Sport Studies Concentration & Minor

The Sport Studies concentration/minor prepares students with a broad perspective of the interdisciplinary nature of sports and prepare students for careers in one of the many fast-growing sectors in the industry of sports: careers such as coaching, sports administration, youth and community sports programs, sport journalism, sports media, and sports management. Students may also use the minor as a springboard for graduate work in sport psychology, sport medicine, sport sociology, sport history, sport philosophy, sport law and sport management.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students will gain a strong foundation of the interdisciplinary nature of sport. Students will be able to articulate their theoretical understanding of sport from historical, philosophical, psychological and sociological perspectives. Students will also have opportunities in practical application learning principles of coaching and sports management.

Student outcomes from individual course offerings include:

1. Sport Psychology: Students will learn the major psychological variables that influence sport participation and behavior in sport settings. Students will gain a broad overview of the needs and purposes of psychology in sport and exercise.
2. Sport Sociology: Students will understand the relationships between sport and socialization, social mobility, racism, sexism, gender, deviance, youth sports, politics, economics, and religion. 
3. History and Philosophy of Sport: Students will become familiar with the historical and philosophical underpinnings of sport from primitive cultures to contemporary societies and their inter-relationship with cultural values.  
4. Philosophy and Theories of Coaching: Students will develop a personal philosophy of coaching and an understanding of coaching theories and organizational concepts. Students will learn the principles of coaching ethics, the inter-relational behavior of athletes and coaches, and be able to articulate the role that faith should play in sports.
5. Introduction to Sport and Recreation Management: This course will introduce students to the foundations of sport and recreation management. Students will learn the basic skills and competencies of planning, leading, and organizing required of sport and recreation managers in various sport and recreation-related organizations. 
   

Students who wish to minor in Sport Studies (20 total credits) will choose four courses listed above and one of the following Leisure theory courses:
            REC115 Foundations of Recreation and Leisure Studies (4 credits)
            REC330 Theories of Play, Games and Sports (4 credits)
            REC492 Leisure Theories and Cultural Values (4 credits)
 
Recreation and Leisure Studies Majors would take their normal course offerings in addition to the above requirements for the Sport Studies concentration/minor for a total 128 credits.  Students are encouraged to do their required internship/co-op in a sport setting.