SOCI 317: SPORTS IN SOCIETY
Fall 2026 · Section 001 · CRN 16350
In this course students will examine sports as a dynamic social institution that reflects and actively shapes broader cultural dynamics, societal structures, and power relations. Drawing on foundational sociological concepts, we will analyze sports as microcosm of American society while also drawing from transnational and global examples to highlight comparative dynamics. Students will develop critical analytical skills to assess how sports offer pathways for personal and societal change. Key topics include the role of sports in identify formation; community building, race and ethnicity; the impact of sports on nationalism and national identity; cultural and social capital in access to and success within sports; the role of sports in fostering or exacerbating polarization and extremism; athlete activism as a form of social movement; interfaith dynamics and religious pluralism within athletic contexts; freedom of speech in high-profile athletic “protests”; the influence of legacy and new media in shaping sports narratives and public perception; and the intersection of sports with human rights and democracy.
- Credits
- 3
- Instructors
- Craig Considine