BA (Honours) Sport, Culture and Society
From 2014 this course will be called BA (Hons) Sports Studies
Three years full-time
UCAS code • CL63
Location • Collegiate Campus
Subject area • Sport and active lifestyles
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View profiles of students on this course
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Sheffield Hallam has been involved in London 2012 in many different ways. Find out more about our partnership with LOCOG.
Find out about our sport and active lifestyles research centres.
Read about the specialist facilities we have available for you to use.
Team Sheffield Hallam is the home of competitive and performance sport at Sheffield Hallam University. Find out more.
Watch a video about sport in Sheffield.
At a glance
Study the social and cultural issues surrounding sport, sport media and the delivery of sport projects. After gaining a broad understanding of the subject, you are encouraged to specialise in an area that reflects your career interests and build your CV with a placement in industry.
Key points
• Gain a broad understanding of sports sociology before specialising.
• Learn from lecturers active in industry-leading research.
• Work in industry for six-weeks with a regional, national or international placement partner.
• Get industry perspectives with guest lectures.
What is sport, culture and society as a subject?
Sport, culture and society is concerned with the relationships between sport and the wider world. It examines how sport can have a dramatic impact on people's everyday lives, whether they are participants, fans or workers. This subject explores how that impact should be put to best use in policy, the media and professional sport.
This course
If you are passionate about sport, believe it has the power to have a positive impact on society and want to be involved in delivering that, this course is for you. You gain a broad understanding of sport in society and then choose to specialise in areas, such as sport and community development, that most reflect your career aims and interests.
You benefit from a course with real connections to sports media and other sport-related industries. For example, you are taught by lecturers active in sport industry research at our leading Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC), rated 4th in the UK for sports research by the RAE. Lecturers such as Tony Blackshaw and Donna Woodhouse have worked on major sports research projects for the Football Foundation and the Home Office.
You also get real-world views of industry issues with guest lectures from industry practitioners at organisations such as FURD (Football Unites Racism Divides), Zest Community Sports Trust, FC United and regional sports journalists.
You further enhance your career prospects in the sports industry by completing a work placement of six weeks during year two. This gives you the chance to gain experience working in the area of sport you are most interested in.
Previous students have secured placements as • equality audit officer at Sheffield United FC • Press Association journalist • cricket coach in South Africa • project officer for FURD • community coach at Sheffield United FC, Sheffield Wednesday FC and Wigan Athletic FC • disability sports officer for West Yorkshire Sport.
The final year is when you specialise in your studies through a choice of option modules. You then combine your learning and knowledge to develop a research project. Past projects include evaluating community sports development projects and cricket coaching schemes, explorations of gambling and an investigation into the condition of modern rugby league.
Key areas of study
Key areas include • the politics of sport • football and society • sociology applied to sport, culture and society • sport and community development • sport journalism • sport and social theory.
Our staff’s work for the Home Office on the Positive Futures sports project informed the development of this national youth crime prevention programme.
Find out more about BA (Honours) Sport, Culture and Society
Related courses
- BSc (Honours) Physical Education and School Sport (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Development with Coaching (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport and Exercise Science (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Physical Activity, Health and Exercise Science (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Coaching (Full-time)
- BSc (Honours) Sport Business Management (Full-time)
You apply for this course through UCAS.
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees and funding see www.shu.ac.uk/study/ug/fees-and-funding
2013/14 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
2014/15 academic year
Typically £11,880 a year
The course fee may be subject to annual inflationary increase. For further information on fees, scholarships and bursaries see www.shu.ac.uk/international/fees
• coursework • examinations • group work • oral presentations • portfolio
You study the effect of sport and the mass media on popular culture
Key Information Set 
Matt Taylor
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Graduate, BA Sport, Culture and Society
'I thoroughly enjoyed my time and experience at Sheffield Hallam studying Sport Culture and Society, the course centred on investigating how sport can be utilised as a tool to contribute to modern day issues such as social exclusion, crime and creating a healthier nation. The course allows the individual to develop their understanding of social life through a variety of modules and access to leading researchers within the department and external speakers from organisations such as ‘Football Unites, Racism Divides.
'Outside my course studies I worked for The Alchemy Exchange as a research consultant on a variety of projects for Sheffield Business School and was a faculty ambassador and student representative for the Faculty of Health and Well Being.
'The course gave me the opportunity to develop my academic writing and researching skills as well as gaining a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of sports development.
'I took a work placement in my second year at university within the School Sports Partnership scheme. I was in a small team that developed a themed event associated with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the project formed part of the County Sports Partnership strategic plan, it was also an opportunity to engage students and staff with opportunities to try Olympic and Paralympic disciplines not usually accessible through the national curriculum. Working with a pre-set budget, I was tasked with creating and leading a partnership with multi sector organisations that could support the project with equipment, resources and knowledge. To appeal to all we identified two areas to concentrate on
• targeting less accessible school sports – such as Judo, Fencing and Boccia in order to maximise the opportunity of removing barriers to participation. These sessions concentrated on the principles of ‘play’ to allow pupils to experience new sports and encourage participation in their free time.
