About the section

Headed by Prof. Dr. Astrid Schubring, we are a team of research assistants and PhD students, a secretary, project staff and student assistants passionate about sport sociological topics. We are furthermore joined by several external PhD students and lecturers, and regularly host guests who for visiting stays in our section.

Sociology of sport covers a broad range of societal issues and questions in the fields of sports and exercise, physical activity and physical education, and health. We take a theory-based approach to study the relation between sport and society and use qualitative and quantitative social science methods in our research.

Our aim is to provide research-based insights into the world of sports, to critically examine its 'social order' and to provide practical knowledge for competitive and leisure-time sports as well as physical education. Our expertise lies in uncovering social cause and effect mechanisms. In so doing, we aim to explain the actions and experiences of those involved in sport and physical education in a systematic manner.

Are you a...

• Researcher and would like to work with us? Take a look at the Research section...
• Coach, official, physical education teacher or otherwise involved in sports development? Take a look at the Transfer section...
• Student looking for an internship or a topic/supervisor for your thesis? Take a look at the Study section...
• Media representative investigating in one of our research topics? Then please contact our secretary‘s office (k.esch@dshs-koeln.de) or the Sports University's Press and Communications department.

The Department of Sociology of Sport, headed by Prof. Dr. Astrid Schubring, together with the Department for Diversity Studies, constitute the Institute for Sociology and Gender Studies.