What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I noticed a quote from Chris Ferguson on the back of the Mathematics of Poker book that said, "If I ever find myself teaching a poker class for the mathematics department at UCLA, this will be the only book on the syllabus."

That got me thinking, just for fun, what if there was a University that offered a degree in poker? What would the graduation requirements be? For example:
- required courses
- elective courses
- required reading
- practical vs. theoretical study
- general vs. game specific study (which games)
- Sequencing of various courses
- Methods of instruction
- What department at a University would offer this (e.g. Math dept.)
- Who would the professors be?
- How would you be tested?

Just to be clear, I don't think this will really happen, I just thought it would be interesting to think about.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

you could get a graduate degree in poker

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I definitely think a bear on a unicycle could beat a lion on a pogo stick.

Just to be clear, I don't think this will really happen, I just thought it would be interesting to think about.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

http://images.wikia.com/uncyclopedia.../Bear_bike.gif

The bear, duh [edit: yes I know it's not a unicycle]

Lions can't pogo stick that's just silly

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker

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95 percent would flunk out, and for every actual graduate 25 would claim to be graduates

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

a sample from the final exam:

23. You beat a $2/$4 no limit game online for 4.5 ptBB/100. Each table averages 90 hands per hour and your MT rate is 4.56. What is your hourly rate?

24. But how much did you lose?

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
a sample from the final exam:

23. You beat a $2/$4 no limit game online for 4.5 ptBB/100. Each table averages 90 hands per hour and your MT rate is 4.56. What is your hourly rate?

24. But how much did you lose?

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Very nice.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker

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95 percent would flunk out, and for every actual graduate 25 would claim to be graduates

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This is so obviously correct.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

MCU = Mike Caro Univerisity.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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MCU = Mike Caro Univerisity.

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I would think it very valid if players such as Bob Ciaffone, Howard Lederer, David Sklansky etc were teaching.
There are very few qualified players that can pass on the concepts necessary to excel.
I would like in actuality to see such a course put together for an intense one week where each day a specific form was taught by the best qualified player in that form.
Monday would be Pot limit omaha . Tuesday would be pot limit holdem . Wednesday would be 0/8 etc etc etc.
Yes there are really games out there besides NL holdem that versatile players would enjoy exploring more deeply to fill their arsenal.
At the end of each day players use their skills in actual game play under the watchful eye of the instructor{s}.
Of course the week would be dedicated exclusively to live or tourney play.
I prefer live play concepts etc.
The course would be totally geared for intermediate to advanced players.
I TOTALLY disagree with the idea one needs to specialize in a specific game. The players in all forms are no where near the competent level of four to five years ago. Therefore the better well rounded one becomes the better will be his ev at every game he undertakes.
Ok enough said because with the global NL donk mentality out there, this will never transpire. [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]
One final note is that the poker school offerings out there right now seem mediocre at best.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

Televised Tournaments 405: How to get more Camera Time by acting like a douche
(Guest Lecturers: Shaun Sheikan, Humberto Brenes, and Phil Hellmuth, Jr.)

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I've actually thought of this to after going through my books in poker.

The degree will need to focus on the core games:
- Hold'em both fixed and NL
- Tournament Holdem
- Omaha - high only and high low
- Pot Limit Omaha
- 7 Card Stud - traditional and high low
other games such as Razz may be considered.

The core books will include: TOP, Mathematics of Poker for theory

Because poker is so situational and subjective, I beleive the exams should be essay based or short answer based. Exam questions will be similiar to the ones in HOH, where you are given a question and you will provide an answer + an explanation as to why you would do it.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I would burn my electrical engineering degree and enroll immediately.

Edit: My wife says, "no you wouldn't."

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

lol 7n7:)

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

If poker were offered as a degreed program, could I minor in bonging?

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

Marketing 302: Trading on Your Looks
A advanced course in applying the benefits offered by chance genetics and your coke habit. Course modules include: Cleavage, the Camera, and Your Career; Who to Sleep With, Who Not To, and Why; Your First DVD - P0rn or Poker?; and Elementary Card Playing for Beginners. Course lecturers: Annie Duke, Shannon Elizabeth, Vanessa Russo and Jennifer Tilly.

Also includes a special guest lecture on Avoiding the Pitfalls - Digging for Gold, Blowing Accounts and the Dangers of P.O.B, taken by Brandi Hawbaker.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

First There is no reason that a poker degree would have to be either/or, that is, a few games or all games. In a computer science cirriculum you might learn more than one lanuguage, but you don't have to learn all of them. There are both required and elective courses within a specific major.

Second, I don't see why this should be only a graduate degree. What's wrong with a undergrad degree with course requirements like Introduction to Statistics?
For teaching purposes there would have to be some common ground, so making no-limit-holdem a required course would seem reasonable.

