M.A. Olympic Studies: 4th Intake starts in March 2015
With the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2014 in Sochi just finished, the complexity of staging the biggest sporting event in the world has become once more apparent. The Olympic Movement is confronted to multifaceted issues to be discussed and solved in the next years to preserve their integrity.
To fully understand the Olympic Movement it is important not only to obtain knowledge about the Olympic Games themselves, but also the wider, humanistic values which distinguish them from other global sporting events. To address this need the German Sport University Cologne has implemented the unique M.A. programme Olympic Studies. Now, the 4th Intake the international part-time programme will start in March 2015.
The programme has been developed in close cooperation of the German Sport University cologne and five renowned European universities: Loughborough University, Universitat Autónoma Barcelona, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern and the Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel. Furthermore the Information Management Department of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has contributed to the development of the academic project and the programme has the official patronage of the IOC. Olympic Solidarity has also added the M.A. Olympic Studies to its Quadrennial Plan 2014 2017 so that candidates can get support through their National Olympic Committees.
The advanced studies programme is taught in six module weeks over the period of two years and a concluding master thesis. The contents are delivered by a core network of renowned international lecturers in the field of Olympic Studies from the cooperating universities. All modules are intended to take place at the German Sport University Cologne. The teaching language is English. The programme implements a high-level, interdisciplinary curriculum in Olympic Studies aimed at fostering the links between the academic and Olympic worlds. It´s main objective is to provide the students with an interdisciplinary knowledge about the Olympic Movement.
Consequently the field of Olympic Studies is approached in a unique interdisciplinary manner reflecting the various dimensions of the modern Olympic Games. In this way, the individual participant´s Olympic knowledge in social sciences and humanities will be enhanced whilst at the same time promoting the participant´s critical appreciation of the nature and significance of values in the advocacy and practice of Olympism, Olympic sport, and the Olympic Movement. Thus, teaching contents cover a wide range of relevant topics, including historical, educational, cultural, ethical, commercial, and political aspects of the Olympic Movement and the programme focuses on matters including Olympic governance, international relations and athletic performance in top-level sport.
The programme is designed to facilitate recruitment of a wide range of participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. This includes representatives from (sport) organizations such as National Olympic Committees, International and National Sport Federations, Organising Committees of the Olympic and Regional Games, Applicant and Candidate Cities and any other professional with interest in the Olympic Movement. Candidates will be required to hold a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent and have at least two years of work experience in an environment ideally relevant to the interests of the Olympic family. During the first three intakes, participants from 27 countries have studied on the course. The first graduates have used their degree but also the network in order to enhance their professional opportunities.
The 4th Intake of the M.A. Olmpic Studies will start in March 2015. The application deadline is 30 September 2014. If you are interested in the programme and would like to participate and enhance your knowledge about the Olympic Movement, please contact the Programme Coordinator Jörg Krieger (j.krieger@dshs-koeln.de or +49-221-4982-3840) in order to get an application form.