WRITTEN BY JOANNA O’ LEARY
When I was applying to a particularly competitive college (not in Maine), my father joked that during my interview, I should say I intended to major in basket weaving. That major wasn’t actually real—but what if it had been?
Students enrolling at Maine’s colleges, technical schools, and universities this year have their pick of diverse courses and programs, some of which are unusual, if not downright eccentric.
College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor boasts one of the most unique undergraduate programs in the country by eschewing traditional majors. Instead, students are required to design their own program centered around “human ecology,” which the college defines as “how we live, learn, and connect—with each other, our communities, and the natural world.”
At Husson University, students can enroll in a plethora of fascinating courses, including many that are off the beaten scholarly path. As the only institution in Maine to offer a bachelor’s degree in extended reality, Husson offers multiple courses focused on augmented and virtual reality technologies.
If that B.S. doesn’t appeal to you, there’s also the slightly more traditional “History of New England Fisheries,” which traces the evolution of regional fishing from pre-Columbian times through the modern era. The course examines four case studies: cod, scallop, salmon, and lobster fisheries.
And because “loving well requires communicating well,” Husson also offers “Intimate Communication,” a course designed to enhance students’ listening and speaking skills in relationships.
For a highly local, boots-on-the-ground scholastic experience, consider the University of Maine at Machias, where students can focus on subjects specific to the state. Case in point: “Introduction to Aquaculture,” the preliminary course for both the aquaculture certificate and major, teaches the fundamentals of marine and freshwater aquaculture through field trips to local hatcheries, grow-out sites, and nurseries.
If your dream is to work in one of Maine’s state parks or become a game warden, you can also earn an associate degree in conservation law and outdoor management, a hybrid course of study blending criminal justice and environmental conservation. Finally, for those who prefer to see the forest through the trees, UMaine Machias also holds the distinction of having the longest continuously accredited professional forestry program in the country.
Portland’s prestigious Maine College of Art & Design is home to innovative courses of study, including graduate certificate programs in documentary studies and expressive arts therapy. But perhaps the most impressive offering is its Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation & Game Art, which holds a place among the top 25 game design BFA programs in the United States.
Required and elective courses train animation and game artists from beginner to advanced levels, collectively focusing on how artistic choices “affect how viewers/gamers connect with and understand both characters and narrative.”
The Maine Maritime Academy in Castine is the center of all seaworthy scholarly pursuits. Marine Engineering Operations, Coastal and Marine Environmental Science, Vessel Operations & Technology, and Marine Biology are just a few of the undergraduate programs designed to prepare the next generation of thalassophiles.
To support these nautical educational missions, MMA offers world-class resources, including power plant and navigation simulators, research vessels, and a wet lab. Students can also log international sea time on one of MMA’s commercial vessels or training ships State of Maine and Schooner Bowdoin.
Finally, Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor gives students the opportunity to learn something arguably even better than basket weaving. Its associate degree and certificate programs in fine woodworking and cabinetmaking equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to plan and execute cabinetry, furniture, and millwork projects.
So, while Maine colleges may not offer a degree in basket weaving, students looking for an education that’s a little outside the ordinary have plenty of options.