Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Introduction to Sports Communication

COMM 1707-30I

Course: COMM 1707-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32014

Course Description

This course introduces students to the exciting world of sports communication by exploring the role and function of communication in contemporary sports. It provides an overview of the types of communication common in sports (interpersonal, print media, electronic/visual media, online/social media, advertising, and public relations). It also explores the history and growth of the field; sociological, legal, and ethical issues affecting sports communication; and sports communication careers. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Communication and Sport: Surveying the Field
by Andrew C. Billings, Michael L. Butterworth
4th Edition
ISBN-13: 978-1544393148
https://a.co/d/gNL8Dyv

Learning Outcomes

Essential Learning Outcomes
  • Communication: Students develop and express ideas and will be able to do so in a variety of ways, namely in writing, by speaking, visually, kinesthetically, through design or aurally.
  • Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
  • Ethical Reasoning: Students describe and analyze positions on ethical issues, apply reasoning about right and wrong human conduct, demonstrate ethical decision-making skills, and demonstrate an evolving ethical self-identity.
Course Objectives
  • Discuss the history and growth of sports communication as a profession.
  • Identify and discuss a wide range of career opportunities in sports communication.
  • Summarize and explain the vital role of communication in contemporary sports.
  • Discuss and explain the roles of interpersonal and organization communication in sports-related industries.
  • Explain the individual and collective roles of advertising, public relations, and mass media (print, electronic, online, social) in sports industries.
  • Identify and analyze basic sociological, legal, and ethical issues affecting sports communication professionals.

Course Requirements

  • Participate and complete course activities (online attendance is measured by participation/completion).
  • Submit all work on the date indicated; late work is not accepted (late assignments receive a zero).
  • Have and maintain access to a computer or web-capable device and consistent internet to view/download resources and complete auto-graded assessments and the final exam.
  • Complete all readings, learning assessments, videos, quizzes, and exams independently.
  • Write position papers every two weeks (2–3 pages, in APA 7 format with title page, introduction, conclusion, and references).
  • Complete weekly quizzes on the assigned readings (due by midnight on most Wednesdays, with some exceptions).
  • Take four cumulative exams.
  • Complete two major projects (midterm and final), prepared and submitted in APA 7 style.
  • Adhere to academic integrity standards: no cheating, plagiarism, or unauthorized use of AI tools unless explicitly allowed; all submissions are subject to detection (e.g., Copyleaks).
  • Follow grading/appeal procedures: wait 24 hours before initiating a grade appeal; appeals must be typed, submitted within 7 days, and delivered in person or by appointment (not via email or in class).
  • Engage respectfully and flexibly: practice patience and mutual respect with instructor and classmates.
  • Use the preferred out-of-class contact methods (text is best; also available via call, email, or Zoom) and expect prompt responses.

Course Outline

Note: This is a tentative schedule. As the instructor, I reserve the right to make any changes I deem necessary without prior consent of the student.
  • Week 1: Welcome Week
    • Discussion: Introductions (5 pts)
    • Quiz: Intro & APA Quiz (5 pts)
    • Assignment: Technology Plan (5 pts)
  • Week 2: Intro to Sports Communication
    • Read: Ch. 1
    • Discussion: Why Study Sports? (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: The Community of Sports (20 pts)
  • Week 3: Identifying Communities in Sport
    • Read: Ch. 2
    • Discussion: Case Study: Joe Burrow, Coming Home (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Signs of the Times? (20 pts)
  • Week 4: Navigating the Sports Media Landscape
    • Discussion: Tone-Deaf Inclusion (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Watch What You Say (20 pts)
  • Week 5: Sports Fandom
    • Discussion: Fan Taunts (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Sports Without Fans (20 pts)
  • Week 6: Sports Mythos
    • Discussion: Hero or Anti-Hero? (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Being the Warrior (20 pts)
  • Week 7: Gender in Sport & Title IX
    • Discussion: Striking a Pose (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Title IX (20 pts)
  • Spring Break
    • No scheduled deliverables
  • Week 8: Race & Ethnicity in Sport
    • Discussion: Coaching "Thugs"? (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Missouri United? (20 pts)
  • Week 9: The Role of Nationalism & Politics in the Sports World
    • Discussion: The White House (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Not okay at OK St. (20 pts)
  • Week 10: Performative Identity
    • Discussion: In Defense of Fairness? (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: Ronda Rousey Outside the Octagon (20 pts)
  • Week 11: Interpersonal Communication & Identity Roles
    • Discussion: Coaches and the Kids (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: The Ride Home (20 pts)
  • Week 12: Team Dynamics
    • Discussion: Chemistry in the Clubhouse (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: When Individual Sports Become Team Oriented (20 pts)
  • Week 13: Crisis Communication in Sports
    • Discussion: Crisis on Campus (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: The Greatest Non-apologies in Sports (20 pts)
  • Week 14: Commodification of Sports Today
    • Discussion: Reeling in a New Ballpark (10 pts)
    • Assignment: Response Paper: EA Sports & NIL (20 pts)
  • Week 15 / Finals Week: Fantasy Sports & eSports
    • Discussion: Re-defining Sports (25 pts)

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late work is never accepted unless previously discussed with instructor PRIOR to the assignment being submitted. 

Attendance Policy

This is an asynchronous online course; therefore, attendance is not taken. Participation is demonstrated by the timely completion of required course activities, quizzes, exams, and assignments.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.