Main Content
Syllabus
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
COMM 412 Sports, Media, and Society (3 credits): This course is designed to help students more critically view the role of sport media in American culture. The influence of the relationship between sport media and issues such as race, gender, sexuality (homophobia), nationalism, capitalism/consumerism, violence, and civic life will be examined. Issues in relation to journalism ethics and the production of sport media also will be examined.
Overview | Objectives | Materials | Library | Technical Requirements | Course Requirements and Grading | Course Schedule | Academic Integrity | Accommodating Disabilities | Additional Policies
Overview
Purpose of this course: This course is designed to help students more critically view the role of sport media in American culture. The influence of the relationship between sport media and issues such as race, gender, sexuality (homophobia), nationalism, capitalism/consumerism, violence, and civic life will be examined. Issues in relation to journalism ethics and the production of sport media also will be examined.
Learning outcomes: Students will think more critically about the general role of sport media in American culture and about ethical issues in sports coverage. They will also understand the history and processes involved in the development of sport media and will be able to demonstrate their learning through effective oral and written communication. This course is not a forum for exchanging sports trivia. We won’t spend class time talking about the latest scores or trades. Your knowledge of such information and the time you spend viewing ESPN will not guarantee success in this course.
Specifically, this course will seek to answer the following “big-picture” questions:
- What has been the function of spectator/mediated sport in American culture?
- What role do mediated sports play in our individual and collective self-identities?
- What are the ethical and moral obligations of the sports (media) industries and of individuals who work in those industries?
- What are alternatives to the status quo for the way we produce/consume mediated sports, and what would be the consequences if those alternatives were implemented?
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students will be able to do the following:
- Think more critically about the general role of sport media in American culture.
- Think more critically about ethical issues in sports coverage.
- Discuss the history and processes involved in the development of sport media.
- Demonstrate their learning through effective oral and written communication.
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Using the Library
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Requirements
Saying that you do not have regular Internet access is not a reason for the instructor to grant you an extension or multiple extensions. If you do not have Internet access at your home or place of work, then it is your responsibility to access the Internet at another location, such as a campus, a library or a public place that offers free Wi-Fi. Many places from libraries to restaurants to coffee shops offer free Internet access. If you do not have Internet access at home or at work, then it is up to you to find a place where you can access the Internet and complete your assignments by the deadlines. If you are traveling for work or for vacation, it is up to you to make sure you have Internet access to complete your assignments on time.
| Operating System | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
|---|---|
| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Assignments
You have plenty of time to complete assignments; you could finish most of them weeks ahead of schedule. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete them! It would be a shame if you got sick right before the deadline and weren’t able to submit the assignment. A 25 percent penalty is incurred for each 24 hours an assignment is late. Assignment drops closes 49 hours after the deadline and will not be reopened unless permission has been secured from the instructor before the assignment was originally due.
Discussion board posts are due on Sunday of each lesson week. Discussion forums will remain open past Sunday to encourage in depth discussions, however no credit will be given for responses past Sunday.
Reading Related Activity documents are due on the Monday following the end of the lesson week, which is the first day of the next lesson.
Please ask if you are confused by the deadlines to make sure you know when assignments are due so that you don't incur late penalties as outlined in this syllabus.
You will receive clear instructions for all graded assignments in this course.
| Assessment | Points | Total Points | % of Grade | Where |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Participation | 15 @ 10 points | 150 | 30 | Lessons 1 through 15 |
| Reading Related Activities | 10 @ 20 points | 200 | 40 | Lessons 2 through 15 |
| Independent Exploratory Activties | 3 @ 50 polints | 150 | 30 | Lessons 6, 10, and 14 |
| Total | 500 | 100% |
Grading
Your final grade for this course will be determined by your performance in the following areas.
Participation (10 points · 15 lessons = 150 Points)
Your participation grade is determined by your engagement in the discussion areas for the activties in each lesson. Each lesson, which usually spans one week, has a total of 10 possible participation points. Participation grades will be based solely on participation during that lesson (not on participation in previous lessons or on the promise of future participation).
General Tips for Success
- Join the discussion. Each week, discussion questions relating to the reading and to other materials will be posted. Provide your input and respond to that of others. By discussing your ideas with others, you'll sharpen your understanding and learn to better articulate your values.
- Contribute to group case studies. You will be asked to solve problems or discuss issues in small groups and share the results each week. Participate in ways that are helpful to the group.
Your contributions, informed by the readings and by the comments of others in your group, will be assessed to the class discussion and to the flash-group projects.
- Were your contributions timely, or did they come in just before the deadline, keeping others from benefiting from your responses?
- Were your contributions informed?
- Were your contributions “on-point”? (Related to the question/issue at hand)?
Reading Related Activities (10 Activities · 20 Points = 200 Points)
Each week, you will need to complete the assigned readings. The Reading Related Activities ( RRA ) are designed to help you understand the most salient points in the material.
A reading guide will be provided; it will provide the questions you need to answer from the reading. Remember that these activities are not designed for you to provide analysis or criticism of the ideas in the reading but to demonstrate that you understand the ideas.
The activities will be graded on a 20-point scale. They should not go over one page, single-spaced, typed in 12-point, Times New Roman font (your grade will be penalized if they do). The reading summaries will be due on the Monday following the end of the lesson week, which is the first day of the next lesson. Late submissions—and these include those that are late because they are unreadable or empty files—will be penalized. No assignments will be accepted beyond 49 hours after the assignment is due unless you have secured permission prior to the time the assignment is due. Your best strategy, of course, is to work ahead. You will also need to complete only 10 reading activities; if you complete more, your lowest grades will be dropped and the 10 best will be retained.
Independent Exploratory Activities (3 Activities · 50 Points = 150 Points)
You will complete three activities designed for independent exploration of course concepts during the semester. For each, you will complete one from among several activities. Pay close attention to the rubric/instructions provided for the activity you choose. Please note that what you submit should be of professional quality, and free of errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It should be completed on time to avoid late penalties.
At the end of the semester, your grade will be calculated as follows:
| Letter Grade | Percentage |
|---|---|
| A | 95 - 100% |
| A- | 90 - 94.9% |
| B+ | 87 - 89.9% |
| B | 83 - 86.9% |
| B- | 80 - 82.9% |
| C+ | 77 - 79.9% |
| C | 70 - 76.9% |
| D | 60 - 69.9% |
| F | 0 - 60.0% |
- Note: All principles of academic honesty apply here.
- Do not copy directly from the reading without clearly indicating that you are doing so.
- Do not copy from or share your answers with others in the course.
- Providing answers that resemble those of classmates or previous students will be treated as plagiarism.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Schedule
Tutoring Resources
Technology Tutors are available through Information Technology Services (ITS) Training Services.
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Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Counseling and Psychological Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.