The Sports Studies certificate program 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 certificate program 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 certificate is designed to be interdisciplinary in nature, grounded firmly in the liberal arts, and draws resources from the Classics, His-tory, 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.

The requirements for the Sports Studies Certificate are:

1. The student must be a degree candidate at Saint Anselm College.
2. The student must formally register for the certificate with the chair of the certificate committee no later than the first semester of the junior year.
3. The student must have a minimum grade point average of 2.33 (C+) at the time of registering for the certificate program.
4. The student must meet any pre-requisites required to take individual certificate courses.
   a. In order to take Biology of Sport and Exercise (BI201), the student must have completed one of the following pre-requisites: General Biology (BI103–104), Human Anatomy & Physiology (BI331–332), or General Biology for Non-Majors (BI101–102) with an average grade of C (2.0) or better.
   b. Remaining certificate courses do not have prerequisites.
5. The student must complete five certificate courses with a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each course, and a minimum cumulative grade point average of C+ (2.33) across the five courses.
   a. The student is required to take Biology of Sport and Exercise (BI201)
   b. The student is required to take Sports Psychology (PY210)
   c. The student is required to take Nutrition (BI344)
   d. The student is required to take 2 courses from the following: Ancient Athletics (CL261), American Sports History (HI399), or a related course approved by certificate director.
6. The student must successfully complete a comprehensive examination on material from the five certificate courses.