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Learner Reviews & Feedback for Sports and Society by Duke University

4.8
stars
1,193 ratings

About the Course

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....

Top reviews

MM

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!!!

LK

Jan 6, 2020

One of the best courses that mixed interesting facts with theories. I study sports management, it's really intriguing to see how sports social values entwined with each other in history!

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51 - 75 of 313 Reviews for Sports and Society

By Lucas J d M C

Aug 5, 2020

I get emerged on a different way of thinking sports trought the impact of they in societys, and how these two elements are combined, sometimes, as one. I just had to thank and salute Professor Starn to give the opportunite of this imersions and for their outstanding classes.

By Yuva P J

Jun 5, 2020

I have learned everything about sports and society thanks for everything to providing the great opportunity like what happening around sports thanks for providing free and knowledgeable facilities to us. Thanks to Duke university for providing wonderful opportunity!!!

By Faisal

May 21, 2020

Honesty loved it! Opened my eyes to how sports has evolved with the times and often reflected the unique characteristics of each different region. I didn't realize even realize just how pervasive sports has been in culture and political over the centuries

By Radhika S

Aug 28, 2020

I have played sports since I was a little kid, now in college, and majoring in sociology has motivated me to study sports in a sociological understanding. this course is an 11/10 for someone who is very interested in sports and wants to dig a bit deeper.

By Jade S

Aug 26, 2021

I enjoyed this course, it helped me to understand many areas of sports (behind the scenes), such as history and development, political factors and many more. I definitely recommend this course to anyone interested in learning the deeper areas of sports.

By Antonio C

Mar 14, 2021

Very greatful for the development of this course. The lectures, readings and materials were chosen precisely. Also, they had a very entertaining reading. I would like to recommend, maybe, a new topic: sports as a tool for social development .

By Pablo M A S

May 15, 2020

I really like this course!! you note hard work for get the course, professor Starn guide a great journey into sports world mixing interesting facts with theory, and in fact it helped me too much with my degree

congratulations, thanks a lot

By Gabriel T

Sep 8, 2020

Thank you Dr. Starn for this course!! Little sad that I finished already, I always looked forward to starting each new material that you set for the program. I thoroughly enjoyed learning from you!! :) Best of luck in all your endeavors!

By Thiago M

Jun 5, 2020

Ótimas aulas com um ótimo professor!! Aulas muito bem aplicadas, passadas com uma ótima didática do professor Orin, além das apresentações de conteúdos históricos e curiosidades. Recomendo muito àqueles que queiram fazer esse curso.

By SRETTAPONG S

Jul 1, 2020

The course put the modern knowledge and ancient knowledge very well, in fact, the teacher does know how sport works with society in every ways possible and finally the course can develop in to many sub-topic of study in the future.

By Prathamesh n

May 31, 2020

It was an amazing lecture on sports and society from Duke University. A lot of things were brought into consideration in this course it will sure help me in the future for my design course, Looking forward to such online courses.

By Shomeresh S

Jun 1, 2020

Really insightful and well-rounded perspective of sports and its journey alongside the development of societies world over. A quote that will stay with me forever "Tell me what sport you play and I'll tell you who are".

By Xavier K

Jul 12, 2020

Loved the course. Top teacher. I really liked how he approached to some polemic topics, and also loved the fact that he takes into account other important sports in the world and doesn't stick to only American sports.

By Aniruddh I

Aug 12, 2020

a very informative course which skims through all facetst of society and sports making for a very wholesome experience , to mr Orin , have a advance class on the very same topic for all who have completed this course

By Shawn B

Aug 25, 2022

I really enjoyed the course. There was a lot to think about and the reading material added so much to the course. I work in sport and it is interesting to look at the culture behind sport and why we do what we do.

By Webster C

May 19, 2020

Wonderful and well crafted course that lets you in on all the need to know essentials on the relationship between Sport, Society and Politics! Amazing content that will help me get closer to my goals no doubt.

By Kenneth B

Jan 28, 2024

I really appreciated all parts- excellent! As I reflect back, there is a piece that has become very big these days- parents and sports- yikes - it was always an issue but even more so today! Thank you again

By N H

Apr 12, 2020

I’d learned a lot about the history of the sports, social behavior that relevant to the sports, and vice versa from this course. I really enjoyed all along until finished the course. Thank you professor!

By Alejandro R M

Dec 9, 2017

Great Course that grasp different views on sports and their meaning in northamerican society as well as their consecuences and forms of ogranization. I enjoyed the lectures and bibliography very much.

By Mathilde A

Nov 22, 2021

ce cours est très intéressant et enrichissant sur un sujet qui nous entore tous et qui est d'autant plus agréable à suivre lorsque c'est un sujet qui nous plait! merci beaucoup

By Purvi M

Jul 26, 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.

By Liam S

Dec 10, 2018

Professor Starn gives insight into the sports world and explains complex topics using anthropological reasoning in a way that makes sense to the average person. Great class!

By Ed G

Sep 28, 2019

I absolutely loved this course. This is my favorite course I've taken with Coursera by far. The instructor was phenomenal and relatable. I highly recommend this course.

By Ana E T H

Feb 6, 2018

Excellent course!

I enjoyed the course because it goes deep enough into the topics for begginers...

I specially liked the video about corporate athletes.

I'm a soccer fan!

By Emily O

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.