Sports Journalism, MA
Combine your passion for sports with the craft of storytelling. In Arizona State University's Master of Arts in sports journalism program, you'll learn to report, produce and communicate across media platforms while covering major collegiate and professional sports. Through immersive, hands-on courses, you'll build the skills and experience needed to advance your career in the dynamic sports media industry.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
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.
Spring and Summer applications are only open to current undergraduate Cronkite students in the accelerated master's program.
Degree description
Sports media is among media's fastest-growing sectors. The Master of Arts in sports journalism is a 33-credit-hour, three-semester program in a city with five professional teams that provides extensive preparation for a career in sports media and communication.
You begin this program by developing multimedia skills through course work in writing, video, audio and photography, working toward producing compelling sports content for today's multiplatform audiences. From there, you choose advanced classes in sports reporting, videography, podcast production, live sports production, play-by-play delivery, narrative writing, documentary video and more before joining the award-winning sports bureau experience.
You learn game-changing content skills, fresh reporting approaches and foundations in ethics, law and leadership in as few as 12 months.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (MCO 570)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Electives or Research (6 credit hours) Other Requirement (9 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students should see the academic unit for a complete list of approved electives.
MCO 503 Media Law (3)
MCO 525 Media Ethics Leadership (3)
MCO 540 Sports Reporting (3)
MCO 554 Media Models, Organizations and Leadership (3)
MCO 502 Multimedia Storytelling (8)
MCO 504 Cronkite Master's Seminar (1)
MCO 570 Capstone (6)
Students must complete a total of eight credit hours of MCO 502, which is offered at variable credit hours and can be taken multiple times.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- 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.
- Create sports journalism for mass audiences using professional tools, technology, and techniques.
- Critically evaluate information, content, and research in professional contexts.
- Evaluate leadership approaches across professional media contexts.
Produce clear, accurate, and engaging written content that meets professional standards.Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information The Cronkite School's graduate committee reviews complete and on-time applications on a rolling basis, with priority for admission and funding for applications received by Dec. 1. Spring and summer applications are open to only current undergraduate Cronkite students in the accelerated master's program.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applicants should have a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. Students with an IELTS band score of 7.50 or a Duolingo score of 135 are also considered.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final* |
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
*A priority deadline means that applications submitted and completed before the priority deadline will receive priority consideration. Applications submitted after the priority deadlines will be reviewed in the order in which they were completed and on a space-available basis. An application is complete after all materials are received by Admission Services.
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.
Studying abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
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 recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
A master's in sports journalism prepares you for roles such as sports reporter, editor, producer, commentator, sideline analyst or podcast host. With your multimedia skills and leadership experience, you'll be ready for high-impact roles that connect storytelling, fans and communities across the global sports industry.
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 302
cronkitegrad@asu.edu
602-496-5555
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.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
