module specification

This module allows students to engage in an in-depth exploration and analysis of current developments within the global sports industry.

1. To engage in an analysis of current issues within the sports business.

2. To situate these issues within wider economic, political and social contexts.

3. To consider contemporary issues in sport within theoretical and conceptual frameworks.

4. To develop student’s ability to investigate complex phenomenon and present their findings

5. To extend student’s ability to critically analyse sources of information

The module will focus on a selection of major contemporary issues, controversies and conflicts within international sport, devoting three or four teaching sessions to each of the issues selected. The selection of the particular topics will itself be influenced by the processes of social change. What is topical today might not be tomorrow. The following, therefore is indicative only.

1. The commercialisation of sport.
2. The impact of ‘alternative sport’ on sports provision and participation.
3. The economics and politics of major sporting contests.
4. The impacts of new media technologies on sport.
4. Sport and urban regeneration.
5. Developments within the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
6. The governance of global sport.
7. The impact of environmental sustainability on the sports industry.
8. Regional case-studies of the contemporary sports industry (e.g.: North America, South Asia, the Middle East).

The module will be delivered through weekly workshops and will utilise a wide variety of different teaching techniques. As well as ‘traditional’ lecture delivery, these techniques will include (but not be limited to) documentary film, conference papers, site visits, student debates and student-led workshops. The philosophy behind this strategy is to maximise student engagement with topics and challenge them to develop critical and innovate attitudes towards key issues.

The module will encourage students to build on the knowledge, skills and attributed they have acquired at levels 4 and 5 and to carry out independent work which enhances both their knowledge and understanding of the industry and enhances their employment prospects.

In addition, the module will be supported with on-line support. Key student responsibilities will include preparation for sessions (primarily through engagement with the key literature) and active participation in in-class activities. Students must also recognise that the module will be more student-driven than they may have experienced at levels 4 and 5, and that full preparation and engagement are required in all sessions.

Upon successful completion of this module students will be able to:

1. apply social science concepts and theories to the analysis of current trends and developments within the sports industry.

2. place developments in global sport within their broader economic, political and social context

3. comprehend the relationship between explanations of problems in sport and proposed solutions

4. critically analyse and appraise academic literature relating to current issues in sport

5. deliver an interactive workshop dealing with a controversial contemporary issue related to the sports industry

It also aims to develop students’ skills, in particular:

• Academic Reading 
• Researching
• Application of Knowledge and Presenting Data
• Academic Writing/literacy
• Communicating/presenting – orally and in writing, including inter-cultural communication
• Critical Thinking and Writing
• Self assessment/reflection, including awareness of and management of emotions
• Interpersonal, including. collaborating / working with others, cross cultural awareness, having a positive attitude, negotiation and persuasion
• Career management

There will be three assessment components for this module:

1) Problem-based learning presentation: Students will be set a contemporary sport problem to tackle in pairs, which they shall present their solution to via a 30 minute Prezi presentation.
2) Problem-based learning reflective report: Students will reflect individually on their problem-based learning experience.
3) Contemporary Issue Essay: Students will be empowered to identify contemporary issues in the sports industry, from which they must identify 2 relevant peer-reviewed articles as readings for the class. Students will devise discussion questions for their issue, one of which will be selected as a 1,000 word essay question that will be due for submission 1 week after the class for that issue.
4) Based largely upon discussion questions proposed by students, a 2 hour unseen exam will be written covering all contemporary issues presented with students required to answer 2 questions.

Allison, L. (2005) The Global Politics of Sport: The role of global institutions in sport, London: Routledge.

Craig, P., & Beedie, P. (2008) Sport Sociology, Exeter: Learning Matters.

Cashmore, E., (2010) Making Sense of Sport,  London: Routledge.

Coakley, J. & Pike, E. (2009) Sport in Society: Issues and Controvercies [UK edition], Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill.

Coakley, J. & Dunning, E. (2002) Handbook of Sports Studies, London: Sage.

Ferdinand, N. and Kitchen, P. (2012) Events Management: An International Approach, Sage: London.

Guttmann, A. (2002) The Olympics: a history of the modern games, University of Illinois Press: Urbana.

Hill, J. (2002) Sport, Leisure & Culture in Twentieth Century Britain, Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Holt, R., (1990) Sport and the British: A Modern History, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Houlihan, B. (ed.) (2008) Sport & Society: A Student Introduction, London: Sage.

Jarvie, G. (2006) Sport, Culture and Society: An Introduction, London: Routledge 

Maguire, J., Jarvie, G., Mansfield, L., & Bradley, J., (2002) Sports Worlds: A Sociological Perspective, Champaign: Human Kinetics.

Nauright, J. and Parrish, C. (2012) Sports Around the World: History, Culture, Practice, ABC-Clio: Santa Barbara.

Nauright, J. and Pope, S. (2009) The New Sport Management Reader, Fitness Information Technology Press: Morgantown.

Pope, S. and Nauright, J. (2009) Routledge Companion to Sports History, Oxford: Routledge.

Szymanski, S. (2010) The Comparative Economics of Sport, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

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