Sports Media

Perfect blend of practice and theory

Sports is a multi-billion dollar industry. Get the training and insight to work everywhere from professional beats to the front offices of teams followed by millions.

Learn the practical elements of being a broadcaster or journalist in an ever-growing market and the history of sports to understand the context of what you'll be covering.

Discuss the contribution of Jackie Robinson and how sports and race have become intertwined in our society. Look at the gender gap and monumental moments that have helped close it. Debate current events and how they're covered by social and traditional media.

Broaden your knowledge of the world around you and better understand important topics with one of our interdisciplinary minors, like film studies or africana studies.

Real-world experience

Pick up a camera, get behind a microphone or take statistics during collegiate games. Work closely with the Sports Information Department and help with game management, promotion and coverage.

Our students have interned with Minor League Baseball teams, the Little League Hall of Fame and World Series, and at the Olympics.

After graduation, you'll have choices of employment from sports reporter to the front office of professional teams to college athletics sports information.

Communication graduates have recently found jobs with the following companies:

Recent graduates have continued their studies at:

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts in Communications. Susquehanna offers a major in communications with three possible emphases: digital multimedia (with tracks in broadcasting, journalism, or sports media), strategic communications (with tracks in advertising and marketing communications, or public relations) and communication arts (with tracks in personal and organizational communication or communication studies). Majors complete university Central Curriculum requirements, plus 46 to 58 semester hours of courses in a selected emphasis and track. These include introductory courses, practica for learning skills and specific emphases requirements. A grade of C- or better is required for any course to apply to the major or minor. Courses may count toward only one emphasis or minor.

The department also expects communications majors and minors to participate each semester in related cocurricular activities. Options include WQSU-FM radio; The Quill student newspaper; The Lanthorn student yearbook; Sterling Communications, the student-run public relations firm; the Paul Dannelley chapter of PRSSA, and other activities supervised by department faculty.

Double-counting restriction: Students in the communications department may with department head permission, complete more than one major and/or minor in the department. In such cases, students will need to meet with the department head to discuss substitute courses.

Semester Hours	View Full Course Catalog >>
Broadcasting Track. Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in WQSU radio operations and successfully complete the following courses: 24 Department Requirements
2 COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators
4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
4 COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory
4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
4 COMM-481 Media Law
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
26 Broadcasting Requirements
4 COMM-171 Introduction to Media
2 COMM-182 Writing for New Media
4 COMM-277 Audio Production and Media Performance
4 COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Video Production
4 COMM-379 Interactive and Gaming Media
4 COMM-382 Intermediate Digital Multimedia Production
4 COMM-482 Professional Digital Multimedia Production
Journalism Track. Students fulfill the university Central Curriculum requirements, participate fully in various media activities and successfully complete the following courses: 24 Department Requirements
2 COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators
4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
4 COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory
4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
4 COMM-481 Media Law
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
22 Journalism Requirements
4 COMM-131 Introduction to Journalism
4 COMM-231 Newswriting and Reporting
4 COMM-331 Editing
4 COMM-435 Feature Writing
4 ARTS-243 Digital Photography
or COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Video Production
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
Sports Media Track. Students prepare for careers in sports media and/or sports public relations/promotion by fulfilling the university Central Curriculum requirements, participating in sports-related communications practica, and successfully completing the following courses: 24 Department Requirements
2 COMM-100 Grammar for Communicators
4 COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media
4 COMM-190 Communication/Media Theory
4 COMM-192 Public Speaking
4 COMM-201 Ethics and Leadership
4 COMM-481 Media Law
1 COMM-501 Practicum
1 COMM-501 Practicum
24 Sports Media Requirements
2 COMM-141 Sports Journalism
2 COMM-241 Sports Media Relations and Promotion
4 COMM-277 Audio Production and Media Performance
4 COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Video Production
2 COMM-341 Sports Media I: Contemporary Issues
2 COMM-342 Sports Media II: Historical/Critical Analysis
4 COMM-382 Intermediate Digital Multimedia Production
4 COMM-482 Professional Digital Multimedia Production
or COMM-435 Feature Writing
For practicum the department requires participation in a co-curricular activity with a sports focus, such as serving as sports director or play-by-play game announcers for WQSU radio, serving as sports editor for the The Quill newspaper or Lanthorn yearbook, etc. Practicum opportunities are also available through collaboration with the Athletics Department (e.g. operating electronic scoreboards, assisting with press box management, etc.). Though not required, it is strongly recommended that students complete a sports-related internship with a television station, minor league team, etc. In addition, students are encouraged to take one or more of the following courses: ARTG-251 Computer Applications in Graphic Design, ARTS-243 Digital Photography, COMM-182 Writing for New Media, COMM-323 Computer Design Skills, INFS-174 Data Collection and Modeling, and MKTG-280 Marketing.

Courses selected require a grade of C- or higher and may not count toward more than one minor.

Minor in Broadcasting. Students are expected to participate in WQSU radio operations and successfully complete 26 semester hours: COMM-101 Essentials of Digital Media, COMM-182 Writing for New Media, COMM-171 Introduction to Media, COMM-277 Audio Production and Media Performance, COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Media Production, COMM-481 Media Law, and COMM-501 (two practica-one in radio and one of the student's choice).

Minor in Journalism. Students are expected to participate in The Quill and/or The Lanthorn or other department activities appropriate to their interests and successfully complete 22 semester hours: COMM-131 Introduction to Journalism, COMM-231 Newswriting and Reporting, COMM-331 Editing, COMM-435 Feature Writing, either COMM-282 Fundamentals of Digital Media Production or ARTS-243 Digital Photography, and COMM-501 (two practica).

Minor in Sports Media. Students must successfully complete 22 credits in Communication courses: COMM-101- Essentials of Digital Media, COMM-141-Sports Journalism, COMM-241-Sports Media Relations and Promotion, COMM-277-Audio Production and Media Performance, COMM-282-Fundamentals of Television Production, COMM-341-Sports Media I: Contemporary Issues, COMM-342-Sports Media II: Historical/Critical Analysis, and COMM-501 (two practica).