• specialised track and field coaching – for targeted pupils who had been identified with potential, a national coach and athlete provided more focused training to aid their development.
'As a result of the project I was interviewed by BBC Radio Northampton and discussed the impact of the Olympics, the future of school sport and the opportunities for individuals to participate in local and national sport.
'Before I was appointed to my current role I worked for the ‘Summer Jobs of a Lifetime’ project by London 2012’s Education Unit ‘Podium’, the project aimed to create opportunities for students and graduates to improve their employability by gaining essential working experience while working for the partners of London 2012. As team leader I was required to: travel around the country to a variety of universities, colleges and national vocational events to present the opportunities through presentations, media interviews and employment programmes.
• event management – prepared stalls and presentations to suit the requirements of the project and venue.
• take an operational role – lead and motivate teams of volunteers who came to support the project through briefings and training in order to maximise our reach in each event.
'For the Olympic and Paralympic Games period I was appointed workforce operations group leader and took on the responsibility for the training, welfare and development of volunteers from the two largest ‘functional areas’ (departments) in the Olympic Park. Within this role I was required to manage the largest remote check-in area for the games and complete daily administration tasks with various specialised software in order to monitor and address workforce moral and attendance issues. I was also responsible for the tactical redeployment of workforce to cover shortfalls in other key performance areas to ensure venue and operation timelines were met when required.
'I assisted in the design and delivery of ‘venue’ and ‘role’ specific training for volunteers on the Olympic Park and gave professional presentations to large groups of people in various levels of seniority. I utilised my communication and interpersonal skills to help provide training for up to 2000 volunteers in the Copper Box venue and ‘one to one’ sessions as required.
'I now work as a sales executive for a major retailer in the United Kingdom.
'In the future I hope to work at the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016!'
Mark Cummins
Graduate of Sport, Culture and Society
'I chose to study in Sheffield as I am from Rotherham so the convenience of having Sheffield Hallam reasonably locally was a major attraction in determining my studies.
'I have previously lived away from home before so felt I didn’t need that challenge instead I wanted to find a course that suited me and concentrate on it. I had never really taken my education seriously as outside distractions usually took priority and I was fortunate enough to gain creditable enough grades to get into university mostly by luck rather than judgement.
'I studied at Wickersley School and Sports College for both my GCSE’s and my A-levels. I got three A-levels B in Psychology, C in Leisure and Recreation and a further C in Sport Studies. I also have my level 2 coaching qualification in cricket and have completed an ICS distance learning Diploma in Sports Psychology.
'Due to the content of the course there was always room for interactive lectures. Information could be displayed using a variety of ways and lectures were always thought provoking interesting and often controversial.
'Another particular benefit of the course was that there was relatively small numbers, this meant that I felt I could relate to lecturers on a more personal level finding out their own opinions and thoughts on subjects that are right at the centre of modern society, or if Tony was lecturing right at the centre of a Postmodern society!!!!!.
'I have recently starting working for Rotherham United Community Sports Trust as the clubs Community Cohesion Officer. I had previously applied for over 50 jobs since finishing my degree in June. I hadn’t discounted a masters degree and I still haven’t discarded thoughts of returning to Sheffield Hallam at a later date to continue my academic studies.
'I didn’t take a work placement during my University course but there were ample opportunities to volunteer or do paid work on open days or events. I think a work placement during my second year would have been beneficial in terms of giving me some more practical skills to take into the workplace.
'I used the learning centre resources on most days but usually only to download journal articles or take out books. I completed my research and assignments at home. Other students did however comment on how useful the learning centre was in terms of its 24 hour opening times and general effectiveness.
'It seemed the University had students at its heart in terms of doing things to suite them rather than the other way around. The teaching was excellent. It felt as if lecturers always wanted students to achieve. There was also no
shortage of variation in lectures, and due to the tight knit nature of the group interaction was always high.
'I always found staff easily accessible. The learning centre staff were always on hand if I had any issue booking a computer or returning books. I certainly would recommend Sheffield Hallam. I would recommend any further education but feel as if the support I received in Sheffield was fantastic and conducive to a good degree classification and all round positive experience.
'My advice to potential students would be, make sure that you use university for the right reasons. Use the opportunity to develop both academically and personally. Enjoy it but remember there is no guarantee of a good career at the end of it so get some experience out in the workplace.
'The city has a real mix of people and cultures, which In some areas seem to fit together neatly. There appears to be something for everyone.
'In my current role I am a Community Cohesion Officer for Rotherham United Community Sports Trust. This role entails designing, delivering and monitoring projects that are targeted in the places of most need and with the individuals who are registered as ‘priorities’. I work alongside agencies from the public, voluntary and private sector in targeting specific venues and individuals and then aim to engage them firstly through football and then onto a more deep-rooted holistic approach.'
Profiles
Matt Taylor
Graduate, BA Sport, Culture and Society
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Mark Cummins
Graduate of Sport, Culture and Society
Staff profiles
Visit the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity website to view profiles of the staff who teach in this subject area.
