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Topic: What is Specialized Studies?

Topic: What is Specialized Studies?

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giacomo
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What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 10:43:13 AM

I just received my Bobcat athletic annual report for 2016-17. There is a section that lists all the athletes who graduated in 2017. Men's basketball has six, which is great: Campbell, Kaminski, Mompremier, Crabtree, Harley and Simmons. Four of them earned degrees in "specialized studies". What does that mean?

allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 10:57:55 AM

When I was at Ohio the students were able to create their own majors as long as it was approved by the Dean. I guess you can still do it.
https://www.ohio.edu/uc/bss /

Last Edited: 8/25/2017 11:33:35 AM by allen

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

rpbobcat
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 11:45:04 AM

The value or lack thereof for this degree was discussed in several threads when the Jaaron Simmons transfer came up.

Its a degree program that helps keep athletes eligible,but seem to have very limited benefits beyond that.

GoCats105
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 11:49:28 AM

rpbobcat wrote:

The initial reason for this, I think, was for students who wanted to create their own major for certain fields where there wasn't a major available. For instance, I think one of my classmates did this and created a Sports Broadcasting major for themselves.

Last Edited: 8/25/2017 11:49:45 AM by GoCats105

allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 12:03:25 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

rpbobcat wrote:

Very true, my friend created a special communications degree, he was a very good student.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

Pataskala
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 12:21:09 PM

In one of the Ohio ads a student (don't know if she was an athlete) mentioned the specialized studies program. As I recall hers was in some kind of design area.

Back in the '70s Ohio had just the opposite: General Studies. It was basically a non-major major. One of my roommates didn't want to declare a major so he took the GS program. I don't see it listed anymore.

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shabamon
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Location: Cincinnati
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 12:44:55 PM

Yes, it is the create-a-major. A fair handful of non-athletes go that route.

NewAthenian
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 1:18:34 PM

The degree to which that degree is willy-nilly depends heavily on the first line of the link Allen posted: "faculty-approved." Unless I'm remembering something else entirely, it goes like this: the student chooses that degree, plans out the courses, and then has to subtitle the BSS. Take the Sports Broadcasting or Sports Communications subtitle example. Given that name, the student has to get a faculty member(s) sign-off in the area(s) designated in that naming (so Comms and maybe Sports Mgmnt). The faculty should be looking at the courses the student plans to take and say, "Yeah, that makes sense," or not - and then endorse the student's plan or recommend changes to either the courses or the name. The amount of scrutiny used in that process is going to depend on the attitude of the faculty member, whether or not the department has an accreditation to maintain, and etc... At the end of the day, I believe the dean will also have to sign off on the degree too, but I suspect most deans are rubber stamping it because they trust that their faculty have done the due diligence.

I don't know how much easier a BSS is to get than any other degree. It would be one thing if you could just make it up as you go along, but in having to plan some courses years in advance, I don't know how one could know that they are going to be a breeze given all that could happen in that time. I guess if you were going for the easiest degree possible you would rely on word of mouth and the reputation of the profs and departments involved.

SBH
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 1:40:37 PM

I have a customer whose best friend's son was a sought-after offensive lineman who ended up in Athens. Smart kid who plans to be a lawyer. After his first season, Frank and Tim Albin called him in and said, "We really like you. You have huge upside and we see a great opportunity for you to earn a starting position in the next year. But we need you to do one thing - change your major to Specialized Studies." When he asked why he would want to do that, the explanation was, "Because we really like you and want you to earn a starting job. Your current major presents too many time conflicts with our meeting/lifting schedule."

He quit the program the next day. Still in Athens but with realigned priorities.

rpbobcat
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 1:53:11 PM

NewAthenian wrote:

I don't know how much easier a BSS is to get than any other degree. It would be one thing if you could just make it up as you go along, but in having to plan some courses years in advance, I don't know how one could know that they are going to be a breeze given all that could happen in that time. I guess if you were going for the easiest degree possible you would rely on word of mouth and the reputation of the profs and departments involved.

A student can use the BSS to "customize" a degree to meet a particular pursuit.

But,from the people I know at O.U.and other universities,,those students are few and far between.

The BSS is,from what I've been told,the easiest degree program O.U.
I believe they accept pretty much any on-line course.
As I said,its a great curriculum to keep athletes,most notably football and basketball (men and women) players eligible.

TWT
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/25/2017 9:56:47 PM

SBH wrote:

If Frank is doing that shame on him. I remember telling coaches I was worried about the impact on my schoolwork with the workout regimen but they never had the guts to say to forget about school.

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Deciduous Forest Cat
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/26/2017 2:06:46 PM

Uncle Wes wrote:

SBH wrote:

If Frank is doing that shame on him. I remember telling coaches I was worried about the impact on my schoolwork with the workout regimen but they never had the guts to say to forget about school.

