Wikipedia:United States Education Program/Courses/Sport in Society (Shelly Habel)/Course description

Course description
Sport is a matter of common concern in contemporary American culture. Its presence can be felt daily through its connection to the major spheres of social life, including the media, the family, the economy, politics, education, and religion. In other words, sport is an important part of our everyday lives. This course examines the role of sports in the United States, focusing on sports as social and cultural phenomena through the lens of the “sociological imagination,” with an emphasis on the social institution of education. The class revolves around one major, substantive, inquiry-based assignment focused on two questions: “What tensions exist between athletics and academics on campus? How might these tensions be managed or resolved?” The focus of this inquiry will be specific to Georgetown University. This process will consist of a variety of conventional and on-line research methods and the course will actively encourage students to seek out scholarly collaborations and feedback on their research through the development of and contributions to Wikipedia entries. Collaboration throughout the project will give students the experience of working with others to achieve a common goal and learn the social aspects of research and writing.

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