Academic Programs & Teaching
The Department of Diversity Studies addresses issues of diversity, difference, and social inequality in sports through its academic programs and teaching. Our courses combine sociological theory with practical and reflective analysis, offering interdisciplinary perspectives on current developments in sports and society.
Courses
In line with the Mission Statement for Studies and Teaching at the German Sport University Cologne, our teaching is science-based, research- and competency-oriented, and designed to foster dialogue and sensitivity to diversity. Our goal is to empower students to think critically and act responsibly in the field of sports. Through our Department of Diversity Studies, we are actively involved in teaching and help design a wide range of courses. On our “Academic Programs & Teaching” webpage we provide an overview of the academic areas in which we are involved. Select the relevant area to find detailed information about our courses and our involvement.
Basisstudium (BAS)
- Practicing Behavioural & Social Science Excercise (BAS2), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 1 credit hour, all bachelor’s programs in sports science
Schlüsselqualifikationen (SQ)
- Self- and Team Management (SQ1), Seminar, Dipl. Soz. Päd. Diana Emberger, 1 credit hour per week, all Bachelor’s programs in sports science
- Diversity Competence (SQ2), Seminar (English), Dipl. Soz. Päd. Diana Emberger, 2 hours per week, all bachelor’s programs in sports science
Profilergänzung (PE): Gender and Diversity Qualification in Sport
- Gender & Diversity in Sports Science Research & Practice (PE1.17), Lecture, Prof. Dr. Bettina Rulofs, 1 credit hour per week, all bachelor’s programs in sports science
- Understanding Social Inequality – Enhancing Diversity in Sport (PE1.17), Seminar, Dr. Birgit Braumüller, 4 hours per week, all bachelor’s programs in sports science
- Gender Competence as a Key Qualification (PE1.17), Seminar, Dipl. Soz. Päd. Diana Emberger, 1 SWS, all bachelor’s degree programs in sports science
Program-specific courses
- Pedagogical Responsibility of Performance (SUL5), Seminar, Dipl. Soz. Päd. Diana Emberger, 2 hours per week, SUL (Sport und Leistung)
- Public Health (SGP1), Seminar, TBD, 2 hours per week, SGP (Sport und Gesundheit in Prävention und Therapie)
- Social Inclusion in Sport and Disability Sports (DEV9), Seminar (English), Prof. Dr. Bettina Rulofs, 2 hours per week, DEV (M.A. International Sport Development and Politics)
In development: Master’s program in Community Sport and Movement for Social Transformation (COSMOS)
Bachelor's Degree in Teacher Education (B.A.)
Sports Science:
- Qualitative Research Methods in the Context of School Sports (B1), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 1 credit hour, LA B.A.
- Current Topics in School Sports (Discrimination and Violence Prevention) (B6), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 2 hours per week, LA B.A.
Educational Sciences:
- Education in the Process of Continuity & Transformation (BM1), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 2 SWS, LA B.A.
- Teaching as Mediation Process (BM3), Lecture, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 2 SWS, LA B.A.
Master’s Degree in Teacher Education (LA M.A.)
Sports Science:
- Sports & Society (M3), Lecture, Prof. Dr. Bettina Rulofs, 2 hours per week, LA M.A.
- Sport as a Cultural Phenomenon (M3), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 2 hours per week, LA M.A.
Educational Sciences:
- Methods of working in the Humanities, Cultural Studies, & Social Science in the Context of School (MM1), Seminar, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 1 SWS, LA M.A.
- Introduction to Diagnostics & Individual Support (MM2), Lecture, Dr. Fabienne Bartsch, 2 hours per week, LA M.A.
- Knowledge - Management - Social/Cultural Sciences (PS), Seminar, Prof. Dr. Bettina Rulofs, 2 hours per week, Doctoral Program
General Information on Doctoral Studies at the German Sport University Cologne
Theses
Our Department of Diversity Studies offers students in all bachelor’s and master’s programs at DSHS the opportunity to write theses that are closely linked to our current research.
Key topics include: gender relations, socioeconomic inequalities and classism, displacement and migration, racism, safe sport and interpersonal violence, as well as managing diversity and promoting inclusion.
