Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Communication & Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics

COMM 4507-01

Course: COMM 4507-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: COMM
CRN: 32096

Course Description

This course examines the historical development, current trends, best practices, and future trends of sports administration and management. Foundational principles will be taught within the framework of professional, collegiate, interscholastic, non-traditional, and youth and community sport in select subject areas, including the history of sports management and administration, careers in sports administration and management, marketing, and ethics. Current administrators and managers in a wide variety of sport categories will regularly supplement class materials as guest lecturers to add practical experience to theory and practice offered by the course text. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

Required Texts

Communication & Administration of Intercollegiate Athletics
2nd Edition
ISBN-13: 979-8294081720
https://a.co/d/jehdwoX

Learning Outcomes

Essential Learning Outcomes
1. Applied and Collaborative Learning-
Demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge, skills, and responsibilities to new settings and complex problems both inside and outside the classroom.
2. Ethical Reasoning and Action- Demonstrate the ability to recognize ethical issues, evaluate ethical perspectives, and act with integrity in personal, academic, and professional settings.
3. Oral and Written Communication- Demonstrate the ability to express ideas and information effectively through oral, written, and digital communication in both academic and professional settings.

Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will:
  • Have thought critically about their career and gained perspective on what skills are necessary to succeed in sport management.
  • Understand the different options that exist to obtain a career in the athletic administration field.
  • Grow in their knowledge of foundational principles in sport management on which to build.
  • Acquire a baseline understanding of the structure and purpose of the sport industry.
  • Be able to discuss the current status and various challenges of sport at the recreational, youth, interscholastic, intercollegiate, and professional levels.

Course Requirements

Chapter Captures
  • Due most Monday mornings at the beginning of class
  • Standardized note-taking method to aid in learning and exam prep
  • May be used during exams
Exams
  • Two total: one midterm and one final
  • Format includes true/false, multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, and essay questions
  • Content drawn from readings and in-class discussions
Grading Policies
  • Standard grading scale (90–100% = A, 80–89% = B, etc.)
24/7 Grade Appeal Rule
  • Wait 24 hours after receiving a grade before initiating a grade appeal
  • Appeals must be made within 7 days of grade being returned
  • Appeals must be typed, specific, and submitted in person or by appointment (not via email or in class)
Academic Dishonesty
  • Cheating or plagiarism may result in failure of the assignment or the course
  • Any use of artificial intelligence software (A.I.), including visual (e.g., Midjourney), textual (e.g., chatGPT), or audio (e.g., voice.ai) to aid on assignments will be considered an infringement of academic integrity. Unless explicitly designated and outlined in assignment instructions, students should avoid using these aids, entirely. You are responsible for the accuracy, fairness, originality, and quality of every word you submit.  All faculty have access to Copyleaks which detects plagiarism, including the use of AI software (I will be using that tool this semester for assignment submissions). Consequences for violating this policy are consistent with SUU Policy 6.33 regarding academic integrity, and may include a failing grade in the course, and expulsion from the program.
Out-of-Class Contact
  • Best method: text message
  • Also available via call, email, or Zoom
  • Will respond as promptly as possible
Respect & Flexibility
  • Practice patience and understanding with the instructor and classmates
  • Mutual respect expected throughout the course

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: Course Introduction
  • Course Overview & SUSMS Intro
  • Assignment – Show & Tell (5 pts)
  • Assignment – Technology Plan (5 pts)
Week 2: Why Sports Matter
  • Assignment – Week 2 Capture (10 pts)
Week 3: History of the NCAA & College Sports
  • Assignment – Week 3 Capture (10 pts)
Week 4: Organization of the NCAA
  • Assignment – Week 4 Capture (10 pts)
  • VIdeo – Schooled
Week 5: Ethics
  • Assignment – Week 5 Capture (10 pts)
Week 6: Recruiting
  • Assignment – Week 6 Capture (10 pts)
Week 7: Financial Administration of College Athletics
  • Assignment – Week 7 Capture (10 pts)
Week 8: Fall Break & Midterms
  • Mid-Term Exam
Week 9: Compliance
  • Assignment – Week 9 Capture (10 pts)
Week 10: Sports Media
  • Assignment – Week 10 Capture (10 pts)
Week 11: Globalization of the NCAA
  • Assignment – Week 11 Capture (10 pts)
Week 12: Typical D1 Office
  • Assignment – Week 12 Capture (10 pts)
Week 13: Sports Communication
  • Assignment – Week 13 Capture (10 pts)
Thanksgiving Break
  • No assignments due
Week 14: The Future of the NCAA
  • Assignment – Week 14 Capture (10 pts)
  • Assignment – Final Exam (40 pts)
  • Extra Credit Opportunity – TBD (0 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

  • Taken daily
  • Up to 3 unexcused absences allowed
  • Each additional unexcused absence reduces final grade by 3%
  • Arriving after roll call = absent
  • University-sanctioned absences and sick days may be excused with proper documentation

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.