Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2025
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
COLL 137 001 (CRN: 15004)
SERVING ON AND OFF THE COURT
Long Title: SERVING ON AND OFF THE COURT - THE CAREERS AND POP CULTURE OF THE WILLIAMS SISTERS (LOVETT)
Department: College Courses
Instructors:
Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM R (25-AUG-2025 - 5-DEC-2025)
Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 1
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 19
Section Enrolled: 11
Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 20-APR-2025 8:37AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: Arguably the most iconic pair of siblings in sports history, Serena and Venus Williams have a legacy transcending just tennis. These two icons redefined the discussion of the “GOAT” within tennis by breaking numerous records, eliminating gender and racial barriers, and inspiring generations of athletes of color. They proved to the world that athletes can wear many hats, as both became successful businesswomen alongside their respective illustrious careers. Ultimately, the Williams sisters show how legacy is not solely defined by how you perform in your sport, but also by what you do for it. In this course, we will study the nuances and breadth of ways that the Williams sisters reinvented the sport of tennis and pioneered empowerment of women in sports, while seeking to answer: why do we root for or against a particular athlete? Students will engage with the course material by keeping a notebook for class and homework, creating and responding to discussion posts, and producing a final project. Through discussing and studying their matches, outfits, business ventures, struggles, controversies, and more, students will develop a fleshed-out understanding of the position of the Williams sisters within tennis and sports history.