Course Syllabus

Below is a syllabus template that includes WSU's required syllabus elements.

 

Ethical and Moral Reasoning in Sport [M]

SpMgt 365

Spring 2027

3 Credit Hours

Prerequisites: Admitted to the major or minor in Sport Management.

Course Details

Day and Time: [tbd]

Meeting Location: [tbd]

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: [tbd]

Instructor Contact Information: [office location, phone, email] [tbd]

Instructor Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]

 

TA Name: [tbd]

TA Contact Information: [office location, phone, email]: [tbd]

TA Office Hours: [click here for best practices] [tbd]

 

Course Description

365 [M] Ethics and Moral Reasoning in Sport 3 Course Prerequisite: Admitted to the major or minor in Sport Management. Understanding and application of ethical theory and principles of moral reasoning to the analysis of issues and dilemmas in sport. 

Writing in the Major [M]

This course carries the [M] course tag, meaning it is a Writing in the Major Course approved by the WSU Writing Program. [M] courses make writing assignments central to the work of the course and emphasize revision processes, to help students explore the knowledge of a particular discipline and to create and share that knowledge. The case study reflections described in the assignment section satisfy the [M] requirement.

 

Course Materials 

Books:  Simon, R. L., Torres, C. R., & Hager, P. (2014). Fair Play: The Ethics of Sport (4th Ed). Boulder, CO: Westview Press. ISBN: 978-0-8133-4920-6 (est. $30 used)

Other Materials: None

Fees: None

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) [add more lines if necessary]

Course Learning Outcomes

(students will be able to:)

 Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes Assessment of the Learning Outcomes
  • Be able to identify, explain, and discuss the ethical and moral issues related to sport.
 Assigned Readings, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application Reading Quizzes, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam
  • Be able to describe and reflect on the obligations of sport organizations to the clients of sport (administrators, coaches, athletes, fans, and support personnel).
 Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections Reading Quizzes, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Final Exam
  • Be able to identify the meaning of ethical conduct and misconduct.

 

Assigned Readings, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections

 Reading Quizzes, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam
  • Examine relationships between social responsibility and values of the organization.

Assigned Readings, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections

 Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections
  • Discuss and write about the concept of rights, rights and obligations, and types of rights related to ethical dilemmas in sport.

Assigned Readings, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application

 Reading Quizzes, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam
  • Be able to identify the value conflict involving ethical dilemmas in sport.

Assigned Readings, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application

 Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam
  • Be able to identify the purpose and functions of a code of ethics.

Assigned Readings, Code of Ethics Application

 Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam
  • Be able to discuss and explain through written text how ethical theory is applied and utilized in ethical decision-making.

Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Final Exam

 Reading Quizzes, Personal Values Reflection, Discussion Sessions, Case Study Written Reflections, Code of Ethics Application, Final Exam

Course Schedule

[Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]
Dates Lesson Topic Assignment Assessment

Week 1
Tues

Thurs

 

Introduction and Course Requirements 

What is Ethics?

   
Week 2

Tues

Thurs

 

Ethical Theory 

Moral + Character Education 

   Text – p. 1-5, 21-37

 

Reading Quiz 1

Personal Values Reflection
Week 3

Tues

Thurs

 

Moral + Character Education 

Discussion 1

Text – p. 5-18, 219-228

In-class Discussion

Reading Quiz 2

Discussion 1
Week 4

Tues

Thurs

  

 

Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making 

Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making cont'd

 

 Text – p. 228-237

Reading Quiz 3

 

 
Week 5

Tues

Thurs

 

Sportsmanship/Gamesmanship

Discussion 2

 

Text – p. 37-54, 71-78

In-class Discussion

Reading Quiz 4

Discussion 2
Week 6

Tues

Thurs

 

Competitive Ethics 

Discussion 3

 

 

Discussion 3

 

 

Discussion 3
Week 7

Tues

Thurs

Competitive Ethics 

Discussion 4

 

Discussion 4

 

Discussion 4
Week 8

Tues

Thurs

  

Performance Enhancement

Performance Enhancement cont'd

 

Text – p. 59-71, 81-111

 

Reading Quiz 5

Case Study Reflection 1
Week 9

Tues

Thurs

 

The Issue of Fairness (Justice)

Discussion 5

 

Text – p. 127-155

Discussion 5

 

Reading Quiz 6

Discussion 5
Week 10

Tues

Thurs

 

Who’s Social Responsibility?

