Undergraduate Degree in Sports Communication: Career Outlook and Popular Undergrad College Choices
An undergraduate degree in sports communication can provide someone with the skills they need for a variety of sports-related careers. Before starting a degree in this discipline, it is important for students to take the time to learn what this degree entails. Not doing so may result in dissatisfaction with the major halfway through the degree or being unhappy with the career outlook. Sports communication teaches both the sports side and the business and communication side.
Colleges and Universities
Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio offers a degree in sports communication. This degree focuses on fast-paced immersion in print journalism, culture studies and rhetoric, broadcast and public relations. Admissions include an application, transcripts and testing scores, and ACT or SAT scores. Undergraduate students pay $13,283 per semester for tuition. Other fees, such as a $150 technology fee, may apply.
Indiana University Bloomington offers a degree in this field. Students wanting to get into this program must have a GPA of 2.5 and at least 26 credit hours. This degree is geared towards those wanting a career in print or broadcasting. Indiana residents taking 12 to 17 credit hours pay $3,328.44 while non-residents pay $9,834.60.
Newman University also offers a degree for this vocation. Students will have to fill out an application, send in all transcripts and test scores, and ACT or SAT scores. Students pay $662 per credit hour. Other fees may apply depending on the student’s circumstances.
Common Classes
Those pursuing an undergraduate degree in sports communication can choose an Associate’s degree or a Bachelor’s degree depending on individual goals. An Associate’s degree student may take the following classes: technical writing, digital imaging, news writing, TV and radio production, video production, ethics in journalism and radio broadcast techniques.
A Bachelor’s degree student may take the following classes: All of the above Associate’s degree classes, as well as video production techniques, media ethics, introduction to animation, history of sports media and broadcast writing.
Career Outlook
From now through the year 2018, there is an expected seven percent increase in jobs in sports communication. In 2008, the median hourly wage for television and radio announcers was $12.95.
Popular career choices for those with a sports communication degree include broadcast apprentice, sports editing assistant, and statistics assistant. Other possible career paths for those holding this degree include sports event planning, coaching and officiating, stadium management, sports statistician, professional sports teams and leagues, promotion, sports broadcasting and writing, non-profit and education, sports information director, and sports recreation.
An undergraduate degree in sports communication opens many doors. Those seeking a career in this field have many paths they can choose to follow and can choose to specialize or even further their education in the future. With an expected increase in job prospects, even in our current economy, those interested in sports communication will be putting themselves in a good position by pursuing an education in this field.
Resources
Ashland University. (2011). Sport Communication. Retrieved on March 17, 2011 from Ashland University: https://www.ashland.edu/programs/sport-communication
Indiana University Bloomington. (2011). Sports Communication – Broadcast. Retrieved on March 17, 2011 from Indiana University Bloomington: https://www.hper.indiana.edu/degrees/sportbroadcast.shtml
Newman University. (2011). Sports Communication. Retrieved on March 17, 2011 from Newman University: https://www.newmanu.edu/studynu/undergraduate/sports-communication
