Journalism and Media Studies (B.S.) Sports Media Concentration
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies is committed to excellence in teaching, bringing industry-based applications to the classroom, and providing practical experiences that assist students with attaining employment in media. With the option of choosing one of the three concentrations offered within the department, students are exposed to theoretical and hands-on experiences. The Sports Media concentration teaches students the intricacies of covering sporting events and writing for sports news. Career options for sports media graduates include print and broadcast opportunities in the sports news and entertainment industries, such as photography, videography, reporters, writers, anchors, commenters, and producers.
Degree Requirements
The Department of Journalism and Media Studies awards the Bachelor of Science degree in the following concentration areas, Media Production, Multimedia Journalism, Sports Media, and Integrated Marketing Communications. To be eligible to earn this degree, students must:
- Complete the university’s general education core requirements.
- Complete the major concentration area requirements.
- Complete a minor or take elective courses outside of the major.
Capstone Source
Senior Journalism and Media Studies Students must take the Capstone course to demonstrate their professional skill levels writing, shooting, and editing, as well as their understanding of media laws and ethical practices of journalism.
Major Requirements
JMS 200 INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATIONS, JMS 201 INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING, and JMS 301 INTRODUCTION TO NEWS REPORTING are prerequisites for all concentration areas in Journalism and Media Studies. A grade of “C” or higher is required in all major courses.
Note: Majors in the Sports Media Concentration do not have to take JMS 200 INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATIONS.
Required Core Credit Hours for All Concentrations
All students who major in Journalism and Media Studies must complete the following major courses to be eligible for graduation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JMS 200 | INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| JMS 201 | INTRODUCTION TO MEDIA WRITING | 3 |
| JMS 400 | MEDIA LAW | 3 |
| JMS 401 | RESCH METHDS IN MASS COM | 3 |
| JMS 405 | MEDIA ETHICS | 3 |
| JMS 486 | PRACTICUM IN MASS COMMUNICATIO | 3 |
| JMS 489 | INTERNSHIP IN MASS COMMUNICATI | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
Concentration
The Sports Media concentration is designed to introduce students to the skills needed in the rapidly growing industry of sports journalism. Students will learn sportscasting, sports writing and reporting, and electronic field production. This concentration area requires a total of 30 hours. The required hours for all students in this area are as follows:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JMS 205 | Cross Platform Sports Wri & Re | 3 |
| JMS 210 | MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| JMS 307 | PHOTOJOURNALISM | 3 |
| JMS 310 | MEDIA DESIGN AND PRODUCTION I | 3 |
| JMS 335 | PRIN OF ADVERTISING AND PUB RE | 3 |
| JMS 316 | ELECTRONIC FIELD PRODUCTION | 3 |
| JMS 351 | SPORTS, MEDIA AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| JMS 450 | SOCIAL MEDIA AND MASS COMM | 3 |
| JMS 426 | BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY | 3 |
| MKT 351 | MARKETING MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| Electives or Minor | 35-36 | |
| Total Hours | 65-66 | |
Curriculum Map
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| UNIV 100 | UNIVERSITY SUCCESS | 2 |
| ENG 104 |
COMPOSITION I or English Composition I with Co-requisite Support or COMPOSITION & LITERATURE FOR L |
3 |
| MATH 114 | Quantitative Reasoning | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Natural Science Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 105 or ENG 112 |
COMPOSITION II or COMPOSITION |
3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Natural Science Option | 3 | |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| JMS 200 | INTRO TO MASS COMMUNICATIONS | 3 |
| SPCH 215 | TRAINING THE SPEAKING VOICE | 3 |
| Humanities & Fine Arts Option | 3 | |
| Social & Behavioral Science Option | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMS 205 | Cross Platform Sports Wri & Re | 3 |
| JMS 210 | MICROPHONE TECHNIQUES | 3 |
| UNIV 200 | CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | 1 |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Pathway Option | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| JMS 307 | PHOTOJOURNALISM | 3 |
| JMS 310 | MEDIA DESIGN AND PRODUCTION I | 3 |
| JMS 351 | SPORTS, MEDIA AND SOCIETY | 3 |
| Philosophy Elective | 3 | |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMS 316 | ELECTRONIC FIELD PRODUCTION | 3 |
| JMS 335 | PRIN OF ADVERTISING AND PUB RE | 3 |
| JMS 486 | PRACTICUM IN MASS COMMUNICATIO | 3 |
| MKT 351 | MARKETING MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| JMS 250 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| JMS 400 | MEDIA LAW | 3 |
| JMS 401 | RESCH METHDS IN MASS COM | 3 |
| JMS 426 | BROADCAST DOCUMENTARY | 3 |
| JMS 489 | INTERNSHIP IN MASS COMMUNICATI | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| JMS 405 | MEDIA ETHICS | 3 |
| JMS 499 | CAPSTONE OR SENIOR SEMINAR | 3 |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Minor or General Elective | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
Notes:
- Candidates that transfer 12 or more hours of college credit are exempt from UNIV 100 UNIVERSITY SUCCESS; however, the student must take 2 hours of general electives to replace the UNIV course.
- Online Graduation Clearance (to be completed during the graduating semester only).
Student Learning Outcomes
A capstone course is utilized to assess student learning within their last semester of the program. Individual student outcome measures are the ability to:
- demonstrate ways to produce broadcast quality standard VO, VOSOT, packages, and whips;
- produce broadcast quality standard documentaries;
- demonstrate an understanding of media programming and producing a broadcast quality standard newscast.
- publish professional quality journalistic news articles;
- adhere to journalistic standards of timeliness and professionalism;
- produce professional quality journalist photographs and digital news stories;
- produce client satisfactory advertising and public relation campaigns;
- produce strategic and aesthetically pleasing advertising layouts and materials; and
- perform communication audits.