2012 college majors of softball players

[sluggers]

Just as an FYI...I surveyed California, Arizona State, Texas, and LSU as to majors of their softball players. (Why not Alabama? They no longer list the majors of their softball players on their roster. I suspect that solved a lot of embarrassing questions about their football program.) Why LSU? Because they must have the best Sports Commerce department in the world.

Out of the 78 players:

1 physics, 1 chemistry, 1 engineering, and 1 biology. (There was one pre-med student, but that isn't really a "hard" science. And, I hate to burst eveyone's bubble, but it isn't too demanding outside of organic chemistry.)

There were 21 undecided--or about 25%. That is pretty high, considering Arizona State had none.

Every school had its preferred major for students in sports. LSU had "sports commerce", Cal had "American studies", Texas had "physical culture (?)", and Arizona State had the tried and true "Communications".

 

[chinamigarden]

I think organic chemistry is hard enough to make up for a lot of classes.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

I had 2 good friends who played D1 sports. One was baseball at UofI. The other was football at West Virginia. Both were a cinch to get big pro contracts. Both were Sports Administration majors. Long story short, neither made it in the pros. They graduated with a degree that wasn't going to get them a job. The baseball kid, ended up going to another university to get a teaching degree. The football kid worked at LA Fitness, the state prison and is currently at another university as a graduate assistant, in the weight room.

My friends DD played softball in the WCWS. Her major was History. She was not at all interested in history, but it was what she was told to take.Her average was 2.8. It didn't sound like a very good plan to me. She teaches softball lessons and is trying to find a loan so that she can get a masters in physical therapy.

I could go on and on, but many student athletes aren't in a major that is going to result in any job offers. It is just the awful truth.

 

[SnocatzDad]

Not sure pursuing college majors that don't result in jobs is a problem unique to athletes. Had a girlfriend in college who got a 4 year degree in Antropology. She ended up going to a votech later to be a medical secretary.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Anthropology? Oh, goodness. I don't know what a good major would be, today, but I bet that it isn't Anthropology. My niece is doing very well as an RN - but she didn't play sports (in college.) My son is a successful banker (econ degree), but he didn't play college sports, either.

Oh, I do have a niece getting an advanced degree in English Language, Poetry. She did play college soccer. I suspect that she will be a starving artist.

My DD got an expensive education in cosmetology. She prefers to be a server at a sports bar. You just never know how it is going to work out. We are still paying on the student loan, though.

 

[Amy in AZ.]

Here is a story on Stephanie Ricketts. It sounds like she is on the right track, but still has years of college ahead of her.

Stephanie Ricketts
School
Hawai‘i
PositionPitcherMajorPsychology
FLD%1.000ERA0.97W-L23-3
Finalist


Classroom
Ricketts is a psychology major who will graduate this spring (in four years) with a B.A. degree. She carries a 3.35 GPA and after graduation is looking to become either a psychology or oncology clinical nurse specialist to follow in her mother and grandmother’s footsteps. She is also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

 

[Sweet Lou]

1 physics, 1 chemistry, 1 engineering, and 1 biology. (There was one pre-med student, but that isn't really a "hard" science. And, I hate to burst eveyone's bubble, but it isn't too demanding outside of organic chemistry.)

Pre-med is usually biology with some addition physiology courses right? Anyway if you don't think getting a 4.0 in your core and likely non-core courses as well to be able to get into medical school is demanding I don't know what to tell you. My BIL had high honors as a bio/pre-med major from a very good UC school and still couldn't get into med school directly. He had to do a master program first just get into med school. He wasn't a student athlete though. But I don't think being a student athlete gives you any special in to med school.

I do agree with schnotz that this not a problem unique to student athletes though it may happen at a somewhat higher rate than the general school population.

 

[sluggers]

Pre-med is usually biology with some addition physiology courses right?

Not really. All college students have to take a biology course.

There is nothing in the pre-med curriculum that compares in difficulty to a senior level course in chemistry, physics or engineering. When you talk about senior level courses in the hard sciences (chemistry, engineering, physics), sophomore level organic chemistry is child's play--which is why not many people become chemists, engineers or physicists.

 

[Sweet Lou]

Not really. There is nothing in the pre-med curriculum that compares in difficulty to a senior level course in chemistry, physics or engineering. They have to take a sophomore level course in organic chemistry. When you talk about the hard sciences (chemistry, engineering, physics), sophomore level organic chemistry is child's play.

Tell that to my wife who has a PH D in plant molecular biology.
Though having taken some upper division courses in physics I'd probably agree with you.
Then there is a reason there is a shortage of engineering, physics and chemistry majors compared to "communications" and "business administration" majors.

 

[sluggers]

Note I said *sophomore* organic chemistry. Molecular biology is about 120% organic chemistry, right? Sophomore chemistry is "read and regurgitate"--in-depth critical thinking isn't required.