Also, My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night.

cbarber357
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/26/2017 3:52:10 PM

I met people who could get into OU but could not get into Scripps who made a specialized studies major up to get into media and journalism classes they otherwise could not.

giacomo
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/26/2017 4:46:10 PM

Let's face it: a big portion of time in any D1 football and basketball program is spent trying to keep players eligible. This kind of thing happens everywhere. In my first year in 1977 the coaches wanted to look at my schedule and thought it was little too rigorous. They wanted me to have an academic advisor "help" me plan my schedule. I politely declined and said I knew what I was doing. Back then, if you let them lead you, they would. Maybe it's more overt now, but I don't know.

allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/26/2017 11:50:14 PM

I would not be quick to believe that story about Frank. The kid sounds like a walk on who got discouraged. There is a mutltitude of players that have difficult major, we have grad transfers, etc. Kids always have an excuse for not making it. I would believe it if every starters major is specialized studies. When I was at Ohio, the football team did know of special electives like Eldridge's Art History courses or a basketball course. There were probably about 12-15 hours of easy elective courses that you could take. My friend got a specialized studies degree that was communications related and he still had to take some of the same core classes that regular commication's major's had to take.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

OhioCatFan
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/26/2017 11:56:24 PM

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

SBH wrote:

If Frank is doing that shame on him. I remember telling coaches I was worried about the impact on my schoolwork with the workout regimen but they never had the guts to say to forget about school.

Also, My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night.

My mother's brother's wife's sister's husband is a very famous person, and he agrees with you. ;-)

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allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/27/2017 1:15:36 AM

OhioCatFan wrote:

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

SBH wrote:

If Frank is doing that shame on him. I remember telling coaches I was worried about the impact on my schoolwork with the workout regimen but they never had the guts to say to forget about school.

Also, My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night.

My mother's brother's wife's sister's husband is a very famous person, and he agrees with you. ;-)

lol. you guys never disappoint.

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

SBH
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/27/2017 9:05:16 AM

allen wrote:

+1, Allen.

Except, wait, if you had read the post you would have understood that he was a prized recruit. (He received offers from every MAC school.)

So that's a minus 1.

And Frank was telling the kid he had a chance to start as a sophomore.

So that's another minus 1.

You need to post a few more to get back on the plus side for the day.

Last Edited: 8/27/2017 9:12:39 AM by SBH

shabamon
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/27/2017 1:08:32 PM

SBH wrote:

When you say he quit the program, do you mean the football team or his major?

BillyTheCat
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/27/2017 10:24:16 PM

shabamon wrote:

SBH wrote:

When you say he quit the program, do you mean the football team or his major?

His major

allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/27/2017 10:42:58 PM

SBH wrote:

allen wrote:

Yeah, he had potential start as a sophomore. Frank penciled him in as a future starter and he gave up on a promising career, he did not transfer to another school that wanted him, even though he had offers from every MAC school along with Alabama and Ohio State. I believe you, please give me my plus 1 back. I am with you now. Your argument makes total sense. You only forgot to tell the part where Frank had the dean and the president in the office also stating that we need you to change your major because he was special. I don't believe you made up a story about a disgruntled walk-on. _ake news.

Last Edited: 8/27/2017 10:44:42 PM by allen

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

GoCats105
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/28/2017 8:33:37 AM

Deciduous Forest Cat wrote:

Uncle Wes wrote:

SBH wrote:

If Frank is doing that shame on him. I remember telling coaches I was worried about the impact on my schoolwork with the workout regimen but they never had the guts to say to forget about school.

Also, My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with a girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night.

I guess it's pretty serious.

SBH
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/28/2017 8:41:30 AM

Since my original post, I have received two PMs from former players who had the same experience.

allen
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/28/2017 10:18:33 AM

I was thinking you were a guy that was bored on a friday who was making up stuff because your dog was boycotting you because you ate his last doggy biscuit, but you are actually dead serious. It is not just your customer's son's cousin, now you have confirmation from ex-football players that are reading the basketball site at the same time validating your customer's son's cousin's story. The ex-players did not reach out to any of the doubters, they reached out to you. I will look for the Robert Smith like article to come out a few days. Just last week, we did not know what specialized studies was, now we have a scandal on our hands. Dayam FS. Why?

Nobody despises to lose more than I do. That's got me into trouble over the years, but it also made a man of mediocre ability into a pretty good coach. Woody Hayes

GoCats105
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RE: What is Specialized Studies?

Posted: 8/28/2017 12:23:25 PM

allen wrote:

Who said anything about a scandal? He's just backing up his argument since you seem to think he doesn't have one.

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