Discussion 6

 

Text - p. 111-123, 206-217, 237-242

Discussion 6

 

Reading Quiz 7 

Discussion 6
Week 11

Tues

Thurs

 

The Academic/Athletic Dilemma

The Academic/Athletic Dilemma cont'd

  Text – p. 157-168

Reading Quiz 8

Case Study Reflection 3
Week 12

Tues

Thurs

The Academic/Athletic Dilemma cont'd

Discussion 7

 Text – p. 169-185

Discussion 7

Reading Quiz 9

Discussion 7
Week 13

Tues

Thurs

 

The Sport and Money Problem

Discussion 8

 

Text – p. 189-206

Discussion 8

 

Reading Quiz 10

Discussion 8
Week 14

Tues

Thurs

 

Code of Ethics

Code of Ethics Application 

 

  Code of Ethics Application  Code of Ethics Application 
Week 15

Tues

Thurs

 Case Study Reflection 4

Final Exam Review

 Case Study Reflection 4

 

Case Study Reflection 4

Final Exam, Week 16, via Canvas

 

 

Expectations for Student Effort 

Anticipate dedicating around nine hours each week to course-related tasks. This includes three hours of designated class time and an additional six hours for independent work beyond the classroom. Activities outside of class include reading, reviewing class materials, working collaboratively with group members, completing assignments, and preparing for tests.

It is expected that all students present on a given day be attentive, polite, and not a source of distraction to the instructor or any other student. Students engaged in distracting or disruptive behaviors (e.g., visiting with your neighbor, talking on cell phones or other communication devices) will be asked to leave the classroom.

 

Grading 

Assignment Breakdown
Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) Points Percent of Overall Grade
Reading Quizzes (10x10) 100 18%
Personal Values Reflection  25  4%
Discussion Sessions (8) 140 25%
Case Study Written Reflections (4x50) 200 35%
Code of Ethics Application (1x) 50  9%
Final Exam 50  9%
TOTAL 565 100%

 

Grading Schema
Grade Percent Grade Percent
A

92.5–100%

 C 72.5–76.4%
A-  90–92.4% C- 70–72.4%
B+ 86.5–89.9% D+ 66.5–69.9%
B 82.5–86.4% D 60–66.4%
B- 80–82.4% F  59.9-0%
C+ 76.5–79.9%  

 

Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

It is your responsibility to attend class. Daily roll call will not be taken. However, you will be graded on in-class activities. Students who are absent for in-class activities will not be allowed to make up the points, except in the case of a University-approved absence or absence related to civic duty (jury duty or military activity).

All assignments are due on the date given on the syllabus; otherwise, a score of zero will be recorded. Consideration for acceptance of late work due to extenuating circumstances will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

Academic Integrity Statement

Washington State University, a community dedicated to advancing knowledge, expects all students to adhere to high standards of scholarship and the Standards of Conduct for Students. Students are expected to understand the meaning of academic integrity and to adhere to the University’s policies on academic integrity. All members of the university community (and this class) share responsibility for maintaining and promoting the principles of integrity in all activities, including academic integrity and honest scholarship.

Any form of academic dishonesty (including but not limited to cheating, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, falsification, and misrepresentation) is not tolerated, and violation of the policy will incur the consequences outlined below.

As a student, you are responsible for reading WSU’s Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. Academic integrity will be strongly enforced in this course. Students who violate WSU’s Academic Integrity Policies (identified in Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 504-26-010(3) and WAC 504-26-404 will, on the first offense, receive a zero for the assignment and receive one full letter grade lower as a final grade for the semester (from an A to a B, etc.). A second violation will result in an “F” grade for the course. Students suspected of an academic integrity violation will be reported to the Center for Community Standards. Students may appeal to the Center for Community Standards, but will not have the option to drop or withdraw from the course until the appeals process is complete. If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

For more information on responding to academic integrity violations, please visit: https://www.handbook.wsu.edu/academic-integrity-process/. Please contact the Center for Community Standards for more specific information about the process. The Center for Community Standards can be reached at 509-335-4532 or community.standards@wsu.edu.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Use AI to generate ideas and edit your work. Synthesize content from AI with your writing to align AI-generated content with course material. By itself, AI-generated content is not original work. Therefore, treat AI to generate content like a source (i.e. journal article, blog post, book, or website) and provide a citation. Provide quotations if the text is a direct (word-for-word) replica of the content generated in AI or if you have revised or paraphrased the material. Your ability to produce original work is a requirement in this course and failure to provide appropriate citations for AI-generated content may result in a zero on the assignment.

To cite AI in APA format, use the following approach*:

  • APA format:  OpenAI. (Year). ChatGPT (Month Day version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com\
  • APA reference entry: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Feb 13 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com
  • APA in-text citation: (OpenAI, 2023)

*Source - OWL at Purdue: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/c.php?g=1371380&p=10135074
** For additional information: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt