sports media phd

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Sports journalism has come a long way from its roots in game coverage and analysis. With the evolution of digital media and niche outlets, there are more opportunities than ever for talented journalists passionate about sports journalism. And many of the top sports journalists today are Medill alumni, from Mike Wilbon and Christine Brennan to J.A. Adande and Mike Greenberg.

About the specialization

Professional sports is a multibillion dollar industry that involves business, entertainment, lifestyle and a host of other related topics. From stadium financing to personal scandals to the rise and fall of dynasties, there’s no limit to the number and type of stories you’ll pursue as a sports journalist. Few journalistic disciplines afford the range that sports writing does: deadline journalism, features, profiles, investigative, historical and first-person pieces, all with multimedia components.

Why Sports Media?

Sports coverage is among the most widely consumed journalism around, with many professional athletes afforded celebrity status and professional teams raking in huge profits. Many fans are almost as passionate about media coverage of their teams than they are about the teams themselves. Colorful personalities and egos abound from the court and the field to the front office and beyond, giving sports journalists ample fodder.

What will I learn?

You’ll explore all of the sports genres through reading, lecture and discussion, and hone your writing skills in a peer workshop format. Because sports doesn’t happen in the classroom, you’ll have front-row access to both sports media professionals and the athletes they cover. Past trips have included visits to the Washington Wizards and the Orlando Magic and meetings at ESPN and The Washington Post.

When your work is published by clients of Medill News Service, you’ll develop a professional journalism portfolio that will help advance your career. You’ll also be paired with a mentor who’s part of Medill’s extensive alumni network. Your mentor will provide coaching and career advice throughout your program.

Watch an overview of the Sports Media specialization

Your Medill Experience

Our faculty include leading national sports journalists who teach you the ins and outs of reporting from the field, locker room, press box and broadcast booth. 

Chicago has some of the most memorable teams in history and a thriving mix of professional and collegiate sports. From the Bears, Bulls,  and the 2016 World Series Champion Chicago Cubs, to the White Sox, Blackhawks, MLS's Chicago Fire and WNBA's Chicago Sky.

Medill Explores

Medill Explores allows you to spend a week immersed in your specialization. Previous sports opportunities have included reporting from the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, experiencing a Denver Nuggets game as a reporter and covering events before the Super Bowl in San Francisco.

Medill Fridays

We welcome renowned journalists to campus to talk with students, expand their skills and discuss careers, and we host workshops as part of this program. 

In addition to traditional news outlets, sports media pros may find career opportunities at non-mainstream media organizations and in marketing communications roles at sports franchises and related organizations. Medill alumni are in top positions in sports media outlets across the country, and you’ll tap into that network as you launch your career.

J.A. Adande (BSJ92)

Adande was a columnist for ESPN.com for nine years, covering the NBA as well as working as a sideline reporter for NBA games, and he served as a panelist for ESPN’s “Around the Horn.” He has brought his knowledge, talent and network home to his alma mater where he directs our sports media specialization.

Christine Brennan (BSJ80, MSJ81)

A professor of practice at Medill, Brennan is award-winning sports columnist for USA Today and a commentator for "ABC News," "PBS NewsHour," CNN and National Public Radio. She also is a best-selling author and a nationally known speaker.

Michael Wilbon (BSJ80)

Wilbon is co-host of ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" and a professor of practice at Medill. Prior to joining ESPN full-time, Wilbon enjoyed a 30-year career at The Washington Post, including 20 years as a sports columnist.

Lynden Ostrander (MSJ14) National Writer and Content Creator

Ostrander writes articles and curates content for this top-tier publication.

Astasia Williams (MSJ17) North America Social Brand Manager, Nike

Astasia Williams is the social brand manager at Nike, covering all of North America. Prior to her work at Nike, Williams was co-chair of the Black Engagement Network for the Washington Commanders football team.

Mitch Goldich (MSJ14) Writer and NFL editor/producer

Goldich helps manage Sports Illustrated's social media feeds and works on podcasts and videos.

Sports Media and Communications Track

The Sports Media and Communications track is a specialized series of courses for graduate students interested in sports media.

The Newhouse School is the proud alma mater of many of the top people in all areas of sports media. To foster the school’s strength in sports communications, we developed the Sports Media and Communications Track (SMC), a specialized track for graduate students in  broadcast and digital journalism ; magazine, news and digital journalism ; public relations ; and  television, radio and film .

