Sports Strategic Communication, MA
Ready to lead in the fast-growing world of sports media? Study in Phoenix, one of the nation's premier sports markets, as you develop expertise in communication strategy and digital storytelling. You'll be well positioned to manage brands, content and campaigns across the sports 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.
Degree description
Sports Strategic Communication, MA description
The Master of Arts program in sports strategic communication prepares you to lead communications in an increasingly complex, global sports environment. The program emphasizes advanced strategy, leadership and innovation in media, branding and organizational communication. Through project-based coursework and partnerships with industry professionals, you learn to design campaigns, manage cross-platform teams, and guide organizational storytelling at strategic levels. You explore analytics-driven decision-making, crisis and reputation management, stakeholder engagement and executive communication within sports organizations.
The program develops you into a leader who is equipped for management roles in professional sports teams, leagues, athletic departments, agencies and global sports brands. You emerge ready to influence the direction of the sports communication industry with integrity, creativity and data-informed strategy.
GI Bill® benefits
This new program is not yet approved for use with GI Bill® benefits.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/.
Why study sports strategic communication at ASU?
Go beyond sports reporting ¿ focus on strategic communication, branding and audience engagement, building the skills that organizations rely on. Take on immersive client work with sports organizations and brands through the award-winning Cronkite Agency. You'll learn from faculty with experience as communication professionals, marketers and media leaders across the industry.
Additional details
At the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, you'll have numerous opportunities to get involved through student media, clubs and organizations. The school connects you to media internships and job opportunities, hosts recruiter visits and more.
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 (3 credit hours) Other Requirements (21 credit hours) Electives (3 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
MCO 538 Strategic Sports Storytelling (3)
MCO 502 Media Skills (8)
MCO 503 Media Law (3)
MCO 504 Cronkite Master's Seminar (1)
MCO 525 Media Ethics Leadership (3)
MCO 554 Media Models, Organizations and Leadership (3)
MCO 561 Defining the Digital Audience (3)
MCO 570 Capstone (6)
Students should consult their program advisor for the complete list of electives.
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 are eligible to apply to the program if they have earned a bachelor's or master's degree 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. Applicants are required to submit: Additional Application Information
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 if taken before January 21, 2026 in a testing center. Students with an IELTS band score of 7.50 or a Duolingo score of 135 will also be considered.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final* |
*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.
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.
Study abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent delivered by ASU's Global Education Office, and programs just for Cronkite students that encourage content creation and sports communication opportunities (including sports communication experiences with Real Madrid, brand content creation opportunities at the Olympics, and more). Students may also pursue international internships for program credit.
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
Careers this sports strategic communication master's degree prepares you for
Graduates are prepared for careers in teams, leagues, agencies and sports organizations thanks to the hands-on training they received in public relations, digital marketing, media relations and sports storytelling. Possible career paths include:
- athlete representation
- communications management
- content marketing
- media relations
- sports brand strategy
- sports public relations
- sports social media management
- team and league communication
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
602-496-5055
Admission deadlines
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.
