Colleges such as Penn State now offer four-year bachelor’s degrees such as Turf Science. Students learn about pest and weed control, as well as other courses that help graduates find jobs in golf courses and sport stadiums. But is specializing during a student’s undergraduate career prudent?

Opponents say that overspecializing so early can prevent development of critical thinking and that some may become stuck in a career that they chose when they were too young. However, a 2008 study by the National Center for Education Statistics suggest that a career-oriented major is safer—10 years after graduation, those in specialized courses had proportionally more full time jobs and that there were no pay differences with those who went to graduate school to specialize.