Africana Studies began as an academic discipline on college campuses during the Civil Rights and Anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s. In 1969, students from the Cornell Afro-American Society occupied the Willard Straight Hall building at Cornell for 36 hours in protest of racial tensions on campus and the university’s lack of support for a black studies program.  The night before the protest, a burning cross was found outside a residential co-op for black women. The university then established its Africana Studies program shortly thereafter. In the next few years, hundreds of schools would follow suit.

Ah, yes, the Classics. It’s one of those majors that you’ve probably heard of, but only have a vague idea of what is actually involved. Classics is pretty much the study of culture, language, and history of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Although Classics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, few high school students (spare those who went to fancy private schools) are exposed to its building blocks. But the study of Classics isn’t just for characters in a Donna Tart novel. Yes, it’s a mildly pretentious area of education, but it may be the right fit for students interested in history, literature, and sociology who also have a knack for language.

While Arabic is an ancient language dating back to the First Century CE, it remains one of the most pervasive languages in use today, with an estimated 250 million native speakers worldwide. Some schools offer programs under this umbrella that focus on helping students develop a mastery of the language, while others distinguish themselves with curricula that immerse college kids in the culture and history of the Arab world. Arabic and related studies are a natural major for students interested in pursuing business or international relations after graduation.  

With China’s increasing importance in the global arena, proficiency in Chinese language and understanding of Chinese culture are useful to anyone interested in pursuing a career in international business, government, or research. Over the years, schools have expanded upon their Chinese program offerings, providing students with additional opportunities to immerse themselves in the rich history of one of the world’s oldest countries.  

Anthropology is, in essence, the study of humanity. While department requirements vary from school to school, the discipline is often categorized under four-to-five branches: Social, Cultural, Linguistic, Biological, and depending on who you are, Archaeological, too.

Self-designed majors, which are also referred to as independent programs, interdepartmental majors, individual majors, and interdisciplinary studies, are a great option for students with academic interests that don’t fit neatly into one box. While double majoring provides you with undergraduate degrees in two fields, say English and History, self-designing a major allows you focus much more closely on areas within traditional fields that intersect in a way that prepares you for a more niche and specific academic and career-related goal.