First things first:
- Here you’ll learn everything about Oenology, Sorabistics, Space Master, Urban Studies, and Arboriculture.
When you think of typical degree programs, which subjects come to mind first? Business Administration, Law, Medicine? These are just three classics that people automatically associate with studying at university. But alongside these well-known programs, many universities and colleges also offer real hidden gems. We’ve put together five exciting degree programs for you—maybe one of them is the perfect fit?
Oenology: Studying in the name of the wine god Dionysus
Do you enjoy a good glass of wine in the evening after a long lecture? Students of oenology do that even during class. This discipline, which is part of agricultural sciences, focuses on viticulture, wine economics, and wine technology. Students are trained to become wine scientists.
To ensure hands-on learning, some institutions—such as Ludwigshafen University of Business and Society—occasionally hold classes directly in the vineyard or wine cellar. This allows students to observe key processes on site. Growing and caring for grapevines together, as well as reflecting on the perfect flavor profile, are also part of the program.
Sorabistics: Tracing an (almost) forgotten minority
Far from vineyards, students of Sorabistics in Leipzig focus on a West Slavic ethnic group native to the Lusatia region: the Sorbs. Alongside the Danes and the German Sinti and Roma, they are one of Germany’s four officially recognized minorities. Sorabistics is a philological degree program offered exclusively in Germany at Leipzig University.
The curriculum includes learning the Sorbian languages (Upper and Lower Sorbian) as well as studying Sorbian literature and culture. Fewer than fifty students are currently enrolled in Leipzig. Some have Sorbian family backgrounds or come from the Lusatia region themselves. Others simply want to gain a deeper understanding of this minority’s language and culture. Career prospects for graduates are excellent, as there is a strong demand for Sorbian language teachers in eastern Germany.
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Space Master: From the lecture hall to the galaxy
Since 2005, the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg has offered students the opportunity to become a “Space Master.” This isn’t the title of a new video game champion, but rather a European master’s program in space science and technology.
After studying planetary science, spacecraft engineering, sensor systems, and robotics, graduates can pursue careers in space research or aerospace engineering. And for those who prefer to stay closer to Earth, there are also career opportunities in industries such as automotive engineering.
Urban Studies: Understanding the city
Speaking of cars—can you imagine them flying through the cities of the future? What will metropolises like Berlin, London, or Amsterdam look like in a few decades? And which geographical, sociological, historical, or economic factors influence their development?
Students of Urban Studies explore these and many other questions. The program covers areas such as urban and regional planning, urban design, architecture, and heritage conservation. Graduates of this bachelor’s or master’s program often apply their knowledge in public administration, for example in city planning departments or government agencies. Interestingly, Urban Studies is offered in the relatively small city of Weimar at Bauhaus University.
Arboriculture: A degree program for green thumbs
While Urban Studies students analyze cities as a whole, arborists focus on the green spaces within them. Arboriculture—despite its exotic-sounding name—deals with tree care. If you have a green thumb, this might be the right program for you.
Tree care also includes topics such as urban trees, urban forests, and the integration of green spaces into city planning. In Germany, this discipline is currently offered exclusively by the University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HAWK) in Göttingen. With expertise in tree care, graduates can either start their own business or work for municipalities, cities, landscaping companies, or planning offices.
Is your current degree program starting to feel a bit boring? Of course, these five subjects are just a small selection—but they demonstrate how diverse the range of study options is, even within Germany alone. Your time at university is the perfect opportunity to think outside the box and dive into fascinating topics.
Many specialized programs are also available as master’s degrees, meaning you can begin with a more general bachelor’s degree and later move into a specialized field. Every degree program also offers individual combination options, allowing you to shape your studies according to your interests.
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