<p>I figured it would be something in science (no offense)</p>
<p>By “impractical”, do you mean with poor job and career prospects?</p>
<p>If so, probably biology.</p>
<p>Philosophy?</p>
<p>yes i mean poor job prospects</p>
<p>Why philosophy? Seems like it would be like many other humanities and social studies majors in that it is non-specific for most jobs, but philosophy majors have had to exercise their logical thinking as well as humanistic thinking, so they may be better able to adapt to interview and job situations than many other humanities and social studies majors.</p>
<p>But biology involves lots of memorization, lots of work in the lab, lots of cutthroat competition from pre-meds, and pay levels and employment rates at graduation similar to those of humanities and social studies majors. But it is the most popular STEM major.</p>
<p>
That’s exactly right. A philosophy major does not prepare students for any job or graduate program. It appears to be more demanding than most other social science and humanities majors; the reasoning required is probably on par with abstract math. And while philosophy departments like to advertise the critical thinking skills they foster in their students, the job market does not seem to appreciate those very much. At least not in the Philadelphia area, where my philosophy major friends had a hard time getting any job at all.</p>
<p>Biology majors, even if they have bleak prospects on the job market, at least are set up for a number of graduate programs which will make them very employable.</p>
<p>For biology majors, what graduate programs? PhDs in biology do not exactly have the greatest employment prospects either. And if you mean medical school, pre-med can be done in any major, not just biology.</p>
<p>[Education:</a> The PhD factory : Nature News](<a href=“http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110420/full/472276a.html]Education:”>Education: The PhD factory | Nature)</p>
<p>The most useless undergraduate majors: chemistry, biology, philosophy, history, and psychology.</p>
<p>None of those degrees are worth anything on the job market without a graduate degree. Please, save us from the “critical thinking” arguments. If you could measure an improvement in critical thinking ability, then liberal arts programs would tout it as proof that their programs work. Instead, they continue to refer to nebulous improvements in “critical thinking skills” in place of teaching students hard skills that are transferable to the real world.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t math be on that list too?</p>
<p>The most impractical undergraduate major is the one you select only because of job prospects. If you think the job market favors that major, then it’s probably too late. By the time you have that credential, a bunch of others will have the same credential. Call me an idealist, but figure out what you are truly interested in devoting time and energy to, and what matches with your aptitude, and pursue it. This applies whether you are interested in math or masonry. No guarantees, but selecting your college major primarily by attempting to predict the future job market is a recipe for regret and bitterness.</p>
<p>Math should not be on that list whatsoever.</p>
<p>Trying to pick a surefire major that has the best job prospects is like picking a perfect stock. The real world, like the stock markets, is subjected to numerous amounts of variables. There will always be fluctuations that cause a negative growth and positive growth. You think finance, accounting , law, medicine have surefire job prospects? Nope. Medicine can be outsourced. In fact, many surgery patients are going to places like India, as the cost is cheaper there, and the doctors are some of the best. Finance is influenced by the markets. So in a downturn like the current one, financial firms downsize. In fact, a lot of the top firms have been cutting staff. Accounting? That can also be outsourced. Sensitive information may not be able to be outsourced, but I have been reading of accounting being outsourced. Do not go to college just to come out with a job, because you will be disappointed. Go because you want to better yourself, and want to learn about a subject matter you like. Do well, try to get internships to network. It’s not about what major you choose, but how you utilize yourself. A job is not a handout. I graduated with many Ivy leaguers back in 2003, and many of them are now working in a deli or something.</p>
<p>@shackle: I meant pure math. Applied can be used for very many things.</p>
<p>No. No math should be on the list. If you have a math degree, there are jobs waiting for you.</p>
<p>Ok, like what? Actuarial jobs? Those are going to people with actuarial science degrees. Computer programming/engineering jobs? Those are going to people with CS degrees. Maybe it is good for various grad school programs, but I just don’t see how it can be used in the real world. I know physics is different, but a lot of those people are having a hard time finding jobs. And since math has close ties with it…I don’t know. I could be wrong (I have been before) but it just doesn’t seem applicable to a lot of things.</p>
<p>@Joynjoyness23: I know a very rich lawyer who started out in pure math and logic. Apparently it works very well with being a lawyer and making logical arguments. Personally, the pure math major is a bit hard to find a job for, but if you combine it with say, CS, then it becomes quite attractive, as many CS majors also have a minor in math. Of course, maybe the next guy that decides to major in pure math will solve a Millenial Problem and win the $1 million prize. Chances are, though, even if you find a job in say, accounting, it’s a waste of talent. You don’t need to be able to solve Fermat’s Last Theorem to add and subtract.</p>
<p>And in my personal opinion, theology is a waste of time. Though it may be from my bias, but theology often gets cut from scholarships and grants, and not that useful.</p>
<p>For impractical: I would say woman’s studies or similar (with no malice or offense to anyone). Maybe someone can enlighten me what the job market is for such majors?
At least equestrian science or sports or hotel management have potential professions.
For both difficult and impractical: Egyptology?
For music, fashion, and other fine arts you’d need to have some talent I would imagine.</p>
<p>
You forgot math and physics. Chemistry actually do have B.S entry level positions at many companies (the majority of internship listings for physical sciences at my school are for chemistry majors). For biology, there are plenty of pharma and hospitals willing to take on bio graduates as lab techs and opportunities for moving up the chain are vast.</p>
<p>In math and physics, if you aren’t double majoring in education to be a high school teacher or go on to graduate school, then there are practically no jobs out there. Every job in the technical industry requires an engineering degree, and physics and math majors have about as much of a chance as getting a job with these companies as does a high school drop-out.</p>
<p>Applied math majors seem to be doing ok:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/AppMath.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/AppMath.stm</a></p>
<p>Physics majors also seem to find decent paying jobs:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Physics.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/Physics.stm</a></p>
<p>Certainly better than what biology majors find:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/MCB.stm</a>
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/IntBio.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major/IntBio.stm</a></p>
<p>Chemistry in 2008 (insufficient data for 2009-2010 on average pay) looked dismal even compared to biology in 2010:
<a href=“https://career.berkeley.edu/Major2008/Chem.stm[/url]”>https://career.berkeley.edu/Major2008/Chem.stm</a></p>
<p>Remember ucb, that is APPLIED Math, not pure. At one time, it was very valuble, as degrees for computer jobs had not been invented yet. Now that we have cs degrees, pure math has gone down in value. And applied math has taken away the analyst jobs from pure math grads. Same thing with physics, when there were no engineering or cs degrees, jobs with a bachelor’s in physics were plentiful. Now, they are scrambling for jobs.</p>
<p>Biology majors can at least apply for physical therapy/occupational therapy programs. You just need to know where to look. That’s not saying that it is not a saturated field that needs to be cut down on. Math grads are also more likey to gt accepted into law school that bio majors.</p>