Each semester, the department of sports studies, recreation, and athletics (SSRA) offers several lecture courses on athletics. The courses study “theory, methods and philosophy of physical education,” according to the college’s 2008-2009 catalog.

“Sports studies is a general term used to describe studies about sports, whether they be cultural studies, whether they be physical studies, such as kinesiology, biomechanics and physiology or whether they be social studies, looking into the sociology of sport,” said Athletic Director and SSRA chair Dean Snider.

This upcoming spring semester, students can register for classes from Intercollegiate Sport Management to Coaching Baseball. Most classes are worth two to three academic credits.

The department also currently offers an SSRA minor for those interested in careers in athletics. Snider estimates that eight to 10 students plan to graduate with the minor this school year. The minor requires 16 credits, including a first aid class, senior seminar and a physical education practicum.

In the practicum, students reflect on practical experiences outside the classroom, such as internships or coaching positions.

“We’ve had several former athletes who were sports studies minors and were also pre-med students. Some of them have gone into medical programs and specializations that have connections to sports: orthopedics, physical therapy: so a sports studies minor in conjunction with something like pre-med gets people directed into those specialties within the field,” Snider said.

While the program may continue varsity athletes’ involvement in sports, it also introduces opportunities in sports for non-athletes.

“We have a great number of student trainers who are interested in the sports medicine side [and] want to work in the field of training or be involved in sports in some way, shape or form, but are not varsity athletes. One of the options for them is athletic training,” said Snider. “That’s the case also for some others who may not be varsity athletes but want to keep their connection to sports by helping their community, such coaching their kids.”