Sports and Society

Use insights from economics, philosophy, history, and media studies to critically assess the position of sports in our society.

This minor introduces students to the study of sports from the perspective of three social sciences: philosophy, economics, and history/media studies. Each social science has two weeks with 3 lectures per week. These are weeks 2, 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9. During the lectures teachers will discuss societal questions related to sports from the perspective of their field of expertise. You could think of questions like: what are the ethical views on the gender pay gap in sports? Or, how have historical events shaped the role of sports in our society? What are the economic benefits of organizing large sport events? And what role do the sports media play in public perceptions towards athletes of different racial and gender groupings? The themes discussed are similar in each two-week block such that students get different perspectives on the same issues. During or right after the third lecture of each week, students work on an in-class assignment. Together these in-class assignments form a portfolio which is the individual part of the course grade.
In week 4 and 7 there are guest lectures and workgroups/question hours to help students develop their group research papers. Students can choose the research theme according to their own preferences. They formulate a research question related to this theme. In their paper they then investigate this question from the perspective of each of the three social sciences in the minor.
In week 1 students get an introduction to the minor and each of the social sciences.
Week 10 is reserved for presentations of students’ research projects. This presentation is optional for ESE students.
The list of activities per week is (subject to change):

• Week 1: Practicalities of the minor and introduction to each social science
• Week 2 and 3: History and media studies of sports
• Week 4: Guest lecture and paper development session
• Week 5 and 6: Economics of sports
• Week 7: Guest lecture and paper development session
• Week 8 and 9: Philosophy of sports
• Week 10: student research presentations (15 ECTS students)

Modules:

1. Philosophy of Sports
2. History and Media studies of Sports
3. Sports Economics and Finance
4. Groupwork paper

After taking this minor, students should be able to

1. Understand the role, meaning and importance of sports in Western society.
2. Explain the main theories of sports developed by historians, media scholars, philosophers, and economists.
3. Place current societal trends and problems in sports in a broader historical, philosophical, and economic perspective.
4. Reflect critically on current issues in sports governance, media relations, ethics, and economics using insights from history/media studies, philosophy, and economics.
5. Write an academic research paper on sports which integrates perspectives from different social and humanities disciplines.
6. Formulate a critical perspective on reporting about sports in popular media outlets.

• Minor is open to students from all BSc and BA programs.
• The minor is taught in English and involves writing academic papers. This requires good English reading and writing skills.
• Minor relies on reading many original sources in all three domains. This is a significant time investment.
• There will be no recording or streaming of lectures. Lecture attendance is not mandatory, but assignments (partly) take place in class.
• Experience has shown that passing the minor without attending lectures is very difficult. If you are not able to attend activities on campus, this will be a big hurdle for your success in this minor.

Teaching Methods

• Intro lecture (week 1)
• 2 plenary lectures and 1 workgroup (weeks 2-3, 5-6 and 8-9)
• Lectures with guest speakers (weeks 4 and 7)
• Paper development workgroups (week 4 and 7)
• Student presentations (week 10)

Teaching material

• Lecture slides on Canvas
• Published research articles downloadable through Canvas
• Primary texts and books available in library or online
• Templates for assignments on Canvas

Examination
The minor can be followed by students from all BSc programs. For ESE-students, the default is 12 ECTS, with an option to extend to 15 ECTS. All other students follow the 15 ECTS option. The examination reflects this:

• 12 ECTS (ESE students only)

• Individual portfolio assignment:

• In-class assignment in third lecture of week.

• Takes a different form each week, e.g., short presentation, essay, data exercise…

• Group research paper

• Students form a group of 4-5.

• Choose a research theme.

• Formulate research question.

• Use template for paper structure.

• Develop paper with critical reflection from each social science perspective.

• Consult teachers in paper development workgroups.

• 15 ECTS (all other students)

• All assignments above.

• Group presentation of research paper in week 10.

Composition final grade

• 12 ECTS option (ESE students only):

• Individual portfolio = 60% of grade

• Group research paper = 40% of grade

• 15 ECTS option:

• Individual portfolio = 60% of grade

• Group research paper = 30% of grade

• Presentation = 10% of grade