Requirements:

As a graduate student in SMC, you complete the required coursework for your degree plus additional required and elective classes in sports communications. These include:

• Sports Media and Communications Proseminar—topics include cross-media coverage of sports, practical experience in interviewing, writing and reporting for sports and guest lectures by professionals in the field.
• Six required credit hours of electives from a selection of sports communications courses, which include Sports Writing, Radio Sports Broadcasting, Television Sports Anchoring and Reporting, Sports Production, Television Play-by-play, Sports Documentary and more. 
• A capstone internship in the sports communications field. 

Your SMC classroom experiences will be enhanced by numerous speakers and guest lectures from leaders in sports communications, on-campus opportunities with Syracuse Athletics, ACC Network, CitrusTV, the Daily Orange and several radio stations as well alumni connections and career opportunities.

If you want to be part of the Sports Media and Communications Track, indicate your interest on your application for admission to the master’s program.

Olivia Stomski  oversees the sports media and communications track and is director of the  Newhouse Sports Media Center .

Sports @ Annenberg

Sports are both an important window into culture and society and an increasingly dynamic site of media production, content creation and audience consumption. Through all of USC Annenberg’s sports-related courses as well as the two minors in Sports Media Industries and Sports Media Studies, students delve into the complex social issues concerning sports and social change, produce compelling sports media content, learn about the broader socio-economic and political context within which sports take place, and study public relations and brand management strategies for promoting athletes and teams. These popular courses and degree programs are taught by internationally-renowned faculty, including both leading academic scholars and outstanding professors of professional practice.

USC Annenberg’s position at an NCAA Division I institution with world-class on-campus sports facilities and its location in Los Angeles, one of the world’s major global cities, provide a perfect laboratory for understanding, researching and exploring the economic, political and social significance of sports. Southern California itself is home to over ten women’s and men’s professional sport franchises, an international hub for broadcasting and the entertainment industries, as well as the site for many of the agencies who represent players and teams. In addition, Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympic Games and Wallis Annenberg Hall will serve as the main media center for the world’s press.

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Sports media Industries

• Expose yourself to a range of professional settings, activities, and challenges related to the growth of sports media.
• Navigate the vast array of mediated content in one of the most popular forms of live and participatory entertainment.
• Assess the challenges for journalistic norms and storytelling techniques and new opportunities for the business of sports media management.
• Learn to cover sports utilizing diverse platforms.

Sports Media Studies

• Understand the historical, social, cultural, ethical, and political roles sport plays in society and global culture.
• Decode the meanings sport takes on in a variety of mediated communication considering the production, consumption, and distribution of content in film, television, streaming services, online and social media.
• Assess sport’s value as a vehicle for social change and a site to explore the construction of identity, including gender, race and sexual orientation.
• Situate sport as a fundamental feature of entertainment and news media in relation to events, the construction of celebrity and the prevalence of sports fandom.

USC Annenberg offers more than 15 sports-related courses across the communication, journalism and public relations fields. Courses are taught by top faculty scholars as well as sports media professionals who work in the industry and teach at the same time. Our faculty are continually working to develop new courses on emerging topics.

CMGT 546: Sports Media and Society History and evolution of sports media industry; traditional, new and alternative sports media; globalization of sports; sports promotions and personalities.

COMM 381 – Issues in Contemporary Sport Explores social, political and ethical issues in elite sports and how issues are addressed through popular media; examination includes the relationship between sports and politics.

COMM 383m – Sports, Communication and Culture Rhetorical and critical approaches to sports and public discourse; application to sports organizations, the news and popular media; representations of gender and race in sports.

COMM 387 – Sports and Social Change Application of critical, sociological and rhetorical theories to sports events and sport media; examination of the role of sports in enacting social change.

COMM 444 – Critical Theories of Sport Focuses on critical theories that examine social and political roles of sport in society and how these roles play out in media and broadcast platforms.

JOUR 350 – Introduction to Sports Media Highlight norms, routines of content, including print, broadcast, video. Focus on opportunities, constraints posed by roles of reporters, fans, players, publicists, agents, leagues, teams.

JOUR 380 – Sports, Business and Media in Today’s Society An inside look at the symbiotic relationship of sports and the media — from the interdependence of sports and media, to the coverage of sports in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. The economic and ethical issues involved, the conflicts of interest, the history and current status of sports coverage in American media today.

JOUR 432 – Sports Commentary Techniques of reporting and writing sports columns and commentary for print, video, radio and Web-based media.

