You will learn how to cover a sports beat, produce both game and feature multimedia stories and understand how sports intersects with politics and society at large. You will also have access to the Journalism Department’s state-of-the-art broadcast studio and high-caliber equipment.
At the conclusion of your studies, you will have earned a BA in Journalism with a Concentration in Sports Journalism.
Concentration Requirements
The Sports Journalism concentration includes many of the courses that are part of the Journalism major, but requires a few specialized courses that are designed to help students develop sports broadcasting skills and a critical understanding of how sports intersects with society at large.
The requirements listed below apply to students who started at UMass Amherst in Fall 2018 or later. If you started at UMass Amherst prior to Fall 2018, please contact your advisor. By completing the following sequence of courses, you will also satisfy all of the requirements needed for the Journalism major.
- Recommended: Take FYS 191SBS: Journalism Success—Thriving as a Major (1 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 201: Introduction to Journalism (4 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 300: Newswriting and Reporting (4 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 460: Journalism Ethics (3 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 332: Sports Journalism (4 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 392T: Issues in Sports (3 cr.)
- Take JOURNAL 398: Practicum (1-18 cr.)
- This allows you to receive course credit for an internship involving at least 120 hours of work
- Take one concepts and critical thinking course from the following menu:
- JOURNAL 326: The Politics of Sport (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 328: Sports in Film, Journalism and Literature (3 cr.)
- Take one multimedia/visual course from the following menu:
- JOURNAL 277: Sports Talk Live (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 365: Live Digital Sports Production I (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 390C: Live Digital Sports Production II (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 444: Short-Form Documentary (4 cr.)
- Take another multimedia/visual course from the following menu:
- JOURNAL 277: Sports Talk Live (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 301: Introduction to Multimedia Reporting (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 333: Introduction to Visual Storytelling (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 334: Introduction to Radio and Podcasting (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 339: Video Content Creation (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 340: Multimedia Journalism (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 343: Data-Driven Storytelling (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 365: Live Digital Sports Production I (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 390C: Live Digital Sports Production II (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 435: Web Design for Journalists (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 444: Short-Form Documentary (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 495BP: Broadcast Performance (4 cr.)
- JOURNAL 495N: Video Content Creation II (4 cr.)
- Take one international course from the following menu:
- JOURNAL 225: Readings in Journalism (3 cr.)
- JOURNAL 310: International Journalism (4 cr.)
- One course, departmentally and IPO approved, taken during a study abroad experience
- One foreign language course at any level
- One course from the SBS International and Intercultural Course List
- Take one additional Journalism course that is at least 3 credits
- Complete another area of study that requires at least 15 credits, such as a second major, a minor, or a certificate
How to Apply
Applying to the Sports Journalism concentration is easy. If you are a current UMass student, just set up a meeting with a journalism advisor and let them know that you are interested in joining the SJC. If you are applying to UMass as a high school student or transfer student, you’ll mark Journalism on your application. Then, you can let your advisor know you would like to join the SJC during New Student Orientation.
Associated Faculty
The Director of the Sports Journalism concentration is Greeley Kyle. Steve Fox also regularly teaches its core courses. Part-time faculty who bring years of professional experience to the classroom also help teach some core and elective courses in the Sports Journalism concentration.
Additional Resources
Students are encouraged to gain experience through campus media outlets. Newspaper, radio, TV, and multimedia outlets are available to journalism students and specifically give SJC students experience covering a beat or respective sport. Students interested in broadcast media can also gain experience in our studio with live shows.
High school students looking to get ahead can also apply for our two-week, hands-on Sports Broadcasting pre-college program, which regularly takes place during the summer. You will be part of a live streamed sports talk show; anchor and report on a TV sportscast; learn how to generate story ideas, do interviews, write scripts, run camera, video/audio editing and on-air/on-camera presentation; and cover actual sports stories in the Amherst area to gain experience in the field.