The Sports Studies interdisciplinary minor provides a course of study that recognizes sport as a fundamental component of the human experience. Sport has had a significant influence on humanity for thousands of years, and today permeates nearly every aspect of human society and culture. Throughout history, sport and athletic competition have helped to define who we are as human beings, and have contributed to our cultural development in a way that few other societal/cultural pursuits have. Students participating in this interdisciplinary minor will trace the history of sport from ancient to modern times, focusing in particular on the origins of human athletic competition, the social, historical, and cultural impacts of sport, and modern scientific approaches to the study of sport and human athletic performance. The minor is designed to be interdisciplinary in nature, grounded firmly in the liberal arts, and draws resources from the Classics, History, Psychology, and Biology Departments. Particular emphasis will be placed on recognition of sport as more than just a leisure activity that targets the physical body, but rather as a critical element of life that contributes to the betterment of the whole person.