Explore your passion for sports with new lenses—cultural studies, ethics, business, social science, and more. All programs are taught in English.

The application deadline for all 5 programs is February 1, 2017. Learn more and apply on M-Compass.

May 2017

Sport and Culture in Contemporary Argentina

Bring your sports obsession to Buenos Aires, a city filled with incredible sports fans. Earn credit for exploring the cultural significance of soccer (fútbol) and other popular sports. Coursework explores the intersections of history, sociology, and culture through sports, more specifically, through Argentina’s sport par excellence—soccer—and its myriad repercussions for culture, politics, and society. Beginning with a sociological analysis of sports, you will trace the history of soccer in Argentina back to the turn of the 20th century. Course themes include soccer and politics, soccer and violence, the figure of Diego Maradona, soccer and the media, and soccer and patriotism. An excursion to historic Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay, is included in the program fee.

Ethics and Sports Development in the Dominican Republic

Spend 3 weeks this spring in Santo Domingo examining the impact of sports on the culture, identity, and society of this island nation. Through coursework, cultural activities, and facilitated interactions with Dominicans in and outside the local sports world, learn about the impact of professional baseball on Dominican society and the challenges and opportunities posed by the globalization of the sport. Special attention is paid to the role of Major League Baseball (MLB) in Dominican society and its influence over the Dominican game. Visit MLB’s official offices and academy and enjoy a guided tour of Santo Domingo’s Colonial Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sports and Society in Spain

Spend 3 weeks this spring in Barcelona exploring the impact of sport on Spanish society. Begin with general theoretical questions in the study of sport before moving to the origins and evolution of sports in the West and to special topics: sports in the media; violence and sports; gender, race, and national identity in sports; and specific sports in context. Attention will be paid to the ubiquitous soccer (fútbol), including the history and impact of FC Barcelona. Examine other sports of great importance in Spain—basketball, tennis, track and field, and cycling. Examine the controversial practice of bull fighting and uniquely local sports of Basque Ball and Castells (human towers), a traditional practice in Catalonia. Visit the Olympic Museum in Barcelona and learn about the city’s fight to host the Games and its preparations for them.

Summer 2017

Baseball and Society in the Dominican Republic

Enroll in 2 area studies courses in Santo Domingo: ethical issues in sports development and the impact of sports on Caribbean cultures, economics, and politics. Coursework is supplemented with site visits and guest speakers from the local community. Excursions include visits to baseball academies, amateur games, local NGOs that work with baseball prospects, and Dominican professional league offices. The study center hosts a weekly film night where you’ll watch and discuss films centered on the program’s core themes of sport and society.

Sport Psychology in Spain

Take this interactive course with a global perspective next summer in Seville. The program introduces key concepts in the field of sport psychology as well as current practical applications in exercise, sports, competition, and wellness. Gain a sophisticated and professional understanding of the theoretical and practical ways sport psychology can be applied not only for aspiring sport psychologists but also for those in the fields of physical education, coaching, recreation, and health. This summer the program dates overlap with the Sport Psychology World Congress taking place in Seville. Enjoy exclusive access to conference sessions, engage in workshops with leaders in the sport psychology field, and meet sport psychology professionals from around the world.