HIST 203 - Sport in America

FC SSCI

4 credits
From the pre-Columbian period to the present, sports have both reflected and influenced American culture. This course explores these processes chronologically, focusing on the relationship of sports to religion, gender, family life, class, race, nationalism, militarism, and activism. We will look at the development of specific games including soccer, baseball, boxing, and football, but mostly we will use competitive athletics as a lens to better understand the changes and continuities of American history. Students will learn that sports are not simply an escape from the grind of daily life, but a powerful cultural force that mirrors and shapes American life.

This course is appropriate for new students.