JOUR 441 – Sports Reporting News and feature coverage of sporting events, including social and economic factors influencing sports in America.

JOUR 478 – Politics of Sports Writing Critical examination of different styles of sports writing. Focus on the social context of sports writing and the relationship between sports and politics.

JOUR 479 – Storytelling for Action Sports Learn how to cover action sports with cutting-edge technology. In-class lectures and industry guest speakers focus on topics such as gender, race and history.

JOUR 480 – Sports and Media Technology Examine and analyze the ever-changing technology sector of the sports business and sports media world. Identify emerging technologies being developed in the sports industry and how they are being utilized to enhance the fan experience.

JOUR 481 – The Athlete, Sports Media and Popular Culture Analysis of the images of the athlete and sports media helps us understand how sports dramatically affects such social issues as race, class and gender.

JOUR 510 – Special Assignment Reporting: Sports Beat reporting with a deep dive into research, source development, and writing/reporting skills. Focus on current trends, history, major actors and key issues.

JOUR 571 – 21st Century Sports Storytelling Seminar in how to report and write sports: news, previews, profiles, features, columns.

JOUR 574 – Sports and Society Develop and refine print and multimedia skills to work as a sports journalist. Gain perspective, context and background in how sports intersect with society.

PR 453 – Public Relations Strategies for Working with Athletes Sports Public Relations isn't only getting press for a team or player; it's managing communications among influencers. Complements overview course giving students advanced look at practitioners' role with professional athletes.

PR 454 – Sports Public Relations Introduction to the field of sports information and promotion, including lectures, media assignments, role-playing, and presentations by sports professionals.

Student Media

Through our student-run media organization, Annenberg Media, students produce compelling and informative stories that include regular sports coverage. Students can work with Annenberg Media and other student-run programs in USC Annenberg’s state-of-the-art Media Center . 

Sports SCene, for example, focuses on USC sports. Learn more here .

Research and Programs

USC Annenberg’s Institute of Sports, Media and Society promotes academic programs, international research initiatives and professional engagement in the competitive world of sports and media. Clinical Professor of Communication Daniel Durbin founded and directs the institute, which hosts two sports and social change programs each year. These events bring together scholars as well as professionals from the world of sports and sports management to discuss important issues around sports and culture. The institute also houses the world’s only oral history project of African-American Major League Baseball players who played in the 25 years after MLB’s color barrier was broken.

“There is no better place to study sports than USC Annenberg. Our students learn from top scholars and seasoned professionals in the classroom, from firsthand experience with our student-run media platforms and state-of-the-art media center, and from their internships with organizations like ESPN or the L.A. Kings.

— Willow Bay , Dean

Featured Faculty

Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Journalism JOUR 350: Introduction to Sports Media JOUR 441: Sports Reporting JOUR 571: 21st Century Sports Storytelling JOUR 574: Sports and Society

Adjunct Professor, Communication COMM 381: Issues in Contemporary Sport COMM 445: Global Networks of Sport COMM 499: Sport Diplomacy PUBD 599: Sport Diplomacy

Associate Professor, Journalism COMM 387: Sports and Social Change JOUR 350: Introduction to Sports Media JOUR 478: Politics of Sports Writing

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism Annenberg Media Coach: Esports JOUR 499: Advanced Newsroom Practicum: Esports JOUR 499: Esports Media and Culture

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism JOUR 478: Politics of Sports Writing

Clinical Professor, Communication Director, Institute of Sports, Media and Society COMM 383: Sports: Communication and Culture COMM 387: Sports and Social Change COMM 444: Critical Theories of Sports CMGT 546: Sports, Media and Society

Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Journalism JOUR 350: Introduction to Sports Media JOUR 380/COMM 382: Sports, Business and Media in Today’s Society JOUR 480: Sports and Media Technology JOUR 481: The Athlete, Sports Media and Popular Culture JOUR 510: Special Assignment Reporting: Sports

Lecturer, Communication COMM 387: Sports and Social Change

Adjunct Instructor, Public Relations PR 454: Sports Public Relations

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism Annenberg Media Coach: Sports JOUR 350: Introduction to Sports Media JOUR 432: Sports Commentary

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism JOUR 404: Produce and Host Sports Content in Studio A JOUR 432: Sports Commentary JOUR 599: Advanced Sports Video Reporting and Production

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism Annenberg Media Coach: Sports JOUR 432: Sports Commentary

Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Journalism JOUR 432: Sports Commentary

Adjunt Instructor, Journalism JOUR 350: Introduction to Sports Media

Adjunct Instructor, Journalism and Public Relations JOUR 499: Olympic Headlines: Past, Present and Future PR 453: Public Relations Strategies for Working with Athletes

Sports @ Annenberg News

Athlete Activism: A Trojan Family Weekend conversation

Get Ben In: How writing a story got this alum a place on the football team

Budding sports reporter uses internships to guide his path

NFL players to participate in Speakers Bureau at USC Annenberg

Featured sports @ annenberg alumni.

