A Look at a Hypothetical Major in Sports, Part V: Summation

(For previous entries in the series click here.)

On Wednesday, we came across a story in the Wall Street Journal by Ben Cohen about how Auburn University's College of Liberal Arts and the football program differed over the survival of  a failing major in public administration. The major was ultimately saved by a new dean.

One of the points raised in the article was the concern about the clustering of student athletes in the program:

Public administration majors account for less than 1% of Auburn’s undergraduate student body. But in the fall semester of 2013, documents show, 51% of the 111 students pursuing the degree were athletes. Among them were the football team’s starting quarterback and running back, its leading wide receiver and the three defensive players who led the team in interceptions, tackles and sacks.

While we tend to not think of this being that big of a deal, because it actually could allow for a learning community of sorts to develop if properly curated, on the surface, perception-wise, it can be viewed as an issue by outsider.

And whether it makes sense or not, perceptions is often viewed as reality.

A Look at a Hypothetical Major in Sports, Part IV: Junior Year and Beyond

(Previous Entries in the Series: Part One Part Two Part Three)

Year three in the Sport Major sees a subtle shift in requirements. Less focus on general education courses, and more courses in the major. If a student-athlete were to go pro after this academic year (for example, in football or baseball), then obviously the journey would end here, but the student would have enough credits accumulated that if they decided to return to school later it would be primarily for major field courses with only minimal general education left over.

A Look at a Hypothetical Major in Sports, Part III: Sophomore Year

(For Previous Entries in Series: Part One Part Two)

Sophomore year. A year that used to be overlooked in higher education circles until really the last decade. Plenty of research was done on the importance of the first year experience, and juniors and seniors received their fair share of analysis. But sophomore year was glossed over, even though at many places that is a milestone year—particularly for those who are planning on studying in majors at schools that limit entry to said majors. The application process for limited entry (or enrollment controlled) majors is usually during the second semester of sophomore year.

Doubt and what ifs creep in, and sophomores often find themselves adrift.

Sophomore slumps are real.

In the major, the sophomore year is focused on easing students into the major. The focus is still primarily on some general education requirements, but major field courses do make an appearance early on.

A Look at a Hypothetical Major in Sports Part II: Freshman Year — Not Quite "A Year of Readiness"

(For Part One of the series, click here.)

While Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany would rather have first year students endure "The Year of Readiness" and be automatically redshirted (and while I lean towards approval of that stance), let's operate under the assumption that all first year students could be immediately eligible.

The first year, and the first semester in particular, should be about the transition and orientation process. The most critical time for any student is during that first semester. Good habits and attitudes need to be established at this point, and the introduction to resources that can aid in that success is crucial.

We will examine the semesters separately. First up is the first semester:

A Look at a Hypothetical Major in Sports, Part I: Introduction

The tagline for an NCAA public service announcement in the mid-2000s was "...going pro in something other than sports."

And while it is true that the vast majority of student athletes will find career opportunities in fields such as medicine, education, and business, there are some who will go pro in sports and make a long career in the industry.

Why shouldn't those students, who see themselves as potential workers in the field of athletics (at the intercollegiate level and above) be encouraged to enter into a major—with a certain emphasis in the electives/additional required courses—that would allow these student athletes to gain access to the skills and knowledge base to be successful in the endeavor of sport?

This is a thought experiment; a mental exercise in trying to compose a major in sports that is a broad based approach to addressing the needs of people who are going to be employed as an athlete in a professional sports organization (either team or individual) and/or as an administrator after leaving the playing field.