Sports Journalism, BA
Explore your passion for sports and telling the stories behind the game. This Bachelor of Arts in sports journalism degree at Arizona State University prepares you to cover the action and the issues shaping sports today. At the nation's top sports media school, you'll gain hands-on experience reporting in a city with five professional sports teams.
Quick facts
Locations
Courses
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
Sports media is one of the media industry's fastest-growing sectors, with continued growth across multimedia outlets; social media; podcasting; and team, league and conference media platforms.
This Bachelor of Arts program in sports journalism provides unparalleled preparation for careers in sports media through coursework in sports writing, sports photography, TV sports reporting, live sports production, play-by-play coverage, documentary production and more.
You complete multiple professional experiences that advance your skills and portfolio. A dedicated career team connects you to internship opportunities with professional sports teams such as the Diamondbacks and the Suns, and sports media outlets such as ESPN and Fox Sports. You also participate in the school's semester-long immersive learning experiences reporting from award-winning sports bureaus where you have the opportunity to cover teams and events in the NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL, NASCAR, PGA, LPGA and Division I athletics.
Through this program, you have the opportunity to apply to the school's accelerated bachelor's degree and master's degree program, which allows for the completion of both degrees in as few as four years. You can also qualify for ASU's Barrett, The Honors College.
Why study sports journalism at ASU?
As part of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, you gain real-world experience through immersive learning in real newsroom and sports environments. You produce professional-quality work and develop a strong portfolio with work employers want.
The Cronkite School stands out as a premier place to study sports media, based in a metro area with five professional teams. You'll have opportunities to cover high school, collegiate and professional events, such as NCAA championships and Major League Baseball's annual spring training. You can also pursue global reporting experiences, such as covering the Olympics, or international sports in places like Rwanda, Japan and Spain. Along the way, you'll learn from award-winning journalists and industry leaders while connecting with the #CronkiteNation network, a community of alumni who work across sports media and mentor current students. A dedicated career services team helps connect you to internships, freelance projects and full-time roles in sports media and beyond.
You emerge from the program ready to inform communities, produce compelling content and contribute to meaningful conversations in sports and society.
Courses
Explore a sample list of courses you may take in this program.
| Sample courses |
|---|
| MCO 101 Grammar for Mass Communication |
| MCO 120 Media and Society |
| MCO 125 Developing Media Content |
| JMC 201 Media Writing |
| MCO 205 Information Gathering |
| MCO 225 Digital Media Foundations |
Course checksheet and curriculum archive
The curriculum checksheet displays this program's required courses and other requirements you must complete for graduation.
Current ASU students, see how your courses can apply to another major and find out how to change your major (opens in new window).
Already completed some college courses? Build on your success.
If you earned college credit outside ASU, our transfer tools map out your progress towards a degree and help you plan next steps.
See how your credits may apply (opens in new window)What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of sports journalism in media work.
- Create sports journalism for mass audiences using professional tools, technology, and techniques.
- Critically evaluate information, content, and research in professional contexts.
- Produce clear, accurate, and engaging written content that meets professional standards.
Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of sports journalism in media work.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
First year (opens in new window) | Transfer (opens in new window) | International (opens in new window) | Readmission (opens in new window)
English proficiency requirements for international student admission:
A current ASU student has no additional requirements for changing majors.
Students should visit the Change of Major form (opens in new window) for information about how to change a major to this program.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
When you pursue concurrent degrees (also known as a “double major”), you earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. Working with your academic advisor, you can create your own concurrent degree combination. Some combinations are not possible due to high levels of overlap in curriculum.
Sports and sports fans create one of the most globalized industries that unite cultures through passion for a favorite team, athlete or game. Study abroad programs shed light on how amazing stories of sport, triumph and defeat connect us all. Students apply practical skills and learn about international sports firsthand by covering regional teams or large-scale sporting events such as the Olympics.
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students receive financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimate
Build the career and future you want
Our graduates are prepared for a variety of career paths, including:
| Career | Growth | Median Salary | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communications Specialist | -0.3% | $76,910 | Learn more |
| Editor | -1.1% | $77,920 | Learn more |
| Executive Producer | 4.0% | $90,360 | Learn more |
| Film Editor | 3.7% | $75,420 | Learn more |
| News Anchor | -7.6% | $47,340 | Learn more |
| News Reporter | -5.9% | $62,200 | Learn more |
| Photographer | -0.7% | $44,660 | Learn more |
| Production Assistant | 3.9% | $73,620 | Learn more |
| Public Relations Specialist | 1.8% | $74,750 | Learn more |
Example job titles and salaries listed are not necessarily entry level, and students should take into consideration how years of experience and geographical location may affect pay scales. Some jobs also may require advanced degrees, certifications or state-specific licensure.
Data obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET) under sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Labor/Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA).
More about careers
Graduates pursue careers as sports reporters, producers, editors, commentators, sideline analysts, podcast hosts and social media producers. This degree also prepares you for graduate studies or law school, equipping you with versatile skills in writing, critical thinking, interviewing and storytelling that apply across media and communication fields.
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
|
CRONK 222
attendcronkite@asu.edu
602-496-5055
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