BA, Broadcast Journalism, 1995 Senior VP of Production and Talent Development, FOX Sports

BA, Broadcast Journalism, 1998 Host, NFL Total Access

BA, Public Relations, 2005 VP of Operations, Golden Boy Promotions

BA, Communication, 1990 Studio Host, MLB Network

• myState on Mississippi State University
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Sport Media & Communication

Research in sport communication examines the impact of media production and the media environment on sport, kinesiology, games and play. Focus is given to a critical analysis of media platforms, messaging, and content. The goal is to better understand  the role the sports media and sports media platforms play in shaping the landscape of sport and the conversations which surround it. 

Primary Associated Faculty

• Dr.  Matthew Zimmerman

Associated Doctoral Students

• Kelsey Slater

Associated Master's Students

• Austin Coats
• Jalyn Johnson

Research Emphases

• Sport Communication
• Social Media in Sport
• Sport Media
• Information Management in Sport
• Messaging and Propaganda in Sport
• Gaming in Sport
• Activism in Sport

Recent Publications

Graduate student publications & theses.

• Garner, R.C. (2019). It just means more: An examination of hashtag use in NCAA Division I college football rivalries . Dissertations & Theses @ Mississippi State University.  
• Molay, M.K. (2019). Media Framing in Southeastern Conference Football. Available from Dissertations & Theses @ Mississippi State University; Retrieved from https://ir.library.msstate.edu/handle/11668/20774  
• Slater, K. (2018). Just do it: Sport apparel branding on Twitter. Available from Dissertations & Theses @ Mississippi State University; Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/11668/17552

Selected Faculty Publications

• Zimmerman, M. H.,  Johnson, J. E., & Ridley, M. (2016). Twitter use by college football coaches: An examination of the Football Bowl Subdivision.  Journal of Contemporary Athletics,  10(1).  
• Billings, A. C., Burch, L. M., &  Zimmerman, M. H.  (2014). Fragments of us, fragments of them: social media, nationality and U.S. perceptions of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Soccer & Society , DOI: 10.1080/14660970.2014.963307  
• Walsh, P.,  Zimmerman, M.,  Clavio, G., & Williams, A. (2013). Comparing brand awareness levels of in-game advertising in sport video games featuring visual and verbal cues.  Communication & Sport,  Published Online May 8, 2013 DOI:10.1177/2167479513489120
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Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport

Preparing global sport business and sport management leaders for the future.

The NYU SPS Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport prepares individuals from around the world for careers in the sports industry. Programs address all facets of the field—from the impact of the sports economy and global sports management to eSports and digital sports media. The undergraduate sports management degree and graduate sports business degrees explore in-demand areas while promoting the transformative power of sport . Students gain an exceptional NYU education and build their network in NYC. The Sport Management continuing education programs provide established professionals with the opportunity to hone their skills in emerging sectors. An all-star advisory board ensures that programs remain at the cutting edge of the field.

A CENTER OF GLOBAL SPORT INNOVATION

Sport industry research and thought leadership >.

Tisch Institute faculty members are deeply engaged in research—from female sport fandom and African American sport consumers to the impact of Milliennials and Gen Z fan bases.

Industry Focused Continuing Education >

The Tisch Institute for Global Sport offers a wide variety of continuing education courses and certificate options for those who wish to broaden their expertise in emerging areas.

Custom Tailored Executive Education >

Executive and corporate education programs at the Tisch Institute for Global Sport serve organizations and decision-makers in the sports industry around the world.

Read a Message from Associate Dean Vince Gennaro >

Graduate degree programs to suit your career goals.

Tisch Institute for Global Sport graduate degree programs provide a New York City advantage combined with invaluable global sport insight . They afford the opportunity to: learn from top industry experts; intern with sports teams, leagues, and media outlets; and build your professional network.

