COMM 2184 Sports, Media, Culture
This course may be used to satisfy one of four electives required within the Communication major. Sports have long played a vital yet complex role in culture and this course examines that intersection of sports, the mass media, and society. We will appraise and debate the ways in which sports are functional or problematic in their impact on and relationship to players, fans, journalists, co-cultural groups, and nations. Students will read both scholarly and journalistic reflections, view popular and documentary film, and analyze fan experiences, mediated presentations, and critical social issues. In short, we will go beyond the box score to understand the importance and deconstruct the hype that accompanies modern sports.
Course overview
- Department
- Communication
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Offered
- Every Fall, Every Spring
Requirements fulfilled
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.34 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.50 / 5 · Excellent
- Terms evaluated
- 11
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Kyoung-yim Kim | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 24 of 34 |
| Fall 2025 | Michael Serazio | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 49 of 62 |
| Spring 2025 | Kyoung-yim Kim | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 25 of 35 |
| Fall 2024 | Michael Serazio | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 54 of 65 |
| Spring 2024 | Kyoung-yim Kim | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 1–3 hrs/week | 27 of 35 |
| Fall 2023 | Michael Serazio | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 56 of 71 |
| Spring 2023 | Kyoung-yim Kim | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 1–3 hrs/week | 30 of 38 |
| Fall 2022 | Matthew Ellis | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 1–3 hrs/week | 26 of 34 |
| Fall 2022 | Michael Serazio | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 28 of 34 |
| Summer 2022 | Matthew Ellis | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 6 of 18 |
| Spring 2022 | Kyoung-yim Kim | 3.8 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4–6 hrs/week | 22 of 39 |
| Spring 2022 | Matthew Ellis | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 1–3 hrs/week | 23 of 34 |
| Fall 2021 | Michael Serazio | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4–6 hrs/week | 40 of 67 |