COMM 4306-350 – SPORT, MEDIA & SOCIETY

COURSE SYLLABUS – SUMMER I 2010

Classroom – SSCA 005 Meeting Times – MTWR 11:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m.

Instructor – Dr. Brian C. Brantley Office – Bldg. A, Room 230

E-Mail – brian.brantley@tamusa.tamus.edu Office Hrs – MTWR 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Phone – 210-932-7835 (other times by appointment)
Course Prerequisites – None.

Required Text –
Raney, A.A. (ed.), & Bryant, J. (ed.). Handbook of Sports and Media.

Overview of the Course –

The purpose of this course is to allow you to gain an understanding of two highly influential factors in
society: Sports and Media. This course will explore how the interdependent relationship between actual
sports, the media coverage of those sports, and the society that contains both of them

Course Objectives –
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the business of sports and sports media, including both historical and current
perspectives.
2. Understand the different ways in which mediated sports can affect both individuals and society as a
whole.
3. Understand the different issues involved in the representation of different societal groups by sports
media.

Attendance Policy –
Attendance will be taken daily in this course. Given that the course is being conducted over an extremely
short span of time, you will need to attend class every day. The number of class sessions that you miss will
determine the maximum grade that you will be eligible to earn in this class according to the following scale:

ABSENCES MAXIMUM GRADE

0-1 100
2 90
3 80
More than 3 Course cannot be passed

Grading and Assignments –

EXAMINATIONS (45%) – This semester, you will take five (5) exams. You will take these exams on
Blackboard during regular class hours each Thursday of the semester.

REACTION PAPERS (45%) – Five (5) times this semester, you will be required to react in written form to
various readings, videos, or other classroom content. Your reaction papers should be 2-3 pages in length and
must be typed in 12-point, Times New Roman font. You will submit these papers to Blackboard as
attachments, and you will also be required to bring hard copies of your papers with you to class to facilitate
class discussions.
DISCUSSION (10%) – At various points during the semester, we will conduct class discussions in forums
on Blackboard. When this happens, you will be required to contribute to these discussions. At the end of the
semester, your contributions will be evaluated based on both quantity and quality.

GRADING SCALE:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 0-59

Attendance –
Your attendance in this class is expected and will be figured into your final grade for this class. Excused
absences will be considered only for extenuating circumstances and must be documented to the
satisfaction of the instructor. Missing more than three (3) classes, for any reason, will result in an F for
the course. If you miss more than six classes due to extenuating circumstances (such as your health, an
accident, etc), you will need to drop the course or seek a retroactive withdrawal if the drop date has
passed.

Classroom Distractions – The ring of a wireless phone is very, very bad in classroom situations. If you
have to bring them to class, please turn them off. If you have to leave them on, MAKE THEM SILENT.
If you are expecting a very important phone call, let me know and we can seat you by the door that day.
If you are not expecting an important phone call and your phone rings anyway, I will save you any
trouble and answer the phone myself. Additionally, any in-class behavior that includes (but is not
limited to) having conversations, doing work for other courses, reading newspapers/magazines, and
especially sending or even checking text messages will not be tolerated.

Student Misconduct –
Appropriate conduct is essential to the effective functioning of the university. University policy defines
unacceptable conduct, both academic and non-academic misconduct, and penalties for such behavior.
The basic criteria and penalties are presented below. Please see the Texas A&M University-San
Antonio Student Handbook on-line at http://www.tamuk.edu/sanantonio/studenthandbook.pdf, for
details about disciplinary procedures.

All student term papers and other written assignments are subject to analysis by anti-plagiarism
software.

Penalties for Academic Dishonesty –

University policy prescribes serious consequences for acts of academic dishonesty. The policy states
“when the evidence is indisputable, the usual penalty is a grade of F on the particular paper or in the
course. For more serious cases, such as those involving repeated offenses, conspiracy with other
students or the theft and selling of examination questions…[E]xpulsion from the university is the normal
penalty…” (Texas A&M University-Kingsville, 2006, pp.57-58).

Considering the potential consequences of academic misconduct, it is obviously in students’ best interest
to avoid even the appearance of such behavior. If you are ever unclear whether a specific act might
constitute academic misconduct please contact your instructor for an assessment of the situation.
Nonacademic Misconduct –
The university respects the rights of instructors to teach and students to learn. Maintenance of these
rights requires campus conditions that do not impede the exercise of those rights. Some examples are:
Physical or verbal abuse or threats; sexual misconduct or harassment; theft of property or services; and
disruptive activities (see p. 19 of the student handbook for the complete list). Such incidents will be
adjudicated by the Dean of Students.

Sexual Misconduct –
Sexual misconduct of students and employees at Texas A&M University-Kingsville is unacceptable and
will not be tolerated. Any member of the university community violating this policy will be subject to
disciplinary action (see p. 21 of the student handbook for more information).

The Six Course Drop Rule –

"Students are subject to the requirements of Senate Bill (SB) 1231 passed by the Texas Legislature in
2007. SB 1231 limits students to a maximum of six (6) non-punitive course drops (i.e., courses a
student chooses to drop) during their undergraduate careers. A non-punitive drop does not affect the
student’s GPA. However, course drops that exceed the maximum allowed by SB 1231 will be treated as
"Fs" and will impact the student’s GPA.

Disability Statement –
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides
comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation
requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for
reasonable accommodation of their disability. If you believe you have a disability that may require
accommodations, please contact Student Counseling and Disability Support Services for the
coordination of services. SC & DSS is located on the 2nd floor of the administration building in room
220. The phone number for SC & DSS is (210) 932-6206. For additional information, please visit
http://www.tamuk.edu/sanantonio/studentservices.asp.

References –
Texas A&M University-Kingsville (n.d.). Texas A&M University- Kingsville System Center– San
Antonio System Student Handbook. Available: http://osa.tamuk.edu/studenthandbook/

Texas A&M University-Kingsville (2006). Texas A&M University-Kingsville 2006 – 2008

Undergraduate Catalog. Kingsville, TX: Author.