It's not hard to envision a list of courses. Within the poker major there could be different emphases with different course requirements. Some courses could be from the poker major, and some from other majors. A course list could include:

Internet tournament play, high limits
Internet tournament play, low limits
Internet cash games
Money management for traveling professionals
Poker room management
Introduction to Statistics
Game Theory
Accounting
Indian Tribal Gaming Laws
Casino gambling
Small tournaments--local, state, and charity games.
Introduction to (name the type of poker)
Advanced (name the type of poker)
Poker Tells

Also, you could certainly have guest lecturers from other departments, or some sort of interdisciplinary approach. Professors or experts from the following areas might be useful:

Buisness Administattion
Marketing
Mathematics
Computer Science
Psychology
Sports Management
Law (gambling regulation, income tax law)

This can and will happen. After all, the very existence of twoplustwo shows that poker can be a field of serious study.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I read somewhere that Richmond University in Virginia has a poker class, although it's not for credit.
I wish there was a such degree...that would be great.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I know a philosophy major that is writing his thesis on "poker in american culutre" He got a press pass to the WSOP because of it.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

I like this post.

I think poker has enough depth to be a university discipline.

Suggested modules:

Image
Bluffing
Tells
Poker Tournaments

I started the list...add to it.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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I like this post.

I think poker has enough depth to be a university discipline.

Suggested modules:

Image
Bluffing
Tells
Poker Tournaments

I started the list...add to it.

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Start with basics...
Rules of game
Table procedures and etiquette.
Starting hands

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

That would probably be a liability on most resumes I would think.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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That would probably be a liability on most resumes I would think.

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Not if it was from MIT or Harvard.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

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Probably. A poker "degree" would be much more compatible with the trade school philosophy than with the university philosophy.

Certain game theoretic aspects of poker might be legitimate areas of study for people getting some other degree, however.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

This is amusing.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

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New degrees are created, because of simple demand and/or the changing economy, all the time.

Not too long ago you probably couldn't find a course related to managing a political campaign, now there are degrees in campaign managagement.

To give another example, I have a friend that has a degree in web site management.

I submit that both conditions are present for a poker degree. The demand is there, and the millions of dollars available to winning players is certainly an economic change.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

You can go and study gaming at the center for gaming studies university of nevada-reno. I suspect it's a lot less fun than a degree in poker would be.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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I read somewhere that Richmond University in Virginia has a poker class, although it's not for credit.
I wish there was a such degree...that would be great.

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here is a link

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

[/ QUOTE ]

New degrees are created, because of simple demand and/or the changing economy, all the time.

Not too long ago you probably couldn't find a course related to managing a political campaign, now there are degrees in campaign managagement.

To give another example, I have a friend that has a degree in web site management.

I submit that both conditions are present for a poker degree. The demand is there, and the millions of dollars available to winning players is certainly an economic change.

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what is the market out there like for employers looking for people who have degrees in poker?

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

[/ QUOTE ]

New degrees are created, because of simple demand and/or the changing economy, all the time.

Not too long ago you probably couldn't find a course related to managing a political campaign, now there are degrees in campaign managagement.

To give another example, I have a friend that has a degree in web site management.

I submit that both conditions are present for a poker degree. The demand is there, and the millions of dollars available to winning players is certainly an economic change.

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what is the market out there like for employers looking for people who have degrees in poker?

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I think that there is a market for people that would want the degree.

First, it's not just about playing poker. Some of the courses I suggested, like bankroll managment or tax law taught by an accountant, would be very useful.

Second, a lot of people want to be very good at something. The best clarinet teacher I ever had had a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music.

In other words, for most people, learning requires a structure, a cirriculum, and teachers.

To be a great poker player, you need to learn the game(s). You need to know the math. You have to know how to manage your money if you're going to last.

Just like music, just like any discipline, you don't just play. Even Mozart had a teacher.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

Sklansky's "Getting the Best of it" is required reading at several law and investment firms. I get regular orders from them.

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
If some university offered a degree in poker, then I would hope that said university would lose its accreditation.

[/ QUOTE ]

New degrees are created, because of simple demand and/or the changing economy, all the time.

Not too long ago you probably couldn't find a course related to managing a political campaign, now there are degrees in campaign managagement.

To give another example, I have a friend that has a degree in web site management.

I submit that both conditions are present for a poker degree. The demand is there, and the millions of dollars available to winning players is certainly an economic change.

[/ QUOTE ]

what is the market out there like for employers looking for people who have degrees in poker?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that there is a market for people that would want the degree.

First, it's not just about playing poker. Some of the courses I suggested, like bankroll managment or tax law taught by an accountant, would be very useful.

Second, a lot of people want to be very good at something. The best clarinet teacher I ever had had a degree from the New England Conservatory of Music.

In other words, for most people, learning requires a structure, a cirriculum, and teachers.

To be a great poker player, you need to learn the game(s). You need to know the math. You have to know how to manage your money if you're going to last.

Just like music, just like any discipline, you don't just play. Even Mozart had a teacher.

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Many poker players have mentors or coaches. Its more like the appreenticeships of the days of yore

Re: What if a University Offered a Degree in Poker
 

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I would burn my electrical engineering degree and enroll immediately.

Edit: My wife says, "no you wouldn't."

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lmao