These topics can be examined in various sports contexts (e.g., club sports, sports associations, commercial sports, physical education, all-day sports programs, and sports-related media).
We particularly supervise empirically grounded research, whereby the following methodological approaches are possible, for example:
- Qualitative research: qualitative interviews, document analysis, observations, case studies.
- Quantitative research: questionnaire surveys with questionnaire design and standardized data collection; statistical analysis.
- Theoretical work: Systematic literature review. (State-of-the-art, synthesis of the current state of research, reviews)
Expressions of interest and initial consultation:
- Dr. Fabienne Bartsch f.bartsch(at)dshs-koeln.de
- Dipl. Soz. Päd. Diana Emberger d.emberger(at)dshs-koeln.de
We look forward to hearing from you!
Topic Selection
- Theoretical Focus: Analysis of concepts such as diversity management, inclusion, intersectionality, critical whiteness, as well as practices of “doing gender” and “doing diversity.”
Examples to inspire your research question:
- Intersectionality: “Intersectional Intertwining of Dimensions of Diversity and Gender: An Analysis of Selection Mechanisms in the Filling of Leadership Positions in German Sports Federations.”
- Diversity management: “Analysis of barriers and opportunities in the implementation of inclusion concepts in recreational sports clubs: A qualitative case study.”
- Focus: The structure and culture of sports organizations in the context of abuse of power and violence; prevalence, forms, and patterns, as well as particularly high-risk conditions in sports.
- Key aspects: Analysis of prevention and intervention mechanisms, organizational risk conditions; development and evaluation of protection strategies; the role of coaches and instructors (managing proximity and distance).
Examples of inspiration for your research question:
- Role of coaches: “The perception of proximity-distance regulations by young competitive athletes – A qualitative interview study.”
- Protection strategies: “Implementation of prevention strategies in small sports clubs—A focus group analysis.”
- Emotional abuse: “‘Performance at any cost?’—A quantitative study on the acceptance of emotional abuse practices in elite sports from the perspective of coaches.”
- Focus: Studies on acceptance, treatment, and experiences of discrimination faced by LGBTIQ* individuals in sports.
- Differentiation: Analysis by sexual orientation (homosexuality/bisexuality) and gender identity (trans, intersex, and queer identities).
Examples to inspire your research question:
- Gender diversity: “The new 2026 IOC guidelines on gender equality – A document analysis of implementation in national governing bodies.”
- Queer visibility: “Visibility of trans* people in physical education – A qualitative content analysis of current physical education curricula.”
- Focus: Media construction of gender relations and stereotypes.
- Research topics: Traditional media: newspaper coverage and live commentary (e.g., the Olympic Games); Digital media: athletes’ self-presentation on social media.
Examples to inspire your research question:
- Social Media: “Self-branding of top female athletes on Instagram – Between athletic professionalism and traditional portrayals of femininity.”
- Coverage: “Gender Marketing at the Olympic Games – A Comparative Content Analysis of Coverage of Male and Female Team Sports.”
- Language in commentary: “Unconscious biases? A quantitative analysis of the linguistic evaluation of athletes in live commentary during major sporting events.”
- Possible areas of focus: Refugees’ experiences of acceptance and belonging in sports, sports in initial reception centers, physical education classes with refugee students
Examples to inspire your research question:
- What role does sports play in well-being and the structuring of daily life in initial reception centers?
- How do participation and exclusion of refugee students manifest in physical education?
- What is the current state of international research on refugee students in physical education?
- Possible areas of focus: Experiences of racism in sports, racist portrayals in sports journalism, anti-racist practices by teachers and coaches
Examples to inspire your research question:
- To what extent do students of color experience racism in physical education classes?
- How are athletes of color represented in sports media?
- Possible areas of focus: Experiences of classism in sports, sports clubs as institutions of the middle class, classism in the actions of teachers and coaches
Examples of inspiration for your research question:
- How do students from socioeconomically marginalized backgrounds experience physical education, and what experiences of inclusion or exclusion do they encounter?
- To what extent do sports clubs reproduce classism through their structures, costs, and norms?
- To what extent do classist and racist mechanisms intersect in access to sports and sports clubs?
