Not so long ago, it seemed quite the thing to criticise and even
ridicule certain universities for offering so-called “Mickey Mouse” degrees.
These courses came from a variety of disciplines and bore little resemblance to
those which were doubtless considered more ‘academic’. Classics, Latin, or
Archaeology always managed to miss the cut, which must have come as a huge
relief for institutions with Medieval lawns and huge resources. But still, the notion
of studying the media or sport seemed one small step from chaos, anarchy and
the very end of time.
 |
| Golf hats |
Don't get me wrong, there’s
absolutely nothing wrong with studying Classics, Latin or Archaeology. These are
important subjects, although detailed knowledge of Ovid, pots, old ruins
or sieges aren't the most obvious tools for dealing with business, psychology or a life in PR. And they wouldn’t help too much in,
say managing a golf club. At this point, I should mention that all I know about
golf is that involves weird clothing, sticks, balls and holes. So, if I’m not
up to the job, who should we turn to? Perhaps someone with a golf management
degree?
 |
| Football Studies? John Still, master tactician |
In a not-entirely unrelated sphere, Football
Studies is also a minority interest subject. Or is it? Football Studies
doesn’t involve people pretending to be pundits and trotting out lame cliché
after lame cliché. Like it or not, and for better or worse, football is big
business these days. Or, more accurately, football is a huge, corporatised
juggernaut, the study of which might involve looking at sports, nutrition,
development, business, media, finance, hospitality, sociology, psychology ….
The list goes on. Football Studies course managers
may also be looking to add
Criminology elements to their offer, given the recent shock revelations and investigations around the less-than-squeaky clean operations of the
international game.
A few years ago, The Telegraph compiled a top
ten “unusual degrees” list, which ranged from institutions such as South
Bank and Liverpool Hope, to Plumpton College and UCL. The subjects tellingly
included degrees with a very specific vocational and almost artisanal flavour
(Baking Technology Management or
Brewing and Distilling) to those with clear
roots in anthropology (Viking Studies) or those looking at a specific cultural
phenomenon with a view to a wider academic discipline (The Beatles, Popular
Music and Society). |
| Klingon??!! |
Still, if these, or Surf Science don’t float your boat –
and yes that is surf as in the waves not the web - our friends over the Pond have, not too surprisingly, an
even more diverse range of courses for consideration. Last year, QS put a list
together of degrees which would make most people’s eyes and mouths start
watering – it would seem there really are opportunities to study Harry Potter,
Klingon, the tv show Lost, zombies,
the joy of garbage, the history of the pig in America and – perhaps most
alluring – the science of superheroes.
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