings. Only a few institutions may be interested in such fields, and these institutions are normally already filled. Hence, it becomes difficult to land a job immediately upon completion. Individuals may want to pursue postgraduate degrees in these fields before they can find a job in teaching. Therefore, unless you’re pursuing this programme as a passion, it is not advisable to pursue it.
- Biology:
While a biology degree provides a strong foundation in the life sciences, the job prospects are very low. It is difficult to secure a job in this field with a degree in Biology. Apart from teaching, only a few industries would need the services of biologists. Even with that, one may need to pursue further specialization or obtain additional practical skills. The field of biology is highly competitive, and without advanced degrees or specialized training, job prospects may be limited.
- Business Administration:
Although a degree in business administration can provide a broad understanding of management principles, it is considered less valuable if the skills and knowledge acquired are not supplemented with specialized expertise. The job market for general business administration graduates can be highly competitive, and employers often look for candidates with more specialized degrees in areas such as finance, marketing, human resource management, accounting, or banking and finance. If you do a general administration programme without specialization, the job prospects become very slim.
- Classics:
A degree in classics, which focuses on the study of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, may be seen as less practical in terms of direct job prospects. While it can provide a strong foundation in critical thinking and research skills, the limited demand for professionals solely trained in classics may make it difficult for graduates to find employment directly related to their degree.
- Communication:
A degree in communication is not ‘useless’ in itself. However, the skills it provides overlap with skills in other disciplines, which makes it a non-essential degree. Some argue that the skills developed in a communication degree, such as writing, (public) speaking, and interpersonal communication, can be acquired through other disciplines or through practical experience. For example, the tendency for an accountant, engineer, teacher, etc., to easily double as a good writer, good public speaker, or do a communication job is higher than the tendency that holding a communication degree can make you do an accounting or engineering job. This makes the field of communication saturated because the limited job opportunities in the field can be filled by people from other disciplines. It is not surprising that some of the personalities doing well in communication come from different disciplines for their bachelor’s degrees. Examples include Israel Laryee (Marketing) – Joy News, Sampson Anyenini (LLB) – Joy News, Berla Mundi (Psychology & Linguistics) – TV3, Bernard Avle (Economics) – CITI FM, Alfred Ocansey (Psychology) – TV3, Portia Gabor (Psychology) – TV3, etc.
- Counseling:
I am a certified counselor with license from the Ghana Psychology Council, and I can confirm to you that, in a country like ours, counseling is still struggling for acceptance. People have not come to terms with the value of counseling. In fact, in many ways, people interchange advice for counseling. Therefore, people would more likely confide in their parents, elderly siblings or friends, teachers, opinion leaders in the community, experts in specific fields, psychologists, etc. This makes the work of the counselor almost disregarded. Apart from a few institutions, predominantly educational institutions, people rarely engage counselors. This makes counseling feel saturated. Almost everybody is a counselor in one form or the other. So, unless you want to become a counselor for an educational institution, spending money and time pursuing a four-year degree in the field does not look ideal.
- Dance:
You don’t need a degree in dance to become a professional dancer. Professional dance careers often require exceptional talent, physical ability, and a high level of dedication. That is why most of the world’s best dancers who make a fortune out of dancing do not possess any degree in dance. While a dance degree can provide artistic and technical skills, graduates may find it challenging to secure stable employment as dancers and may need to explore alternative career paths related to dance, such as teaching or choreography.
- Entrepreneurship:
A degree in entrepreneurship may be considered less valued for a few reasons. Firstly, entrepreneurship is often seen as a field that relies heavily on practical experience and real-world skills, which some believe are best learned through hands-on experience rather than academic coursework. Additionally, entrepreneurship is associated with individual drive and creativity, qualities that are often thought to be innate and not easily taught in a university setting. Industries that would employ the holder of such a degree are limited, and setting up one’s own business does not also require a degree in entrepreneurship.
- History:
The job market for history graduates is not very open because there are few job opportunities directly related to the field. The job openings for history degrees are normally in teaching and museum curation, which are quite limited. Also, some careers related to history, such as museum curating or archival work, can be oversaturated with qualified candidates, leading to fierce competition for limited job openings. This can make it difficult to secure a position in these specific fields.
- Languages and Linguistics:
A degree in the local languages or linguistics may face challenges in terms of job market appeal and employment prospects. Pursuing a degree specifically in languages such as Fante, Ewe, Twi, Nzema, and other local languages or linguistics may limit the range of job opportunities available to individuals. While there may be some job options, such as teaching positions or occasional work in translation and interpretation, these opportunities may be limited in number and not always financially lucrative or sustainable. One of the main reasons for the limited job chances in this field is the relatively small demand for specialized knowledge in local languages. The number of individuals or organizations requiring expertise in these specific languages may be limited, particularly outside of the local or regional context where these languages are primarily spoken. As a result, the pool of available jobs becomes smaller, limiting the career options for individuals with a degree in these languages.
- Literature:
While studying literature enhances critical thinking, communication, and analytical skills, graduates may find it challenging to secure employment directly related to their degree. Although a literature degree can be valuable in fields such as publishing, writing, journalism, education, or cultural organizations, there are people pursuing degrees specific to these fields, such as a degree in publishing, journalism, culture/African studies, among others. It appears that a degree in literature does not lead to any specific job. Many employers may prioritize candidates with more specialized or job-specific skills, making it challenging to find suitable employment solely based on a literature degree.
