Sports Communication Major Requirements

The sports communication degree provides students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in leadership positions in the fields of sports and recreation while also providing them with a set of interdisciplinary electives that will increase their effectiveness and make them stand out. Please see the major requirements for a list of required courses.

When planning for your sports communication major, please consider the following:

  • Minors/Double-Majors: Students completing a sports communication major are encouraged to pursue one or more minors and/or a double-major that will augment their skill set as communicators and give them the ability to apply different perspectives to their professional lives. Electives in the sports communication major and minor allow students to complete one or more requirements in a second academic area.
  • Prerequisites: Be sure to check course prerequisites early in your degree planning, as there are a number of courses that have a prerequisite or are offered as a sequence, such as MEDA 318. Many of the courses in the major will require sophomore or junior standing.
  • Internship: 4 credits of internship (MEDA 475) are required and should be completed no later than the fall of the senior year. Students can earn the internship credits in more than one semester (e.g. two 2-credit internships). Internships can be completed in the summer months (between third and fourth year), but will require advance approval (and additional tuition).

Sports Communication Major Requirements

Complete the following. (28 credits)
MEDA 108 Fundamentals of Sports Communication 4 credits
MEDA 110 OR MEDA 201 Introduction to Communication OR Interpersonal Communication 4 credits
MEDA 240W Writing for the Media 4 credits
MEDA 248 Sports Reporting 2 credits
MEDA 318 Sports Public Relations & Promotion 4 credits
MEDA 434 Mass Media Law & Ethics 4 credits
MEDA 475 Internship 4 credits
MEDA 485 Senior Capstone in Sports Communications 2 credits
Complete a minimum of 8 credits of the following. At least 4 credits must be from upper-division courses. (8 credits)
BA 309 Principles of Marketing 4 credits
DSCI 100 Foundations of Data Science 2 credits
GSS 265-365 Gender, Sexuality & Sport 2 credits
IS 201 Intercultural Communication 4 credits
PHIL 333 Sports Ethics 2 credits
POLS 301 or POLS 352 or POLS 353 Politics & the Media OR Politics and Sports OR Politics, Media & Sports 4 credits
SINP 201 Equity & Diversity in Organizations 2 credits
SLAM 101 Intro to Sport & Recreation Administration 2 credits
SLAM 321 Sport Analytics 2 credits
Complete one of the following concentrations in the media arts (8 credits)
Communication
MEDA 101 Fundamentals of Speaking 2 credits
MEDA 218 Organizational Communications 4 credits
MEDA 335 Advanced Speaking & Presentations 2 credits
Journalism
MEDA 213 Digital Journalism I 4 credits
MEDA 313 Digital Journalism II 4 credits
Film & Video
MEDA 153 Video for Community Engagement 4 credits
MEDA 302 Documentary Studies & Practice 4 credits
Graphic Design
MEDA 116 Introduction to Graphic Design 4 credits
MEDA 202 Photography & Imaging for Media 4 credits
TOTAL CREDITS 44