Sociological Aspects of Sport

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Return to Course
Print Guideline
Course
SPSC 2281
Discontinued
Yes
Course code
SPSC 2281
Descriptive
Sociological Aspects of Sport
Department
Sport Science
Faculty
Science & Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
202130
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
35
Contact hours
3 hours per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities
  • Lectures
  • Guest Speakers
  • Seminars
  • Videos
  • Slides
  • Overheads
Course description
A critical introduction to social and cultural dimensions of sport in western industrial societies. Central emphasis is the distinctiveness of the sociological perspective as a way of understanding the nature of sport in social and cultural life.
Course content
  1. The sociological analyses of sport in society:
    • The discipline of Sociology
    • Sport as a microcosm of society
    • Levels of sport
  2. Social and cultural sources of the rise of sport in industrial societies:
    • The transformation of sport
    • The technological revolution and sport
    • Industrialization, urbanization and sport
    • Social aggregates and cultural influences in the rise of sport
  3. Sport and societal values
    • The Canadian value system
    • Societal values and sport
  4. Children and sport:
    • Youth sports programs
    • Socialization and sport
    • Sports alternatives for the young athlete
  5. Interscholastic sport:
    • The status of sport in schools
    • The benefits of school sport
    • Problems, dilemmas and issues
  6. Intercollegiate sport:
    • The status of intercollegiate sport
    • The benefits of intercollegiate sport
    • Problems, dilemmas and issues
  7. Social problems and issues and sport:
    • Selected issues and problems in sport:
      • Drugs
      • Violence
      • Parental behaviour
      • Sexual harassment, etc.
  8. Sport and religion:
    • Religion and society
    • The relationship of religion and sport
  9. Sport and the polity:
    • The political uses of sport
    • The politics of international sport
  10. Sport and the economy:
    • Economic beneficiaries of sport
    • Professional and amateur sport as a business
  11. Sport and the mass media:
    • Social roles of the mass media
    • The impact of the mass media on sport
    • The impact of sport on the mass media
  12. Sport, social stratification and social mobility:
    • social class and sport
    • Social mobility and sport
  13. Race and sport:
    • Minority groups
    • Discrimination in sport
    • Multiculturalism and sport
  14. Women and sport:
    • Social sources of sexism in sport
    • consequences of sexism for women in sport
    • Recent trends in women’s sport
  15. Contemporary trends and the future of sport:
    • Trends in population, industry and technology
    • A future society and sport
    • Trends in the economy
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, students will have knowledge of:

  1. The sociological analysis of sport in society
  2. Social and cultural sources of the rise of sport in industrial societies
  3. Sport and societal values
  4. Children and sport
  5. Interscholastic sport
  6. Intercollegiate sport
  7. Social issues and problems and sport
  8. Sport and religion
  9. Sport and the polity
  10. Sport and the economy
  11. Sport and the mass media
  12. Sport, social stratification and social mobility
  13. Race and sport
  14. Women and sport
  15. Contemporary trends and the future of sport
Means of assessment
Test #1 20%
Test #2 20%
Test #3 20%
Major assignment 20%
Presentation & essay 20%

 

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Students will be assigned readings from the following textbooks:

  • Gruneau, R. and Albinson, J. (1976). Canadian Sport: Sociological Perspectives. Addison Wesley, 1st Edition.
  • Hall, A., Slack, T., Smith, G. and Whitson, D. (1991). Sport in Canadian Society. McClelland and Stewart, 1st Edition.
  • Eitzen, D. and Sage, G. (1993). Sociology of North American Sport. Brown and Benchmark, 5th Edition.
  • Coakley, J. (1990). Sport in Society: Issues and Controversies. Mosby Publishing, 4th Edition.
  • Leonard, W. (1988). A Social Perspective of Sport, MacMillan Publishing, 3rd edition.
  • Leclair, J. (1992). Winners and Losers: Sport and Physical Activity in the 90’s, Thompson Educational Publishing, 1st Edition.
  • Donnelly, P. (1997). Taking Sport Seriously: Social Issues in Canadian Sport, Thompson EducationalPublishing, 1st Edition.
  • Robinson, L. (1997). She Shoots She Scores: Canadian Perspectives on Women and Sport, Thompson Educational Publishing, 1st Edition.
Prerequisites

SPSC 1105