Master’s in Sports Business

• Ranked #16 globally in the 2020 SportsBusiness Postgraduate Rankings
• Curriculum that provides a comprehensive understanding of the many facets of sports business
• Focus areas that offer numerous career paths
• Electives that explore emerging sports business industry topics
• Study abroad opportunities in global sports cities
• Internships at sports teams, leagues, and media outlets
• Unsurpassed professional networking opportunities
• Ability to earn your degree full- or part-time
• Can be completed in as little as 12 months

Master’s in Global Sport

• Curriculum that provides a comprehensive understanding of the many facets of the global sport industry
• Integrated teaching approach that builds expertise in digital sports media and marketing, fan engagement, and sports analytics
• Networking opportunities that expose you to top global sports executives and provide inroads to global jobs
• Online courses that afford the flexibility to complete your degree while working full time
• One-week residencies that build your understanding of the global sports marketplace
• Complete in just 12 months

PRESTON ROBERT TISCH INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL SPORT BY THE NUMBERS

An undergraduate degree with an nyc and nyu advantage.

If you have a passion for sports and are interested in pursuing a career in business, the BS in Sports Management puts you in the heart of the action in NYC. Earn an NYU degree that will open doors and provide the skills to prepare you for a wide array of sports management jobs.

Bachelor’s in Sport Management

• Major core curriculum that builds business, research, leadership, and management skills
• Professional electives in sports tech and innovation, entrepreneurship, finance and investment, and more
• Specializations in analytics, entrepreneurship, event man- agement, sport law, sport marketing, sport media, and sport technology
• Internships at sports teams, leagues, and media outlets.
• Study abroad opportunities and industry visits
• Unsurpassed networking opportunities
• Financial aid and scholarships for those who qualify

A GLOBAL APPROACH

Sports can bring the world together, help us to find common ground, and put aside our differences. Technology, the universality of fandom, and media that allows us to participate in and consume sport wherever and whenever we want, have shaped the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport's curriculum. As a student enrolled in our programs you’ll gain a global perspective, benefit from our relationship with teams, leagues, and media outlets around the world; and grow your knowledge of international sports business through study abroad opportunities.

LEARN FROM FACULTY EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS

Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport faculty members bring their wide-ranging experience to every class they teach. They have held positions across the industry in teams, leagues, and media outlets among other sports-related entities. They are teachers and mentors who ensure that you are provided with a stellar NYU SPS education—one that prepares you for tremendous opportunities in this growing and evolving global sport field.

Featured Articles

Tisch institute for global sport students selected top team in the 2024 nfl big data bowl, un, nyu sps, philippine mission, ymca of greater new york, and naismith hall of fame unite for world basketball day on december 21, tisch institute’s ms in global sport named #1 online postgraduate program by sportbusiness, faculty spotlight: tisch institute for global sport adjunct instructor lindsay sarah krasnoff, tisch institute of global sport alum spotlight: eli nachmany, bs in sport management, nyu sps and the world woman foundation join forces to launch the foundation’s #equalitymoonshot initiative in davos, ready to make your mark.

Take the first step and apply now

College of Arts & Sciences Announces New Sports Media Major

Fairfield University's highly anticipated interdisciplinary program is slated to launch in the fall of 2020.

Sports is one of the rare types of content that has adapted very well to our new digital environment while continuing to thrive on television. The result is a robust, dynamic industry that needs innovative professionals who can work across a variety of multimedia platforms.

— Adam Rugg, PhD, assistant professor of communication

Each new academic year is ripe with the promise of new academic pursuits, and in fall 2020, Fairfield University’s College of Arts and Sciences will fulfill that promise by launching a brand-new interdisciplinary major in sports media. The highly anticipated program will encompass the main industry components that make up the larger sports media environment — journalism, broadcasting, communication, and public relations — and combine them with a critical approach to studying sports that is rooted in the liberal arts and in Fairfield’s Jesuit mission.

Program co-directors Adam Rugg, PhD, assistant professor of communication, and Matthew Tullis, assistant professor of English and director of the University’s digital journalism program, explained that the new program was not only born out of their own professional interests and academic research, but from the interests of their students as well. 

“In our first three semesters at Fairfield, we encountered several students who were completing internships in various forms of sports media,” Tullis said, “and we learned that they were cobbling together courses that would one day help them pursue a career in the field.”

Now, the path is being laid out for them. Offering an experiential, analytical, and interdisciplinary approach to learning, the new sports media major requires students to take a combination of courses within the College of Arts and Sciences’ Digital Journalism, Communication, and Film, Television, and Media Arts programs, including “News Writing,” “Remote TV Production,” and “Crisis Communication,” to name a few.

