Is Pursuing Sports as a College Major the Future? Insights from Nike and Industry Leaders

For many years, some educators have suggested a way to improve the relationship between sports and education at major universities: allowing students to major in sports. This idea is championed by David Hollander, a clinical professor at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. He believes basketball has valuable lessons to teach, like how positionless play can boost entrepreneurial skills and fast breaks can enhance team communication.

Mr. Hollander has even pushed for the Catholic Church to recognize a patron saint for basketball, and he played a role in getting the United Nations to declare December 21 as World Basketball Day.

This coming year, he plans to teach a course specifically designed for varsity, Olympic, and professional athletes. In this class, their real-life experiences in sports will be part of the learning process. Hollander argues that just as students can earn degrees in dance, art, and music, athletics deserves the same recognition in academia.

He contends, “Athletics is no different from these other cultural forms. They all hold academic value.” Recently, his ideas gained traction with influential groups, including Nike, which invests heavily in college sports. Nike’s support may provide a significant boost for the movement to legitimize athletics as a field of study within universities.

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