So I was thinking about majoring in conservation with a minor in either anthropology, or geology. My parents think its retarded and that I should get a "real" degree. What do you think?

Tell'em you're going to law school afterward. That'd assuage their fears.

You should ask yourself what you want to do in that field, research the qualifications, and plan your schoolin' accordingly. Degrees without direct career paths are not useless you just have to take more care, and put more effort into making yourself marketable. Show your parents you know what you're doing, and you're not making an uninformed decision.

any degree can be useful provided you're not a dumb ass. what do you want to do in conservation? do you loathe math and thus something like environmental engineering is out?

do you have a problem with going to school beyond a bachelor's degree in order to get enough education to be able to get a job in that field? that's the problem with most people who get these "useless degrees." i really don't know what they're thinking, getting their BA in psychology and then just leaving school to drool around their parent's house or something.