Program Contact: Nick Pietruszkiewicz 203-582-7937
The BA in Sports Communications prepares students for careers working in sports, with opportunities across different disciplines and platforms. Want to sit behind the anchor desk of SportsCenter? Do social media for the NFL or WNBA? Come up with advertising campaigns for your favorite team or athlete? Make the next great sports documentary? The opportunities to work in sports are limitless. This program covers all of it and shines a light on all the opportunities that put you on the sidelines or in the press box.
This program will examine sports issues, teams and media enterprises. Students interested in working as social media content creators, advertising executives, public relations specialists, documentary filmmakers, promoters, audience engagement directors, digital content strategists, media relations representatives and more will find the curriculum in the Sports Communications program will prepare them for these types of careers.
The BA in Sports Communications requires a minimum of 120 credits for degree completion .
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| University Curriculum 1 | 46 | |
| Required School of Communications core courses 2 | ||
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| School of Communications Requirements 3 | ||
| Global Issues and Cultures, select two courses | 6 | |
| Seminars for Success | ||
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Required major courses | ||
| SPCM 101 | Introduction to Sports Communications | 3 |
| JRN 106 | Video Storytelling Techniques | 3 |
| SPCM 201 | Writing for Sports Communications | 3 |
| SPCM 202 | Sports Audiences and Fandom | 3 |
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| SPCM 400-level Senior Seminar or MSS 420 | 3 | |
| SPCM Capstone | 3 | |
| SPCM Electives | ||
| Select four of the following: | 12 | |
| Sports TV Reporting and Anchoring | ||
| Sports Law and Ethics | ||
| Sports Data Visualization and Analytics | ||
| Sports Audio and Podcasting | ||
| Sports Social Media | ||
| Sports Feature Writing | ||
| Sports Newsroom Clinical | ||
| Sports Public Relations (sps 311) | ||
| Communications Career Internship II | ||
| Sports Reporting (SPS 361) | ||
| The Story of Football (SPS 362) | ||
| Sports, Media and Society (SPS 420) | ||
| Other courses with program director's approval | ||
| Free Electives | ||
| Select two courses from across the university | 6 | |
| Minor Courses | 18 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
- 1
Students majoring in Sports Communications will complete their Integrative Capstone Requirement within the major with SPCM capstone. In place of those credits, the student will select an additional unrestricted course in the University Curriculum.
- 2
Core must be completed by end of sophomore year.
- 3
A minimum of 45 credits of a student's total number of credits (includes major, minor, UC, electives, etc.) must be taken at the 200 level or higher.
Minor Requirement
All students majoring in Sports Communications are required to take a minor (typically 18 credits) that will complement their career and/or personal interests. This minor can be from any program either within or outside the School of Communications. However, a student majoring in Sports Communications may not minor in Sports Studies.
Course plans are subject to change. Course availability, potential transfer credits, and course prerequisite completion may influence the final course schedule for each program.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| EN 101 | Introduction to Academic Reading and Writing | 3 |
| FYS 101 | First-Year Seminar | 3 |
| SPCM 101 | Introduction to Sports Communications | 3 |
| COM 120 | Media Industries and Trends | 3 |
| COM 140 | Storytelling | 3 |
| COM 101 | Communications First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EN 102 | Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
| SPCM 201 | Writing for Sports Communications | 3 |
| JRN 106 | Video Storytelling Techniques | 3 |
| COM 130 | Visual Design | 3 |
| MA 170 or MA 176 |
Probability and Data Analysis or Baseball and Statistics |
3 |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPCM 202 | Sports Audiences and Fandom | 3 |
| Minor Course #1 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| COM 201 | Media Career Development | 1 |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPCM Elective #1 | 3 | |
| Minor Course #2 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Lab Science | 4 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 16 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPCM Elective #2 | 3 | |
| SPCM Elective #3 | 3 | |
| Minor Course #3 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| MSS 420 or MSS 450 |
Sports, Media and Society (SPS 420) or Media Studies Seminar |
3 |
| SPCM Elective #4 | 3 | |
| Minor Course #4 | 3 | |
| Global Issues and Cultures Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPCM 495 | 3 | |
| Minor Course #5 | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| University Curriculum Course | 3 | |
| Credits | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| COM 490 | Communications Career Internship | 3 |
| Minor Course #6 | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Free Elective | 3 | |
| Credits | 12 | |
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Student Learning Outcomes
- Acquire disciplinary knowledge and develop foundational skills — including effective communication, inquiry and analysis, critical and creative thinking, recognition of difference and equity, and social and emotional intelligence — that prepare graduates for careers in sports communications and related fields.
- Develop skills in writing, editing, visual media production, audio production, graphic design, and other forms of content creation for various sports communications contexts, such as social media, news reporting, multimedia production, advertising, and public relations.
- Examine historical, cultural, economic, and political forces that have shaped and continue to impact sports communications industries and communities.
- Understand and implement the building of and maintenance of brand management in sports entities including players, teams, companies, and media outlets.
- Identify current trends in sports communications theory and practice through engagement with sports-related publications.
- Gain practical, real-world experience through a variety of experiential learning opportunities, including working with student media groups, on-campus practicums, and external internships with sports organizations and media outlets.
Admission Requirements: School of Communications
The requirements for admission into the undergraduate School of Communications programs are the same as those for admission to Quinnipiac University.
Admission to the university is competitive, and applicants are expected to present a strong college prep program in high school. Prospective first-year students are strongly encouraged to file an application as early in the senior year as possible, and arrange to have first quarter grades sent from their high school counselor as soon as they are available.
For detailed admission requirements, including required documents, please visit the Admissions page of this catalog.