- Music:
Although a music degree can provide valuable knowledge and opportunities, it is not an absolute requirement for achieving success in the music industry. Musical proficiency is primarily driven by innate talent, consistency, and creativity, as evidenced by numerous highly acclaimed musicians who have excelled without formal music education. While a music degree can facilitate entry into teaching, music production, arts administration, and related domains, these career paths can also be pursued through practical experience and self-guided learning. Therefore, the decision to pursue a music degree should be carefully considered.
- Philosophy:
A degree in philosophy can be considered less valued in terms of direct job prospects because it may not lead to specific career paths. While studying philosophy fosters critical thinking, logical reasoning, and ethical analysis, graduates may find it challenging to secure employment directly related to their degree since the industry to absorb philosophy graduates is very limited, if not non-existent. However, philosophy degrees can be advantageous in fields such as law, academia, writing, consulting, or any profession that requires strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Political Science:
Even though political science degrees can be valuable in careers related to public administration, government, policy analysis, international relations, advocacy, or teaching, it is seen as a generalist degree with no specialized training. Political science is often considered a broad and generalist degree, which may not provide the specialized knowledge or technical skills that employers seek. In fields such as technology, finance, education or healthcare, where there are relatively high employment rates, employers often prioritize candidates with more focused or specialized degrees. Also, many of the skills developed in a political science degree, such as research, critical thinking, and communication, are transferable to other fields. This means that individuals with degrees in other disciplines may also compete for the same job opportunities, potentially increasing competition for political science graduates.
- Psychology:
A psychology degree can be valuable in fields such as counseling, social work, human resources, research, education, health, or other professions that require an understanding of human behavior and psychological principles. However, it is also seen as a generalist degree offering no specialized skills. The field comes with licensing and regulation, which makes it even more difficult to secure employment and operate after obtaining the degree. To be relevant in this field, one needs to pursue a postgraduate degree with some specialization or some practical training. Employment openings for a degree in psychology are quite skewed.
- Religious Studies:
You don’t need a degree in religious studies to become a pastor or a religious leader. Such a degree does not sell. While studying religious studies provides knowledge about various religious traditions, cultures, and ethical systems, graduates may find it challenging to secure employment directly related to their degree. However, religious studies degrees can be valuable in fields such as academia, interfaith dialogue, religious or cultural organizations, social services, or journalism.
- Sociology:
While studying sociology provides insights into social structures, relationships, and human behavior, graduates may find it challenging to secure employment directly related to the degree. Sociology is also seen as a generalist degree offering no specialized skill set. The job market for it is limited as well. Though sociology degrees can be valuable in fields such as social work, market research, policy analysis, human resources, or community development, it is still not a sufficient reason to commit four years of your life and money pursuing it.
- Special Education:
A degree in special education does not sell. Special education is a subset of the broad field of education with a focus on students with special needs, disabilities and other forms of abilities. Indeed, special education degrees can lead to fulfilling careers working with individuals with disabilities in schools, rehabilitation centers, or advocacy organizations. However, if the intention is to become a teacher/instructor, then why not pursue a degree that can serve in both regular and special schools such as Mathematics, English, etc.? Special education limits the holder to only special schools, and in a few cases, regular schools. Meanwhile, there are only a few special schools in the country compared with regular ones. It is more ideal to pursue a course that can function in a regular school for the purpose of widening the job bracket.
- Theatre/Performing Arts:
Careers as actors or performers often require exceptional talent, extensive networking, and, sometimes, luck, not necessarily a degree. Therefore, a degree in theatre/performing arts is not required to excel in the field. In fact, some of the most successful actors do not possess any degree in theatre, albeit a degree in theatre/performing arts can provide valuable training, knowledge, and opportunities for aspiring actors and performers. Even though can open doors to careers in acting techniques, stagecraft, voice training, and dramatic literature, theatre production, directing, arts administration, education, and other related fields, the demand is not high.
- Tourism:
A degree in tourism usually provides knowledge in areas such as hospitality management, travel planning, and destination marketing. It can also lead to careers in hotel management, event planning, tourism marketing, travel agencies, or tourism development organizations. However, most of these roles can be performed without a degree in tourism. In fact, the tourism field is one of the fields that is experiencing major technological disruptions. Today, people do not need tourism experts or guides to identify, locate, book, register, purchase, or reserve a place in a hotel or tourism center. Everything can be done with the click of the phone. Therefore, the work of the tourist is becoming redundant. Hence, pursuing a degree in such a field may turn out to be imprudent.
Conclusion
It’s important to note that the perceived value or usefulness of a degree can vary depending on individual circumstances, personal goals, and market conditions. Many degrees, even if they are considered less valued in terms of direct job prospects, can still provide valuable transferable skills, critical thinking abilities, and a broad education that can be beneficial in various career paths.
Additionally, the value of a degree can also be influenced by the passion and interest an individual has in the subject matter. Therefore, this article is not to completely dissuade you from pursuing those courses listed but to create awareness that their market demands are generally low. Hence, if employment is a major factor in your choice of programme (which should be, I believe), then you may want to give these courses a second thought.
Thank you for reading today’s episode. I believe this sequel to last week’s article on “15 useful university degrees” has given you enough context and balance to the discussion on the ideal university programmes to pursue. Thank you for staying with me throughout the discussion. Continue to follow the insightful articles I share on this page. See you.
Author: Daniel Fenyi
Email: [email protected]
The author is an Employment Advocate and Career Coach, who guides the youth through his writings.