AMES 105 - Social Inequality and Change in American Sports

Credits: 5
Examines issues of diversity in American sports from 1900 to the present. Topics include the ways in which social inequality affects access to and participation in sports, how sports contribute to the stereotyping of marginalized groups in society and the ways in which athletes and sports have been agents of social change by challenging norms and assumptions concerning race, gender, sexuality and ability.

Prerequisite: Eligible for ENGL 099 or instructor’s permission.

Satisfies Requirement: Social Science and Diversity

Course Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this class will be able to:

Interpret and critique the social, cultural and historical significance of sports in American culture.
Articulate the ways in which access to particular sports are structured in the United States and how access affects participation in sports across racial, ethnic, gender and class lines.
Examine the social and historical origins of stereotypes related to the participation in sports of particular groups.
Correlate the ways that athletes and sports have contributed to social change.

Program Outcomes

Articulate knowledge of comparative and interdisciplinary topics related to ethnic minority groups’ narratives.
Demonstrate skill in community organizing.

College-wide Outcomes

Critical Thinking - Critical thinking finds expression in all disciplines and everyday life. It is characterized by an ability to reflect upon thinking patterns, including the role of emotions on thoughts, and to rigorously assess the quality of thought through its work products. Critical thinkers routinely evaluate thinking processes and alter them, as necessary, to facilitate an improvement in their thinking and potentially foster certain dispositions or intellectual traits over time.
Written Communication - Written Communication encompasses all the abilities necessary for effective expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas in written form.