Sport Studies
The sport studies track offers a liberal arts education structured around the study of sport in its historical and contemporary contexts. Coursework provides students with the critical skills necessary to understand the cultural significance of sport and its relationship to other social institutions such as the media, the economy, the family, education and politics. Race, class, and gender differences in the sport experience are central to the curriculum.
The sport studies track offers the best undergraduate preparation in the nation for students interested in continuing their intellectual interest in sport in graduate school. Students interested in this career path can put together a secondary area of strength in areas such as American studies, history, women’s studies, African American studies, or sociology.
The sport studies track provides an excellent basis for the undergraduate student interested in the fields of sport management, sport journalism or sports information, and coaching. More specific options in these fields can be found below:
Sport Studies Track Curriculum Requirements
I. HSS Foundation (9 s.h.)
- 028:036 Physical Activity Through the Life Span (3 s.h.)
- 028:074 Inequality in Sport (3 s.h.)
- 028:076 Psychological Aspects of Sport and Physical Activity (3 s.h.)
II. Sport Studies Core Courses (12 s.h.)
Students must complete one course from each of the four areas for a total of 12 semester hours.
Diversity in Sport
- 028:078 Women, Sport and Culture (3 s.h.)
OR
- 028:079 Race and Ethnicity in Sport (3 s.h.)
International Dimensions
- 028:072 The Olympics - Ancient and Modern (3 s.h.)
OR
- 028:176 Sport & Nationalism ( 3 s.h.)
OR
- 028:177 Western World Sport: Greeks to Present (3 s.h.)
Contemporary Sport
- 028:175 Sport and the Media (3 s.h.)
OR
- 028:188 Twentieth Century US Sport (3 s.h.)
History of Sport and Leisure in the US
- 028:178 Sport in the US to 1900 (3 s.h.)
OR
- 028:179 The American Vacation ( 3 s.h.)
III. Sport Studies Guided Electives (9 s.h.)
Students must complete 9 s.h. in additional 028 sport studies courses. The following are suggested:
- 028:077 Understanding Peak Performance in Sport (3 s.h.)
-
028:143 Communicating Health and Physical Activity (3 s.h.)
-
028:147 Promoting Health Globally (2 s.h.)
- 028:174 Stress Management (3 s.h.)
- 028:180 Theory and Ethics of Coaching (3 s.h.)
-
028:193 Independent Study (1-3 s.h.)
-
028:194 Honors Readings (1-2 s.h.)
-
028:195 Honors Problems (3-4 s.h)
And, courses not taken in the four sport studies core course areas.
Internship Options
Students may earn 6 s.h. of credit for an approved internship experience (28:191). Students must be advanced in the major before they may undertake an internship. This includes having completed the sport studies foundation and core courses, at least 15 s.h. in one Secondary Area, and 28:190 Pre-internship Seminar.
IV. Secondary Area (15 s.h.)
All students must complete 15 s.h. of coursework in a Secondary Area outside the department. Of the 15 s.h. in this secondary area, 6 s.h. must be in 100-level courses or courses designated by the offering unit as carrying advanced-level standing. These classes cannot be taken by correspondence, and they cannot be taken pass/no pass.
Students may satisfy the Secondary Area requirement by taking 15 s.h. of coursework in another department of the student’s choosing, or they may choose one of the more formal arrangements designed to provide further preparation for students interested in combining the sport studies major with sport management, sport journalism, or coaching. The details of these options are below:
Sport Management in Sport Studies
The sport studies track provides a strong academic foundation for students interested in the field of sport management. Students can pursue this option by taking 6E:165 Sports Economics and by fulfilling the Secondary Area requirement through coursework from the Tippie College of Business. An internship option is also available to interested students.
Three sport management options are available to fulfill the Secondary Area requirement: a minor in the Tippie College of Business; a Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management; or an individually designed concentration on courses in business.
Minor in Business (36 – 37 s.h.)
Students must satisfy the minor curriculum set by the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. Topic areas include management, economics, accounting, law and marketing.
For further information, visit the Henry B. Tippie College of Business web site: http://tippie.uiowa.edu/undergraduate/programs/index.cfm.
Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management (18-20 s.h.)
The Certificate in Entrepreneurial Management is offered through the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. Students must complete the following:
- 06T:120 Entrepreneurship and Innovation (co-requisite 06T:050)
-
06T:133 Entrepreneurial Finance
-
06T:134 Entrepreneurial Marketing
-
06T:150 Managing the Growth Business
Students may choose from numerous electives to fulfill the remaining 6 semester hours.
For more information visit: http://tippie.uiowa.edu/undergraduate/programs/entrepren-certificate.cfm.
