Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2023 - SA 353 D100

Sociology of Sport (S) (4)

Class Number: 7783

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Fri, 12:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Instructor:

    Agnes MacDonald
    agnes_macdonald@sfu.ca
    Office: AQ 5068
    Office Hours: Tuesday, 3pm-4:15pm and by appointment

  • Prerequisites:

    Minimum of 30 units including SA 150.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A sociological examination of sport focuses on the role of this important set of institutions and activities in shaping social relations and understandings about difference and identity. Sport has a long history of naturalizing racial and gender differences in such a way as to reinforce and reflect social inequality more broadly. Racial segregation in sport (at least in formal legal terms) is no longer considered acceptable in western societies or in the Olympic movement at the global level. But the power of sport in reinforcing and naturalizing racial inequality continues while the naturalness and inevitability of sex segregation in sport remains largely unchallenged. This course will explore the relationships between sport and social inequality, sport and nationalism, and sport and the economy.

COURSE DETAILS:

The Sociology of Sport course offers a broad view into discourses around sport in society. Sport is everywhere in our lives. The assumption that sports remain a neutral institution for defining and demonstrating athletic supremacy is relatively intact in Western society despite research which reveals that access to sport, and the outcome of sport, is highly biased and consistent with overarching social divisions and politics. Sociology helps us see the implicit relationships between sport and nationalism, capitalism and globalization on the macro level, and the everyday interactions of sport and personhood, identity and the body. We will be reading, discussing, and writing about sports through a sociological lens making use of sociological theories and methods to gain critical insights of the issues about sports. Through a variety of perspectives, we will engage critically about how people feel, think, and live their lives in relation to sports in Canada and across the world. Reading a selection of texts by classical and contemporary sociologists will further expand our knowledge about sport and society.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Explore your understanding of sports in society and the individual’s experience
  • Contextualize sociological and historical processes of the development of sports, physical education and the Olympic movement
  • Apply critical thinking of macro and micro perspectives to the effects of sport in society and on the individual locally and globally
  • Broaden your knowledge of sociology through key themes about sport from course texts during class discussions and presentations
  • Deepen your sociological research skills by the development of the final essay

Grading

  • Participation (2x10 Q&A discussions, no makeup) 20%
  • Presentation (2-4 students/class) 15%
  • Midterm Exam 30%
  • Final Research Essay 35%

NOTES:

Grading: Where a final exam is scheduled and the student does not write the exam or withdraw from the course before the deadline date, an N grade will be assigned. Unless otherwise specified on the course syllabus, all graded assignments for this course must be completed for a final grade other than N to be assigned. An N is considered as an F for the purposes of scholastic standing.

Grading System: The Undergraduate Course Grading System is as follows:

A+ (95-100) | A (90-94) | A- (85-89) | B+ (80-84) | B (75-79) | B- (70-74) | C+ (65-69) | C (60-64) | C- (55-59) | D (50-54) | F (0-49) | N*
*N standing to indicate the student did not complete course requirements

Academic Honesty and Student Conduct Policies: The Department of Sociology & Anthropology follows SFU policy in relation to grading practices, grade appeals (Policy T20.01), and academic honesty and student conduct procedures (S10‐S10.05). Unless otherwise informed by your instructor in writing, in graded written assignments you must cite the sources you rely on and include a bibliography/list of references, following an instructor-approved citation style. It is the responsibility of students to inform themselves of the content of SFU policies available on the SFU website.

Centre for Accessible Learning: Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need classroom or exam accommodations are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (1250 Maggie Benston Centre) as soon as possible to ensure that they are eligible and that approved accommodations and services are implemented in a timely fashion.

The Sociology and Anthropology Student Union, SASU, is a governing body of students who are engaged with the department and want to build the SA community. Get involved!  Follow Facebook and Instagram pages or visit our website.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Material for notetaking in class. Access to a computer and internet for additional online/remote learning and uploading assignments on CANVAS.

REQUIRED READING:

1. Course Reader: Collected academic articles. (available online CANVAS)

2. Book: Shapton, Leanne. Swimming Studies. New York: Blue Rider Press., 2016. (available at Burnaby Public Library or independent bookstores)

Or

Allen, Hillary. Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival. Toronto: Blue Star Press, 2021. (available at the SFU bookstore)


3. Film: Lewins, Clare. Dir. I Am Ali. Passion Films: USA, 2017. (available at SFU library)

Or

Gast, Leon. Dir. Muhammad Ali: We Were Kings. Gramercy Pictures: USA, 1996. (available at SFU library)


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html