Influence of social forces and psychological factors affecting an individual's involvement in sport.
Athena Title
Social Aspects of Sport
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in KINS 4820E
Prerequisite
KINS 3430 or KINS 3430E
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall and spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in the sociology of sport
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in the use of social theory
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and the media
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and the economy
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in deviance in sport
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in aggression and violence in sport
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and socialization
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and children
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports in high school and college
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and politics
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in social class and sport
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in gender and sports
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in race and sports
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports and religion
At the completion of the course the student will be proficient in sports in the future
Topical Outline
A. The Sociology of Sport
1. Define and discuss various terms associated with the social aspects of sport.
2. Define what the sociology of sport is and how it is different from psychology of sport.
3. Discuss how sport is related to various sport institutions in our society.
B. Using Social Theories
1. Describe and know limitations of major theoretical approaches to the study of sport in society.
2. Provide examples of research inspired by these approaches.
3. Describe the policy implications associated with these approaches.
C. Sports and the Media
1. Know the unique features of the media in today's society.
2. Know the ways in which sports and the media have become interconnected.
3. Describe the images and messages that are often emphasized in the media coverage of sports in North America.
4. Discuss media logic and how it is fulfilled in sport.
D. Sports and the Economy
1. Understand how commercial sports influence the way sports are played and organized.
2. Know who owns, sponsors, and promotes sports, and what are their interests.
3. Discuss how the number of professional athletes earn correlate with their legal status in different sports.
E. Deviance in Sport
1. Define the problems that researchers face when studying deviance in sport.
2. Define deviance and know how to identify deviant behaviors in sport.
3. Discuss why athletes use performance enhancing drugs and why it is difficult to control the use of drugs in sports.
F. Aggression and Violence in Sport
1. Define and know the differences between violence and aggression.
2. Know the causes of violence among spectators and the recommendation for reducing this form of violence.
G. Sports and Socialization
1. Define competition and how it is different from other social processes.
2. Know how competition is incorporated into sports and sport behaviors.
H. Sports and Children
1. Know the difference in play activities and informal games of boys and girls.
2. Have an understanding of what happens in organized sport programs for youth.
I. Sports in High School and College
1. Know the arguments for and against interscholastic and intercollegiate sports.
2. Does sport participation have an impact on the academic performance and social developments of student athletes?
3. Know the advantages and disadvantages (if any) schools, colleges, and universities experience with athletic programs.
4. Define some of the major problems associated with interscholastic and intercollegiate sport programs.
J. Sports and Politics
1. Why do governments become involved in sponsorship and control of sports and how does this involvement occur in different societies?
2. Know the political consequences of international sports events.
3. What are the political consequences of the globalization of certain sports?
K. Social Class and Sport
1. Discuss whether sport participation is truly open and democratic or is it connected with class relations.
2. Define social mobility and its relationship to sport participation.
3. Know how the opportunities in sport limit certain athletes' social mobility.
L. Gender and Sports
1. Know the participation and equity issues, and the ideological and structural issues involved with women and sport.
2. Define and discuss gender logic and how it is perpetuated in society.
M. Race and Sports
1. Define race and ethnicity.
2. Discuss how racial ideology affects race and ethnicity in sports.
3. Discuss sport participation patterns for different racial and ethnic groups.
N. Sports and Religion
1. Know the similarities and differences that exist between sports and religion.
2. Discuss if there are consequences of combining Christianity and sport.
O. Sports in the Future
1. Define and discuss the power and performance model.
2. Define and discuss the pleasure and participation model.
