In the past, the notion of obtaining a college degree in martial arts was considered to be a joke.  Why exactly would someone need a degree in this subject?  Is there actually a need for such a thing?  What classes would be appropriate for an academic study of martial arts?  How would a martial arts degree be used?  As the popularity of martial arts increases on a daily basis, so to does the need for a legitimate educational program addressing the needs of the community.  The proliferation of martial arts studios of various types in every area (of the United States) is a testament to the fact that the business of martial arts is growing and is here to stay.  The potential value of martial arts training to the general public also demonstrates the necessity to ensure a professional standard of care and training is at least available to the instructors who have dedicated their lives to teaching martial arts.  Although there are some outstanding martial arts associations in existence who maintain extremely high standards for both rank and instructor certification, the additional need for this academic college degree program should also be readily apparent. 

There are hundreds of accredited schools in the United States, and many of them have unusual degree programs which, although important, provide very little impact to the general public when compared to the potential impact of a martial arts degree.  Just one example is Mississippi State University, which provides degrees in sports turf, precision agriculture, cotton ginning, landscape architecture, retail floristry and food science (for more information, see http://msucares.com/news/print/commnews/cn01/0101023.html).

In addition to teaching martial arts, there are many other career areas in which a martial arts degree could be useful.  According to Mr. Joseph Svinth in “Higher Education and the Martial Arts” (located at http://ejmas.com/jalt/jaltart_svinth_1102.html), a degree such as this could also be used in careers such as law enforcement, security, corrections, bodyguarding, military, physical education, and social work to name a few. He also points out that, as Judo and Tae Kwon Do are both Olympic sports, scholarships may be available to students attending other schools while studying other degree programs.

As mentioned before, it should be apparent that there is a legitimate need for a martial arts college degree program.  Degree programs such as this are common in Japan, Korea, and China, but are just beginning to be seen in the United States (for instance, Yong In University in Korea at http://www.yongin.ac.kr/yihume/eng/academic/ma.html, and the Nippon Sports Science University in Japan at http://www.nittai.ac.jp/eng/gakubu/gakabu_b.html).  There are currently several regionally-accredited universities offering martial arts degree programs in the United States, both of which (programs) were established within the last couple of years.  These include the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut (at http://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/3868.asp) and Concordia University-Irvine, California (at http://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/athletics/index_ektid1226.aspx).  Naropa University in Boulder, CO offers a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Traditional Eastern Arts, which focuses on the study of Tai Chi Chuan, Aikido, and Yoga (at http://www.naropa.edu/academics/undergraduate/trar/index.cfm).  A quick search of the internet will also find numerous accredited universities and colleges that, although they do not offer martial arts degree programs, do offer individual martial arts courses for formal credit or as a certificate program, such as Indiana University (at http://www.indiana.edu/~martial/).  In addition, numerous accredited universities also offer intramural and/or varsity sports martial arts programs.  However, it is much easier to find the plethora of “diploma mill” universities and colleges offering degrees in martial arts that are not accredited and not recognized by any legitimate martial arts or academic organization.  These degrees and schools are also considered to be jokes in the academic world and distract from the serious pursuit of an academic martial arts study.

It is generally accepted that the study of martial arts is highly beneficial in many areas of life.  Some of these areas include character development, discipline, courtesy, respect, focus, athletic ability, general fitness, and self-defense skills.  Because of these benefits, and many others not listed, many parents wish for their children to study the martial arts, and many adults wish to train for their own personal benefit.  If the only criteria for providing top quality instruction were the physical ability to perform martial (fighting) techniques and to teach others to do the same, an academic pursuit of martial arts studies would not be beneficial.  However, providing top quality instruction is much more than that.  Without the historical, philosophical, moral, and character development aspects included, the focus becomes merely “martial” and is no longer considered to be an “art.” 

Many martial arts schools in the United States teach only fighting skills and leave the rest out, which is a choice they have consciously made.  Many instructors prefer to include the full aspect of the “art” and are able to pass on to their students only what they learned from their instructors by word of mouth or from their own academic studies.  Although it should never be required for a martial arts instructor or business owner to hold an academic degree in martial arts, the fact they took the time and effort to study the underpinnings of the “art” in martial arts should be considered a testament to their dedication to teaching and to the art itself.  In addition, the knowledge that their studies focused on codified and recognized curricula should be appreciated by those interested in studying and training under their tutelage.