Johnny Manziel is back at Texas A&M to finish up his degree so we offer a few classes he can take to get back into the swing of college life.
Johnny Manziel is back at school to get his degree. Manziel left Texas A&M to pursue his NFL dreams, but he hasn’t had the smoothest road in the pros. Going back to Texas A&M to get that college degree makes sense.
Before Johnny Football was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, he was known as the Heisman Trophy-winning Recreation, Parks and Tourism Science major at Texas A&M. He left the university before completing his degree, and now that things aren’t working out so well in the big leagues, Manziel wants to get that degree.
I worked as an Assistant Athletic Director for Academics at a D-1 university, so helping athletes finish up their degrees after going pro is something I did on a regular basis. Here’s a look at the class scheduling advice I’d offer Johnny Manziel if he came into my office.
According to the Texas A&M course catalog, RPTS majors can expect the following from the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Science major:
“The undergraduate curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences provides students with an education in recreation, park and tourism sciences, with an emphasis on problem-solving skills, development of an international perspective and the application of scientific principles to managerial problems. The first two years of studies build a foundation that spans a wide range of disciplines and bodies of knowledge in the arts and sciences and provide the student with an introduction to the history and concepts of recreation, park and tourism sciences.”
Here’s his course load…
Math 140
MATH 140 Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences
Credits 3. 3 Lecture Hours.
(3.0). (MATH 1324) Application of common algebraic functions, including polynomial, exponential, logarithmic and rational, to problems in business, economics and the social sciences; includes mathematics of finance, including simple and compound interest and annuities; systems of linear equations; matrices; linear programming; and probability, including expected value. No credit will be given for more than one of MATH 140, MATH 141 and MATH 166.
Prerequisite: High school algebra I and II and geometry.
Student athletes who anticipate the draft tend to put off taking subjects they despise. For many of us, that class is math. Many students and student athletes alike stop taking math after their junior year of high school, so several years may pass if college students wait to take math later in their college careers. A solid math course would be a great refresher for Manziel, who needs to really learn how to manage his finances now that he’s not working.
Math 140 is a great choice for Manziel because it is a mix of basic algebraic concepts with a focus on business applications. The focus on finance and calculating simple and compound interest will be helpful when Manziel needs to figure out how much money he actually has. He has been living large since being drafted There is also a section on probability and expected value, which will give Manziel some insight into how valuable he will be upon reentry into the NFL in the future.
Given how long it has been since Manziel has been in a math class, the good news is that there is a ton of tutoring available for the class, so he can always get help when he needs it. Of course, that means he has to ask for help, which is an entirely different issue.
Next: Economics