Undergraduate Programs
Degree Programs
Sports Journalism Track Requirements
I. ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.20
- Completion of 26 credit hours which must include the following:
- ENG W131: English Composition (grade C or higher)
- JOUR J110: Foundations of Journalism & Mass Communications (grade C or higher)
- One semester of a foreign language
- One semester of mathematics (grade C or higher)
II. FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS REQUIREMENTS
- English Composition: ENG W131 (3 credit hours)
- Speech: COMM R110 (3 credit hours)
- Mathematics (3 credits hours)
- Choose from MATH M118, M119, 151, 153, 154, 163 or 221.
- Foreign Language (10 credit hours)
- Students must complete first year college proficiency in a single, foreign language
- Statistics (3 credit hours) Choose one from the following:
- ECON E270 Intro to Statistical Theory in Economics (pre-req: MATH M11
- PSY B305 Statistics (pre-req PSY B104 or B105 and M118 or higher)
- SOC R359 Intro to Sociological Statistics (pre-req: SOC R100)
- STAT 113 Statistics and Society
- STAT 301 Elementary Statistical Methods I (pre-req MATH 111)
- SPEA K300 Stat Techniques (recommended pre-req: M111)
III. DISTRIBUTION REQUIREMENTS (12 Courses)
- US History HIST (3 credit hours)
- American Political Science POLS (3 credit hours)
- Economics ECON (3 credit hours)
- Literature or Fine Arts (3 credit hours)
- History or Appreciation (3 credit hours)
- Arts & Humanities (3 credit hours)
Choose 2 courses from: American Studies, Afro-American Studies, Classical Studies, Comparative Literature, Folklore, Literature, Music Appreciation, Music History, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Social & Historical Studies
Choose 2 courses from: Anthropology, Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography*, History, Linguistics, Political Science, Psychology*, Sociology, Women's Studies, Natural & Mathematical Sciences
Choose 2 courses from: Astronomy, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography*, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology*, Statistics
*See the Approved Distribution Courses listed by department in the School of Journalism Bulletin.
IV. CULTURE STUDIES (2 Courses)
- One course from List A (3 credit hours)
- One course from List C (3 credit hours)
See the Approved Culture Studies Courses in the School of Journalism Bulletin.
V. SPORTS JOURNALISM MAJOR (47 credit hours)
Must have C or better in all courses
- Computer Methods in Journalism, J100 (3 credit hours)
- Introduction to Sports in Society, J150 (3 credit hours)
- Introduction to Sports Journalism:Controversy, Conflict and Characters, J152 (3 credit hours)
- Foundations of Journalism & Mass Communications, J110 (3 credit hours)
- Reporting, Writing & Editing I, J200 (3 credit hours)
- Reporting, Writing & Editing II, J201 (3 credit hours)
- Visual Communications, J210 (3 credit hours)
- Communications Law, J300 (3 credit hours)
One of the following:
- Sports Writing or Sports Broadcasting
- Issues in Sports Journalism
- The Business of Sports
- Sports Research Elective
- Multi-Media Sports Journalism
One of the following required:
- Internet Sports Production or Broadcast Sports Production, J463 (3 credit hours)
- Careers in Sports Journalism, J460 (1 credit hour)
- Sports Internship, J492 (1 credit hour)
Select one elective from the list below:
- J3XX, Sports Photojournalism
- J321, Principles of Public Relations
- J3XX, Sports Journalism History (3 credit hours)
NOTE: Courses used for English composition & 100-level fundamental skills foreign language may not be used to fulfill any other requirements. Also courses used to fulfill distribution requirements may also be used to fulfill Academic Minor requirements.
VI. ADVANCED COURSES
12 to 18 credits at the 300/400 level outside of Journalism/Telecommunication are required. (A total of 36 credits at the 300/400 level are required for graduation.)
VII. ACADEMIC MINOR (Total of 15-18 credits)
Minimum of 15 credit hours, C or better; courses may also count toward other requirements; minimum 2.0 GPA overall; choose from approved minors in other academic departments.
VIII. ELECTIVES (Balance of 123 credit requirement)
A maximum of 10 credit hours may be chosen from any degree-granting school of the university. Other electives are to be chosen from the Schools of Liberal Arts, Science or Journalism or from approved courses in the School of Journalism Bulletin.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS (Total of 123 credits)
GPA of at least 2.00, 98 credits must be from the Schools of Liberal Arts, Science, or Journalism, and 36 credits must be at the 300/400 level. The School of Journalism will honor the university's FX policy for up to 15 credit hours. A maximum of 36 credits of Journalism and Telecommunications courses will count toward the 123 credits needed for graduation. Only 12 credit hours from another institution may count in the major.
APPLIED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (1 credit)
Students must complete a professional or student journalistic enterprise-or internship. Opportunities are available in summer internships with professional newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, public relations firms, sports organizations, teams, IRL, or the NCAA. Faculty advisors will met with students to access these applied experiences.