Repositioning the value of sociology for students studying sport in post-92 higher education institutions

Abstract

The position of sociology within the UK post-92 higher education curriculum is increasingly under threat as neoliberal ideology continues to shape universities to be based on market principles. Here, the discipline is often thought to lack clear ‘practical’ outcomes which meet the demands of the job market and these challenges are particularly prominent within the capitalist nature of sport-based degrees. Using data generated from focus groups and interviews, this paper explores sport students' experiences of studying the sociology of sport within a UK post-92 higher education institution. The findings illustrate wide ranging benefits the students perceived to gain from studying the sub-discipline. From these empirical insights, we put forward the argument that the sociology of sport has potential to offer significant value to students on sport-based degrees which meet the demands of the current higher education system, as well as broader values beyond restrictive neo-liberal thinking.