Ethics in Sport – SMGT 503

CG • Section 8WK • 11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to ethics within the sporting context. The values promoted within sport will be examined along with common ethical dilemmas faced by those involved in sport. The course will cover issues ranging from fair play to sportsmanship to Title IX and drug use for performance enhancement.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The values of sport and the basis for ethical decision making in sport will be examined. Moral significance of sport will be explored. This course is intended to develop and foster critical thinking skills, to learn and understand the philosophical and ethical background of sport, and to improve written and verbal communication skills.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview. 

Discussions (2)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Answers to the discussion questions should be well thought out, presented using good grammar and spelling, in-depth answers meeting the word count for the thread and replies.

Each Discussion will be divided into 2 parts: a thread in response to the instructor’s prompt and a reply to 2 classmates’ threads. Thus, in order to earn full credit for each forum, the student’s interaction must include 1 thread and 2 replies.

Each thread must be 400–500 words and should incorporate 1 scripture reference and at least 1 resource (e.g. textbook or a scholarly journal). Each reply must be at least 200 words and incorporate at least 1 citation.

Discussion posts must be made in accordance with current APA format.

Case Analysis Assignments (5)

There will be 5 case analyses taken from the Sports Ethics for Sports Management Professionals text. The student is required to analyze and thoroughly present the ethical and moral issues surrounding the topic in each case analysis. One case analysis is to be completed by the end of the module: week assigned; there are a total of 5 case studies to be analyzed.

The student will analyze and thoroughly present the case in paragraph form using current APA formatting (Times New Roman, 12-point font, and double spaced). No abstract required. The length of the case analysis will be 5–7 pages, which includes the title page and the reference page. Scholarly references and citations from the assigned reading and research are required in answering the case studies.

Personal Research Paper Assignment

For this project, the student will be asked to describe how he/she will integrate what was learned in this course into his/her life. The student will need to reflect on the textbook readings and case analyses as well as his/her own current and future career choices and the possible linkages between those prospects and who he/she is.

The 8–10-page Personal Research Paper Assignment involves research into his/her personal ethical code, and possible alternative career choices, or plans for the student’s future. In other words, the student will describe their mission, vision and cause statements as well as develop both 5- and 10-year goals of where he/she sees himself/herself, and then describe the path that he/she might take to reach those goals. The student will describe his/her ten values that he/she lives his/her life by and wishes to teach to others. Also included will be a detailed explanation of the biblical basis for the student's current and future plans. This must include a minimum of 5 scripture references within the paper. Accurately, thoughtfully shows connection to biblical ideas/themes/principles.

The intent of the research paper is for the student to consider potential future careers for himself/herself. The student’s future could include: additional schooling, a job, a description of what an ideal job(s) look like, where the student wants to live, what kind of family life he/she would choose, and what responsibilities the student sees himself/herself taking on. Basically, this is a plan for where the student’s life is going over the next 10 years. Additional details on how to do this are found in the Assignment Instructions section of the course.

Quizzes (8)

The student will complete 8 open-book, open-notes quizzes encompassing material from the required text. The student will be given 2 hours to complete up to 10 multiple-choice, true/false, and essay questions. For the essay questions, the student must provide in-depth answers, in-text citations with page numbers, and full references typed below each of the essay answers.