[BostonCard]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

[BostonCard]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

[JohnR34231]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

Well at most places you can major in sports management. That's not enough?
Does majoring in sports mean you can just play them and don't have to take classes? (I couldn't access the article).

[JohnR34231]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

Well at most places you can major in sports management. That's not enough?
Does majoring in sports mean you can just play them and don't have to take classes? (I couldn't access the article).

[Goose]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

I don't think it is a crazy idea at all. Colleges/Universities can offer degrees in anything they want. Some certification groups may not count those degrees, but that is fine too.

Conferring degrees and having "majors" is only useful in so far as it documents a certain minimum body of work with prescribed characteristics. If one has a degree in e.g. English there are certain minimum expectations of what one should "know". Obviously, there are many different paths to a degree in English, but the "core" could be relied upon. Degrees are also granted in "Science, Technology and Society". I am not convinced there is really a "core" for that degree. While it may be true many excellent students receive that degree, I can't tell you much about what they reliably will "know".  I am not sure what I could expect from someone who graduated in "Sports" either. How would that degree be defined?

There are lots of degrees that Stanford doesn't offer. Some such degrees are in "no question legitimate" academic subjects, some are much less so. That is fine too. I think degrees in sports should remain on that list. Not all useful and desirable career paths are amenable to receiving a "degree" or "graduating" from a University. IMO pointless to attempt such certification.

[Goose]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

I don't think it is a crazy idea at all. Colleges/Universities can offer degrees in anything they want. Some certification groups may not count those degrees, but that is fine too.

Conferring degrees and having "majors" is only useful in so far as it documents a certain minimum body of work with prescribed characteristics. If one has a degree in e.g. English there are certain minimum expectations of what one should "know". Obviously, there are many different paths to a degree in English, but the "core" could be relied upon. Degrees are also granted in "Science, Technology and Society". I am not convinced there is really a "core" for that degree. While it may be true many excellent students receive that degree, I can't tell you much about what they reliably will "know".  I am not sure what I could expect from someone who graduated in "Sports" either. How would that degree be defined?

There are lots of degrees that Stanford doesn't offer. Some such degrees are in "no question legitimate" academic subjects, some are much less so. That is fine too. I think degrees in sports should remain on that list. Not all useful and desirable career paths are amenable to receiving a "degree" or "graduating" from a University. IMO pointless to attempt such certification.

[82lsju]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

how will they grade the "students", something like

- All-conference or better = A
- starter on your team for at least 75% of games = B
- appear in 50% of your team's games = C
- appear in less than 50% of your team's games = D
- never appear in a game (when not redshirting) = F
- redshirt = incomplete

of course I guess just the players in the top three categories would major in "sport" and the last two would probably major in something else or double major in sport and something else

[82lsju]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/25/busin...74f24220a2

Not totally crazy given that it is possible to major in music theory and studio art in many places.

BC

how will they grade the "students", something like

- All-conference or better = A
- starter on your team for at least 75% of games = B
- appear in 50% of your team's games = C
- appear in less than 50% of your team's games = D
- never appear in a game (when not redshirting) = F
- redshirt = incomplete

of course I guess just the players in the top three categories would major in "sport" and the last two would probably major in something else or double major in sport and something else

[martyup]

A sports major would need to learn about:

1.  Nutrition;
2.  Physiology;
3.  Physiotherapy;
4.  Kinesiology;
5.  Psychology;
6.  Team Dynamics; and 
7.  Financial Management.

There is easily enough academic meat in those subjects to warrant BS, Masters, and PHD degrees.  This major would not just be for athletes, but anyone seeking a career in the sports world.

[martyup]

A sports major would need to learn about:

1.  Nutrition;
2.  Physiology;
3.  Physiotherapy;
4.  Kinesiology;
5.  Psychology;
6.  Team Dynamics; and 
7.  Financial Management.

There is easily enough academic meat in those subjects to warrant BS, Masters, and PHD degrees.  This major would not just be for athletes, but anyone seeking a career in the sports world.

[Goose]

A sports major would need to learn about:

1.  Nutrition;
2.  Physiology;
3.  Physiotherapy;
4.  Kinesiology;
5.  Psychology;
6.  Team Dynamics; and 
7.  Financial Management.

There is easily enough academic meat in those subjects to warrant BS, Masters, and PHD degrees.  This major would not just be for athletes, but anyone seeking a career in the sports world.

Agree that such a major could exist. It does at other institutions. Of course, the candidates would also have to meet the other "general" requirements for graduation, as far as they still exist. However, the curriculum you described does not grant a degree (nor give "credits") for  playing a sport. In fact, it doesn't require any direct participation in athletics. I think this thread was talking about a degree granted for playing a sport, not what you describe.

[Goose]

A sports major would need to learn about:

1.  Nutrition;
2.  Physiology;
3.  Physiotherapy;
4.  Kinesiology;
5.  Psychology;
6.  Team Dynamics; and 
7.  Financial Management.

