What does NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq) have a doctorate in?
Shaquille O’Neal is widely regarded as one of the best players to ever have stepped foot on a basketball court, as well as one of the best centers ever. While on the court, Shaq was known for combining his size, speed and strength to be known as one of the most dominant physical specimens in the NBA of all time, off the court, Shaq is known for plenty of different things.
Off the basketball court, Shaq is known for his affinity towards DJing, his sense of humour and his entrepreneurship – Shaq’s collaboration with multiple brands since hanging up his boots in 2011 has meant that Shaq is one of the richest basketball players ever. Shaq’s entrepreneurship ventures have become synonymous with the man, but not many know Shaq has a doctorate.
It turns out that Shaq happens to have a degree in organizational learning and leadership with a specialization in human resource development from Barry University.
Seventeen years after leaving college early to enter the NBA draft, Shaq earned his doctorate’s degree in education from Barry University in Miami. Dr. O’Neal graduated with a 3.813 GPA, according to Fox News, and was one of approximately 1,100 graduates in the commencement ceremony. Shaq attended Louisiana State as a business major, and promised his mother that he would return to college following his NBA career, and he did just that.
He also said that his doctorate’s degree was his biggest accomplishment, and Momma O’Neal agreed. Speaking on the day of his graduation ceremony, Shaq said: “Everyone thinks this is honorary. But this is not honorary. I put in four and a half hard years staying up late at night, studying, reading, rewriting papers Dr. Kopp marked up. The work was very rigorous, but very enjoyable. And I’m not done. I think I’m going to try law school next. I’m thinking about it. We’ll see.”
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