Conordia University offers 4 year TKD degree

[bushido_man96]

In my recent TKDTimes magazine, I saw another brief article on a college offering an MA degree, but this time, it is strictly a TKD degree. The students who complete the program would have a bachelors degree, and would be able to pass cerification processes in Kukkiwon for up to 4th degree black belt, along with the processes for being a judge/official.

Here is a link to information on the college and the degree: https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/undergraduate/athletics/index_ektid1226.aspx

Here is a link to Elite Fitness TKD: https://www.elitefitnesstkd.com/3.html The GM of this school is the one who is to head up the above program. He seems to have great credentials.

I have sent an email to one of the officials in charge of the program, asking some questions on classes, time, etc. I'll fill in more information when I get a response.

What do you guys think? What I question the most is coming out with a 4th degree after 4 years. But, I can hopefully clarify that with one of my questions.

[JackCrevalle]

It doesn't say you'll come out a 4th degree BB, it says you'll have the skills to pass the certification for 4th degree BB. Later it says:

"Graduates can earn up to a 3rd or 4th degree black belt."

Well, so can non-graduates for that matter.

[YoungMan]

Apparently McDojangs exist at the college level as well. I find it very hard to believe you'd have the ability to pass certification for 4th Dan after four years of a college program, especially assuming you go in with no experience. I'll pass.

[Montana]

Well, a 3-4th degree BB in 4 years is, IMO, a "shake and bake" quickie way to get higher rank. You may have the knowledge of techniques and kata, but you don't have the "seasoning" that comes from experience for that rank. A 1st Dan..OK, I don't see a problem with that...but a 3-4th? Nope. Smells of "belt factory" mentality to me.

Sorry, despite being from a very reputable institution (Concordia), I think it's a load of crapola.

[isshinryu5toforever]

I think the "able to come out with a 3rd or 4th dan" is only for those who come in with a first or 2nd dan. It's still fast, but not unheard of. If they run it like they do in Korea, it should be audition only. That said, I know in the US this won't happen. So yeah, a 4th degree black belt in 4 years...not much to say about that.

[DWx]

Maybe you could. If you were going to do a degree in it you'd be pretty much doing TKD and only TKD all day everyday for four years solid. That should accelerate your learning time. I mean most people nowadays are dedicated if the do a few hours a day, these people would be doing it from 9-5 with extra assignments and everything. Plus if you were training with a Grandmaster constantly I'd imagine that your fundamentals would be made to be technically correct right from the begining so you wouldn't have to correct yourself at an intermediate stage like most people do now.

Also I think the people that my try out for it would have some MA background anyway? You'd have to be pretty dedicated to the MAs to do one constantly for the next 1/2 decade of your life and not gain any other qualifications.

[A_Train]

Yeah, I was thinking I doesn't sound overly unrealistic to get to 4th Dan in 4 years if you were in the dojang for 8 hours a day not counting outside practice/assignments.

What does one do with a degree in TKD?

[frightmaster]

Part of earning degrees is also TEACHING other students. This will also help you to learn the art much better. 4 years is, in my humble opinion, not enough time to get a 3rd degree let alone 4th (from scratch).

[A_Train]

Yes, but seeing as how one can teach TKD without a degree, it seems rather wasteful to spend money getting a degree that has no real value, when you can teach it after acquiring the same achievements outside of the program.

[BlahuKahuna]

Yes, but seeing as how one can teach TKD without a degree, it seems rather wasteful to spend money getting a degree that has no real value, when you can teach it after acquiring the same achievements outside of the program.

Yeah, it seems smarter to major in something like business and do TKD on the side.