Clustering by Academic Major at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

Abstract:Follow-up studies of clustering by academic major, the dynamic of 25% or more of the student-athletes on a roster pursuing the same academic major, indicate that it still occurs in revenue-generating sports. Research on clustering is absent in member institutions of different NCAA divisions, institutions with unique missions, specifically historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This study examined the academic majors of student-athletes in football and basketball at select HBCUs by obtaining data about academic majors from institutional media guides. The results revealed that clustering occurred at eighteen of the twenty-two. From these results, clustering by academic major is not just an issue at “big time” institutions, but potentially a widespread issue across collegiate athletics.