Sheffield Hallam students at London 2012
Sheffield Hallam has been involved in London 2012 in many different ways.
Our sport students study the only press operations modules in the world developed exclusively with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games organisers. As a result of the partnership, over 200 of our sport students have undertook work placements at Olympic Test Events, as part of the Torch Relay team or at the Games themselves.
Describing the initiative, LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said; 'This is the most significant partnership we have with any educational institution in the country by a long way'. It's fantastic for us because we get terrific people, who are highly motivated and well trained. And what better way for students to be entering the workforce and to be looking for a future career than to have had this kind of experience integrated into your education.
Matt Dixon, a sport development student who worked with the LOCOG press operations team, said: 'I really enjoyed working with LOCOG's press operations team. It was a completely new experience for me to work with such a high-profile organisation. I learned lots of skills from the team here, and it was incredible to be a part of London 2012 through my university course.'
Josh, trackside at the Olympics
Fellow student Shereen Hutton, who worked as a flash quote reporter at the Olympic stadium throughout the Games, said, 'I had such an amazing time, I loved every minute of it! The whole experience seemed to fly by and it felt surreal to me. I was speaking to sporting heroes like Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt on a daily basis, and I managed to get quotes from them even though I was quite star struck from being in their presence!'
Josh Saydraouten, who also worked trackside at the main stadium, added, ''Being a Games Maker at the London 2012 Olympic Games was a fantastic experience, and will be great for my CV. My personal highlight was when Sanya Richards Ross [winner of the women’s 400m and 4x400m relay gold for the USA] spoke to me in the broadcast zone'.
Sport and active lifestyles research
In addition to our sport courses, the university's Academy of Sport and Physical Activity is home to three internationally renowned sports research centres, producing world-class research in sport performance, economics and engineering. Our sports research is ranked fourth in the UK.
The Centre for Sport and Exercise Science boasts one of the largest physical activity and sport-related portfolios of research expertise in the UK. It focuses on physical activity, wellbeing and performance enhancement.
The centre worked closely with GB Volleyball and GB Table Tennis as they prepared for London 2012.
The Sport Industry Research Centre applies economic techniques to generate new knowledge and insight about the sport and leisure industries.
Recent projects have included measuring the impact of the 2012 Olympics on the UK's sporting economy as well as other major sporting events.
The Centre for Sports Engineering Research focuses on developing fundamental understanding of the complex sporting environment and the creation of new innovative technologies.
The Centre enjoys an international reputation and works with a wide range of government agencies, ruling bodies of sport, and commercial companies. Activities include applied research, R&D consultancy services, project management, public engagement and delivering our MSc Sports Engineering course.
The centre is one of only four University Innovation Partners to UK Sport, and provided technical support to a number of Olympic teams in the run-up to London 2012, including GB Boxing, GB Diving and British Cycling.
Sport facilities
Collegiate Hall
Collegiate Hall houses some of the finest sport science laboratories in the UK, featuring the latest equipment and technology for evaluating performance in sport and exercise. This includes
• environment chamber
• physiology laboratories
• biomechanics laboratory
• strength and conditioning laboratory
• physical activity laboratory
• computer rooms and video analysis technology
• isokinetic dynamometry
• psychology suite
English Institute of Sport Sheffield
The English Institute of Sport Sheffield (EISS) is our official sport campus, providing students with access to some of the finest sporting facilities in the country to support and enhance your learning experience. You have the opportunity to learn in an environment where leading names from the world of sport are also based, including a number of Team GB's Olympic medal winners such as Jess Ennis and the GB Boxing squads.
The practical elements of our sport courses are taught at the EISS and the facility is also home to our student athletes and sport teams across a range of sports.
General sports and fitness facilities
The university's Collegiate campus is also home to a wide range of sport and fitness facilities, including a strength and conditioning suite, regularly used by professional athletes.
Sheffield Hallam Active offers a comprehensive sport, health and fitness service to all students - including on campus gyms, sports halls, and an extensive weekly programme of fitness classes and sport sessions.
Sheffield as a city also offers fantastic sport facilities. Sheffield was the UK's first national city of sport and regularly hosts major sporting events at venues such as Ponds Forge, Don Valley Stadium and Sheffield Arena.
Team Sheffield Hallam
Team Sheffield Hallam is the home of competitive and performance sport at Sheffield Hallam University.
Team Sheffield Hallam offers you the chance to play in university sport leagues and tournaments, as well our annual Varsity competition.
And if you're a student competing at a high level in your sport, we'll give you all the support you need through our Performance Athlete Support Programme - including scholarships of up to £6,000 per year.
The programme is designed to support talented student athletes, allowing you to balance your university life and achieve your sporting potential.
If it's non-competitive sport, health and fitness you are interested in, Sheffield Hallam Active offers an extensive range of sport and fitness activities on campus at great prices.
City of Sport 2012 (1:36)
Sport
Watch a video about sport in Sheffield.
