KINE 319 - Sociology of Sport

The purpose of KINE 319 is to examine the social institution of sport and its consequences for American society; the social organization from play to professional sport; violence and discrimination; women and ethnic minorities in sport; and the socialization implications from participation in sports.

As a result of this course, students should be able to understand and thoroughly discuss the following topics: an overview of the sociology of sport and the major principles of sport in society; the meaning and importance of sociological theory; the historical underpinnings of sport in society; sport and societal values; the importance and influence of youth, interscholastic, and intercollegiate sport; how deviance and violence influence sport and sport participants; the relationship between sport and religion; social class issues in the context of sport; the interplay among sport, politics, and the economy; how the media influences the way we see and perceive sport; and the experiences of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the sport context.