COURSE CURRICULUM

The B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Sports Media and Production is a 121-credit undergraduate program designed to prepare students for careers in sports broadcasting, sports journalism, live production, and digital sports media across multiple platforms by combining communication theory with hands-on production training and specialized sports media coursework. The program includes a 40-credit University Core Curriculum that builds foundational academic skills and broad cultural awareness through courses such as Theories of Group Communication, Social Issues in Sport, and Globalization of Sport, ensuring students understand both communication dynamics and the social and global context of modern sports industries. The major component consists of 27 credits of required coursework focused on communication fundamentals, media production, ethics, and legal frameworks. Students begin with core courses such as Understanding Media and Technology, Writing for the Media, Fundamentals of Production I and II, and Digital Media Editing, which develop essential skills in media creation, editing, and production workflows. Additional required courses such as Race, Gender, and Class in Media and Communication and the Law provide critical perspectives on ethical, social, and legal issues in media industries, while Media Ethics reinforces professional responsibility in journalism and communication practice. Students also complete a practicum, internship, independent study, or honors thesis, offering real-world professional experience in sports media environments. The concentration component includes Introduction to Sports Media, News Writing and Reporting, and a culminating Capstone in Sports Media and Production, which integrates students’ technical, creative, and analytical skills into a final professional project. To further specialize, students select 18 credits of restricted electives from areas such as sports journalism, television production, broadcast journalism, public relations, live event production, storytelling, persuasion, and esports management, allowing them to tailor their studies toward production, reporting, or hybrid media careers. Program outcomes emphasize the ability to design and execute complex sports media projects, use industry-standard tools and equipment, apply creative and critical thinking to communication challenges, and understand the sports media ecosystem in relation to business, journalism, and digital platforms. Graduates are prepared for careers in sports broadcasting, sports journalism, digital media production, content creation, and sports media management, as well as for advanced study in communication and related fields, with strong practical and professional skills suited to the fast-paced sports media industry.