We all know the main majors here on campus. There are the big A’s of people you know exist but hardly ever see: architecture and aviation. Then you have the main science fields of biology, biochemistry, chemistry, mathematics, physics, medical laboratory science, computer science, and engineers of different flavors. There are psychology, social work, English, and graphic design. Then you have the seminarians, theology and religion students. Let’s not forget the education majors, the music majors, and the business majors. And that seems to be just about everybody you will run into on campus, or is it?
Well, turns out, there are actually some great, lesser-known majors that exist at Andrews. One of them is in the realm of behavioral science and likely what Indiana Jones would have taken if he had gone to Andrews, a behavioral sciences degree with an anthropological archeology concentration. There is both a bachelor’s and a master’s program available, where students can focus on Ancient Near Eastern archaeology with experience in the Institute of Archaeology & Siegfried H. Horn Museum. While having similar coursework to other behavioral science fields, it focuses more on, well, archaeology. Andrews also provides hands-on experience, offering students a chance to work at an archaeology dig in Jordan that has been running since 1968 and also houses the third-largest cuneiform tablet collection in the U.S. Andrews has been bringing undergraduate students on summer digs for decades, and you could be one of them.
Melani Dubon (senior, archaeology) chose a major in anthropological archeology because she has loved archaeology since she was a kid. She said, “I would watch documentaries and think to myself, ‘I want to do that one day!’” One of her favorite memories related to her major is her experience going on a study tour abroad to Jordan. “We practiced conservation for ourselves, hosted a heritage festival, and got to see amazing archeological sites.” She encourages students to check out the intro-level classes for archaeology and anthropology if they want to learn more about what her major is all about.
Another unique and often overlooked major is a Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Horticulture, with a major and a concentration in Landscape and Environmental Design. Graduates from this program are in high demand and do anything from owning their own business to designing Professional Golfers Association (PGA)-certified golf courses. The coursework centers on a range of essential topics, including soil science, the history of landscape architecture, landscape design, and plant science. If you would like to learn more about this niche major, check out their website!
In a similar vein, there is the Bachelor of Science in Interior Design, not to be confused with architecture. Although there are some similarities, architecture focuses on the outside and structure of buildings, while interior design focuses more on creating a good environment inside the building. Its coursework focus is on things like color theory, the history and theory of interior design, and, of course, interior design studio. Additionally, this degree takes only four years, plus one summer, to complete and qualifies students to participate in the Interior Design Experience Program, a requirement for those who plan on taking the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) certification examination.
Zoe Alvarez (freshman, interior design) chose her major after she became very interested in the interior of buildings. “It’s a career where I can use my creative side and also work with people and help make their dreams come true.” Alvarez shared. Some of her favorite memories so far have been during studio class time. “I enjoy the late night work sessions because I get to spend it with my classmates,” she said. Alvarez encourages students interested in interior design to get involved in more hands-on projects so that they can see how they are able to connect to personal growth and expressions as well as see real transformations occur.
Then there is nutrition and dietetics, which, while a bit more inhabited than the aforementioned majors, is still quite a rare occurrence, with approximately 25 students in the program as of 2024. With coursework focused primarily on nutrition sciences, as one would expect, there are actually two concentrations available, one in dietetics and one in nutrition science. Andrews also offers a master’s in nutrition and wellness, which is now a requirement to be a working nutritionist or dietitian. The master’s program has two tracks, one that takes 24 months and one that takes 15 months; so technically, you could graduate with a master’s in roughly 5 years!
Olivia Hrovat (junior, nutrition) chose her major because she is super passionate about the concept of food as medicine. She shared, “Understanding nutrition empowers you to take charge of your health so that you can live the fullest life possible, and I think it’s really cool that dietitians get to teach people how to do that.” Hrovat has most enjoyed helping out at her department’s booth for the campus’ health fairs. “We always make smoothies for people to try, and it’s fun watching how much people enjoy them.” Hrovat encourages students to check out the AU Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group which focuses on teaching people about all parts of wellbeing–stress management, sleep, and diet.
Whether archaeology, nutrition, horticulture, or interior design, these are just glimpses of the variety of majors offered here on the Andrews campus! So next time you meet someone new and ask them what their major is, perhaps you will run into one of the rarer types!
— With additional reporting by Megan Constantine
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.