Program Contact: Ben Bogardus 203-582-3417
The Master of Science in Sports Journalism prepares students from all academic and professional backgrounds for careers in broadcast/multimedia sports and in traditional and emerging media companies that focus on reporting and analysis of sports.
The curriculum prepares students for careers in local, cable and network television news and for websites with strong visual and digital production components.
Students are challenged to develop story ideas through reasoning and observation, to analyze data and public documents, to wisely conduct interviews, to learn the technical skills to acquire and edit video and audio, and, above all, to write with discipline, poise and creative vitality. In short, our program prepares students for the daily test-of-strength that is sports reporting in the 21st century regardless of the distribution platform.
Students who successfully complete the program will be properly trained for a number of career opportunities including on-camera reporters and anchors for broadcast, cable and network television news; play-by-play announcers, analysts and talk show hosts for terrestrial, online and satellite radio; producers for broadcast, cable and network television news; producers for news websites and apps; and writers for broadcast news and websites.
Courses are offered in our professional all-digital broadcast production environment. Our facilities include two high-definition studios, two podcast studios, two LiveU units for performing live shots in the field, two 4K video editing suites, HD editing suites for single or group projects and other areas designed to support both studio and remote productions.
Video cameras, audio recorders, lights and other gear required to capture interviews and events in the field are available to students through our well-stocked and expertly maintained equipment inventory. In addition, students will have access to the university's state-of-the-art M&T Bank Arena for the coverage of games and interviews.
MS in Sports Journalism
To earn the master’s degree, students must complete 36 credits with a minimum 3.00 GPA and no grade less than a C. Any course with a grade of less than C must be retaken. Full-time students can complete the program in one calendar year. Part-time students can do it in two.
Program of Study
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| JRN 504 | Digital Essentials | 3 |
| JRN 524 | TV Reporting | 3 |
| JRN 562 | Sports Law and Ethics | 3 |
| JRN 563 | Sports Analytics | 3 |
| JRN 564 | Presenting and Producing Radio Sports | 3 |
| JRN 565 | Presenting and Producing Television Sports: Remote | 3 |
| JRN 566 | Presenting and Producing Television Sports: Studio | 3 |
| JRN 574 | Crafting the Sports Feature | 3 |
| JRN 589 | Critical Issues in Sports | 3 |
| JRN 595 | Sports Clinical | 3 |
| JRN 601 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| Elective Courses | 3 | |
| Select one elective from those available in consultation with your adviser. Students may take any course in any School of Communications graduate program with permission of program director. Electives are offered on an as-needed basis and may not be available during a given student’s program of study. | ||
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Courses and curriculum requirements are subject to change.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
- Understand professional sports journalistic practices, ethical standards and technologies and be able to apply reason to develop ideas within these structures.
- Analyze information based on sports journalistic practices of research, interviews and observation.
- Evaluate information in determining the story’s narrative structure and reach via social media and other applications.
- Report and compose a story, either visual, multimedia or text, that informs, enlightens, entertains and is useful to the reader or audience within professional sports journalistic reporting and writing practices and ethical standards.
Admission
To qualify for admission, candidates must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning and have a minimum GPA of 3.00. Journalism experience is not required.
Admission to the MS in Sports Journalism program is competitive and based on undergraduate performance as measured by GPA, experience in any career field for students returning to school and the required documents listed below.
Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and students apply to enter during the fall. Applications are evaluated once all materials and fees are received by Quinnipiac.
A complete application consists of the following:
- application form
- application fee
- two professional recommendations
- personal statement explaining decision to pursue graduate study
- current resume
- portfolio of writing or work samples (i.e., college papers, videos, audio clips or published work of any kind)
- official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work