Concentration in Business (15 s.h.)
Students work with an advisor in HSS to choose 15 s.h. of appropriate coursework from the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. At least 6 s.h. must be in 100 level courses.
Sport Journalism in Sport Studies
The relationship between sport and the media has never been so pervasive, and the sport studies track provides a strong academic foundation for students interested in exploring that relationship within the field of sport journalism or sports information. Students can pursue this option by taking 28:175 Sport and the Media and by fulfilling the Secondary Area requirement through coursework from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. An internship is also available.
Three sport journalism options are available to fulfill the Secondary Area requirement: a double major with the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (J-MC), a minor in mass communication from J-MC, or an individually designed concentration of courses from J-MC.
Double major with Journalism and Mass Communication (J-MC) (33 s.h.)
Double majors must fulfill the majors requirement areas of both HSS and J-MC. The following are the requirements set by J-MC.
Pre major Foundation Courses
Journalism Professional Skills Courses
-
019:078 Journalism Issues (1 s.h.)
-
019:088 Multimedia Introduction (1 s.h).
- 019:098 Journalistic Reporting and Writing (3 s.h.)
-
One intermediate reporting/writing course (4 s.h.) (019:120-019:129)
-
Second reporting/writing course (4 s.h.) (019:120-019:129; 019:171)
-
One workshop (4 s.h.) (019:130-019:139, 019:172-019:179)
-
One additional reporting/writing course or one workshop (4 s.h.) (019:120-019:129; 019:130-019:139; 019:171-019:179)
Conceptual Courses
Sport Studies Secondary Concentration
For more information, visit the School of Journalism and Mass Communication web site:
http://www.uiowa.edu/jmc/undergrad/curriculum.html.
Minor in Mass Communication (15 s.h.)
Students must complete at least 15 s.h. in Journalism and Mass Communication with a GPA of at least 002.00; 012 of the 15 s.h. must be taken in advanced courses at The University of Iowa (those numbered 019:140 - 019:169 or above). These courses may not be taken pass/nonpass. Students are also encouraged to take one of the following courses.
- 019:090 Social Scientific Foundations of Communication (3 s.h.)
- 019:091 Cultural and Historical Foundations of Communication (3 s.h.)
- 019:095 Media and Consumers (3 s.h.)
Concentration in Journalism and Mass Communication (15 s.h.)
Students work with an advisor to choose 15 s.h. of coursework from the Departments of Journalism and Mass Communication and/or Communication Studies. At least 6 s.h. must be in 100 level courses. These courses may not be taken pass/nonpass.
Coaching Authorization in Sport Studies
Sport studies students who are interested in coaching can prepare themselves through additional coursework that also qualifies them for a Coaching Authorization from the State of Iowa. This coursework is a combination of specific HSS electives and a Secondary Area compiled of courses required to fulfill the Coaching Authorization. An internship option is available.
Students can fulfill the requirements for Coaching Authorization by taking the following courses as their Secondary Area requirement. Students must complete 15 s.h. of coursework. These four courses are required:
- 27:053 Human Anatomy (3 s.h.)
- 27:057 Basic Athletic Training (3 s.h.)
- 27:117 Human Growth and Motor Development (3 s.h.)
- 28:180 Theory and Ethics of Coaching (3 s.h.) (May not be used as a Sport Studies elective.)
Students may choose from several electives to fulfill the final 3 s.h. The following are suggested. Courses chosen to fulfill the sport studies elective requirement may not be double counted.
- 27:140 Exercise Physiology for the Practitioner (3 s.h.)
- 28:032/27:056 First Aid and CPR (2 s.h.)
Students who successfully complete the requirements for the Coaching Authorization must submit an application to the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners. For more information, visit: http://www.boee.iowa.gov/doc/faqs_cch.html.
Selective Admission to the Sport Studies Track
To be admitted to the sport studies track, students must complete a minimum of 24 s.h. coursework including at least 12 s.h. at The University of Iowa. Other requirements include:
- Satisfactory performance in 028:074 Inequality in Sport
- Minimum overall GPA of 2.5 and minimum UI GPA of 2.5. Students with a GPA of 2.8 or above and who meet all other critera will be admitted to this major. However, the application process must be completed.
- 1-2 page personal statement typed double spaced detailing your interest in the sport studies track and in the Health and Sport Studies major
Students who believe they qualify for exceptional admission should submit a written appeal and any other supporting documentation or evidence deemed relevant for making a valid judgment on admission into the sport studies track.
The Application form for sport studies must be submitted for consideration to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (E102 FH) by October 15 for spring admission and by March 15 for fall admission.
Sports Studies Faculty
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