There is easily enough academic meat in those subjects to warrant BS, Masters, and PHD degrees.  This major would not just be for athletes, but anyone seeking a career in the sports world.

Agree that such a major could exist. It does at other institutions. Of course, the candidates would also have to meet the other "general" requirements for graduation, as far as they still exist. However, the curriculum you described does not grant a degree (nor give "credits") for  playing a sport. In fact, it doesn't require any direct participation in athletics. I think this thread was talking about a degree granted for playing a sport, not what you describe.

[Mick]

Most of the firms with which I've worked have had Sports industry verticals. The dynamics of that industry is different enough that I believe it warrants a separate academic category. 

Nearly 300 colleges (or so) offer a Sports Management major to 17,486 Sports Management grads: 2025 Best Sports Management Schools

[Mick]

Most of the firms with which I've worked have had Sports industry verticals. The dynamics of that industry is different enough that I believe it warrants a separate academic category. 

Nearly 300 colleges (or so) offer a Sports Management major to 17,486 Sports Management grads: 2025 Best Sports Management Schools

[jacket3ree]

I think so.

I've forgotten the rules on allowable time spent in film room, weight room, practice, etc. but recall it to be something like 20 hours per week. That is equivalent to a full academic load. (I tried to do 21 hours one quarter and still have the big fat "W" on my permanent record because it was clearly not going to work and I realized that in time for drop day two weeks in.) So, while in season, athletes who aspire to be professionals could elect to take their 20 sport hours a week as academic credit.

Off-season, the list Marty put together is excellent preparation for a professional athletic career. You could add courses in communication/media and contract law and even if you don't stick with a professional team for long, you are prepared to be a functioning adult, which some of us think is a main purpose of college.

Or with free will, you can go into aerospace engineering and play a sport like you can now. All sorts of people pick majors and receive college degrees they never really use, so start adulting when you get to college. Or head out into the job market with a bum knee and degree in football and see where that takes you.

As to grading an athletic course, that would be up to the coach or designated minion(s). As an undergraduate, I had three full quarters of physical education, all letter graded via stopwatch or similar metrics. My freshman quarter I missed the "easy A" in fitness by one timed sit up or a couple of pull ups or however you wanted to look at it. I crushed aerobic training the next quarter because I could still run a sub five-minute mile when to get an "A" you needed to cross within six minutes. Drownproofing my last quarter was a snap because I was an excellent swimmer with some lifesaving training. The joke was always that the required class for graduation was pass/fail. As in drown (fail) or don't. Still there were letter grades based on lap times by stroke, how long you could hold your breath, can you read the message on the bottom of the pool, how long can you tread water holding a cinder block over your head, how far can you drag someone pretending to be unconscious across the pool, can you last 50 minutes in the pool with hands and feet all bound together wearing a suit?

[jacket3ree]

I think so.

I've forgotten the rules on allowable time spent in film room, weight room, practice, etc. but recall it to be something like 20 hours per week. That is equivalent to a full academic load. (I tried to do 21 hours one quarter and still have the big fat "W" on my permanent record because it was clearly not going to work and I realized that in time for drop day two weeks in.) So, while in season, athletes who aspire to be professionals could elect to take their 20 sport hours a week as academic credit.

Off-season, the list Marty put together is excellent preparation for a professional athletic career. You could add courses in communication/media and contract law and even if you don't stick with a professional team for long, you are prepared to be a functioning adult, which some of us think is a main purpose of college.

Or with free will, you can go into aerospace engineering and play a sport like you can now. All sorts of people pick majors and receive college degrees they never really use, so start adulting when you get to college. Or head out into the job market with a bum knee and degree in football and see where that takes you.

As to grading an athletic course, that would be up to the coach or designated minion(s). As an undergraduate, I had three full quarters of physical education, all letter graded via stopwatch or similar metrics. My freshman quarter I missed the "easy A" in fitness by one timed sit up or a couple of pull ups or however you wanted to look at it. I crushed aerobic training the next quarter because I could still run a sub five-minute mile when to get an "A" you needed to cross within six minutes. Drownproofing my last quarter was a snap because I was an excellent swimmer with some lifesaving training. The joke was always that the required class for graduation was pass/fail. As in drown (fail) or don't. Still there were letter grades based on lap times by stroke, how long you could hold your breath, can you read the message on the bottom of the pool, how long can you tread water holding a cinder block over your head, how far can you drag someone pretending to be unconscious across the pool, can you last 50 minutes in the pool with hands and feet all bound together wearing a suit?

[cardcrimson]

My thoughts, and apparently Robin William's as well:

https://y.yarn.co/6b213ee4-cabd-45c9-a1c...74c37f.mp4

[cardcrimson]

My thoughts, and apparently Robin William's as well:

https://y.yarn.co/6b213ee4-cabd-45c9-a1c...74c37f.mp4