SUNY Oswego introduced a sports studies minor this fall that gives students the opportunity to study the history and impact of sports through a variety of academic lenses.

The idea to create the minor grew from Christopher Mack, an associate professor of history, and sociology department chair Tim Delaney, who share a deep interest in sports. Delaney (pictured), often with participation from Mack, holds a sportsmanship symposium every March.

Mack and Delaney are advisers for the new interdisciplinary minor.

“We started talking about the various disciplines and departments on campus that were offering courses on sports, and then we came up with the idea to put these courses together and make a very coherent program on the study of sports and the impact sports has on our culture,” Mack said.

The minor incorporates courses from history, sociology, psychology, human development, broadcasting, journalism, health science and physical education.

Mack said he is in the process of developing new classes within the history department for the program.

“Sports play a huge role in our society in a whole host of ways,” Mack said. “The sports studies minor is designed to allow people to pursue their interest in sports in a rigorous academic fashion that will have applications in a whole host of areas that sports touch upon in business, in social life, in politics.”

Adding the minor also can help students who are interested in pursuing sports communication, Mack said.

Mack, Delaney and their colleagues talked to students in their classes last year, and Mack spoke to the college’s athletic teams to generate interest in the sports studies minor.

“We certainly welcome interest from anyone who’s interested in sports,” Mack said.

For more information, visit the minor’s online catalog page or contact Mack, christopher.mack@oswego.edu, or Delaney, tim.delaney@oswego.edu.