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Duke University

Sports and Society

Sports play a giant role in contemporary society worldwide. But few of us pause to think about the larger questions of money, politics, race, sex, culture, and commercialization that surround sports everywhere. This course draws on the tools of anthropology, sociology, history, and other disciplines to give you new perspectives on the games we watch and play. It's the new and improved version of Professor Orin Starn's original "Sports and Society" for Coursera, which drew more than 40,000 students. We will focus on both popular sports like soccer (or “football,” as anyone outside America calls it), basketball, and baseball, and also lesser-known ones like mountain-climbing and fishing. You will never watch or think about sports in the same way again.

Status: Media and Communications
Status: Psychology
Course13 hours

Featured reviews

PM

5.0Reviewed Jul 25, 2020

This is the best course on Coursera for sports enthusiasts and I have never seen an instructor like Orin Starn. The way he delivered the course made this course beyond perfect.

RC

5.0Reviewed Jul 23, 2017

Orin Starn has a unique and interesting way of communicating his ideas and knowledge. The course has helped me to deepen my knowledge about the relation of sports and society.

CL

5.0Reviewed Oct 26, 2020

Informative, rich, all-embracing. I wish I could take it again! Fortunately, it left me with so many things to think about that it will stay with me for a long time.

VM

5.0Reviewed Jun 22, 2020

Loved every Bit of this course!Sports illustrated with so many different perspectives, this course is a must for anyone who want to strengthen their bond with sports..

RP

5.0Reviewed May 11, 2020

An excellent course! Learned a lot! Genuinely disappointed that it's over. Wish the course was longer. I hope there is a part 2 or something like that. Brilliant!

MO

5.0Reviewed Sep 28, 2023

This course is RAD! I loved learning the entire time. The professor was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable! The concepts presented are both clear and fascinating.

SJ

4.0Reviewed May 27, 2020

very interesting informative sports. specially the knowledge we grasped in this course about indoor and outdoor sports and the extreme sports pleasure. good work. thanks team

A

5.0Reviewed Jul 23, 2020

I Enjoyed the course the most.Best part of the course is the it involved the professors to enhance our knowledge and understanding about sports and its relevance in the society.

MM

5.0Reviewed Nov 11, 2016

I loved this particular course. The topics are relevant. Each topic is supported by historical facts and examples and how is it relevant in the present time. It was a great learning experience!!!

MM

5.0Reviewed Nov 27, 2020

Great Course on Sports and Society, Excellent insights into the History and Culture of popular sports across the globe. Thank you Duke University and Prof. Orin Starn

BY

4.0Reviewed Mar 17, 2025

a very interesting course..... I hope it might be updated someday to discuss all the changes in sports that have occurred to date (I took this course in March 2025).

KH

4.0Reviewed Oct 27, 2020

I enjoyed the course very much. It would be interesting to have an updated course since this one was completed to discuss and reflect on the increase in activism by athletes, especially in 2020

All reviews

Showing: 20 of 365

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5.0
Reviewed Feb 20, 2020
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