New Introductory Courses in History (200-0-22)
Topic
History of College Sports
Instructors
Geraldo L Cadava
847/491-3152
Harris Hall - Room 210
Meeting Info
Technological Institute L211: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM
Overview of class
This course will explore the history of intercollegiate athletics at Northwestern and beyond, from the 19th century to the present. For years, various stakeholders across campus have debated the role and impact of athletics at Northwestern. We've celebrated the academic and athletic accomplishments of student athletes, and cheered on our Wildcats as a demonstration of school spirit and fandom. But we've also asked critical questions about athletics and sexual harassment, hazing, and the allocation of resources to athletics compared with other corners of campus. Versions of what's happened here are happening at schools across the United States. We will explore these issues and others by grounding them in history. Some of the topics we will cover include the value of athletic competition to student (and human) development, the relationship between athletics and academics, the formation and expansion of sports conferences, physical and mental health, racial and gender equity, the business of college sports, and the vexing question of whether student athletes are more like students or employees of the university. We will read primary sources including the legislation governing college sports, and secondary sources about college sports and their national historical context broadly. Lectures will be supplemented with in-class interviews with one or more guest/s at a time—faculty members, university administrators, student athletes, coaches, athletics department representatives—so they can engage one another in conversation. Ultimately, students will learn to think critically about an issue of great importance to our community and the past and present of the United States in general
Learning Objectives
1. To develop a working understanding of the history of college sports, at Northwestern and beyond. 2. To develop historical thinking skills (including critical engagement, facility at formal writing, expressing ideas verbally, defending or deconstructing an argument by using evidence from the past) that will benefit students in any later career. 3. To understand how the history of college sports fits within the broader subject of U.S. history. 4. To learn creative and interdisciplinary approaches to historical thinking. 5. To value and participate in a learning community, and to demonstrate immersion in a culture of scholarship.
Evaluation Method
Attendance and Participation (25%). Midterm Essay 1 (20%). Midterm Essay 2 (20%). Final Project (35%).
Class Notes
Concentration: Americas
Class Attributes
Historical Studies Foundational Discipline
Historical Studies Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - University Hall 312: Wed 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Library 5322: Wed 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM
DIS - University Hall 412: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L05: Fri 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L06: Wed 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Hall 312: Thurs 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-335: Thurs 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - University Library 3722: Wed 2:00PM - 2:50PM
DIS - University Hall 218: Fri 12:00PM - 12:50PM
DIS - Harris Hall L04: Fri 4:00PM - 4:50PM