Throughout their studies, students will learn to critically evaluate the social, cultural, and political issues that imbue and surround sports, while learning the dexterity and skills essential to navigate the industry’s wide range of careers. Students will also benefit from the University’s proximity to many major sports media institutions like ESPN, NBC Sports, WWE, and the YES Network, which will serve as key locations to pursue internships and potentially begin careers.

Unique to Fairfield, the program also provides students with the tools to think about the sports media industry beyond the abilities required to work within it — many of which align with the University’s Jesuit mission. With an industry “beset by the broader political and social issues that define contemporary civic life,” Dr. Rugg feels strongly that Fairfield’s program “leverages the Jesuit mission of the University and the critical focus of the College of Arts and Sciences to produce socially conscious and engaged citizens who will be able to critically examine sports as a social practice with important cultural and political meanings and interactions.”

To achieve this goal, students will be encouraged to take elective classes related to critical interrogations of race, gender, sex, and class in both sports and non-sports contexts. Dr. Rugg feels this level of interdisciplinary study is particularly important “as the next generation of leaders in sports media will be those who are not only technically adept in their field, but also carry a critically informed awareness and humanistic understanding that will help the sports institution negotiate these increasingly visible and trying issues.”

According to both Dr. Rugg and Assistant Professor Tullis, the timing of the new sports media major’s launch couldn’t be better as it aligns with the industry’s rapid growth and demand for highly skilled, well-rounded professionals.

“Sports is one of the rare types of content that has adapted very well to our new digital environment while continuing to thrive on television,” Dr. Rugg said. “The result is a robust, dynamic industry that needs innovative professionals who can work across a variety of multimedia platforms. As the industry has grown, there has been a growth in sports media related programs at universities, typically within their Communication and/or Journalism programs. Fairfield is now joining this growing list and helping to chart the direction of this area of study.”

To learn more about Fairfield University's sports media program, visit www.fairfield.edu/sportsmedia .

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Sports Communication & Media (MA)

Request more information, why sports communication.

A Master of Arts (MA) in Sports Communication & Media degree helps you turn your love of sports into a fast-paced broadcast and media career through a variety of skill-building courses in sports journalism and broadcasting. This graduate program prepares you to share the excitement of sports with the masses through live game reporting and producing with ESPN+, studio and radio show production, blogging and more.

What Our Students & Graduates Say

In this video, Executive-in-Residence Bruce Beck, Prof. Mike Damergis and Iona students talk about our “hands-on” approach to learning. Our courses in sports hosting, studio anchoring and audio/video editing will prepare you for a successful career in this exciting field. Plus, hear from graduates now working at NBC, CBS and beyond.

Why Study Sports Communication & Media at Iona?

The Master’s in Sports Communication & Media program at Iona University provides you with hands-on training alongside classroom experiences. Our sports media and journalism courses are offered in the evening so that you can manage work and family life while earning your degree.

As part of your coursework, you have the opportunity to cover championship teams in our new arena and train in a state-of-the-art digital lab and ESPN production truck. What’s more, Iona’s campus in New Rochelle offers proximity to New York City with easy access to a major media hub and off-campus internship possibilities.

Iona sports media faculty are impressive professionals, including Emmy Award winners, sports hosts, play-by-play analysts, public relations directors for major sports teams and editors of sports journals. You will be connected to an extensive professional network through our faculty and alumni, providing coveted connections within the industry.

What You'll Learn

The MA in Sports Communication & Media blends traditional coursework with engagement in real-world broadcasting of professional and collegiate sports. You gain hands-on, professional experience working and training with ESPN+ and D-1 MAAC coverage of our championship basketball teams, among other professional venues.

The courses in our sports media program train you to perform at the highest level of professional media competencies, including live game reporting, video editing, studio and radio show production and blogging.

Explore Courses

Application Requirements

Two writing and/or video samples.

Mike Damergis

Coordinator, Sports Communication & Media Graduate Program

(914) 633-2021 (914) 633-2021

[email protected]

The professors at Iona go above and beyond for the students and make sure students are aware of internships and job opportunities to get their careers going.

-Mary Omatiga ’19MA, writer at NBC Sports Group Read More About Mary Here

Careers & Outcomes

During the Master’s in Sports Communication & Media, you gain the experience and skills to successfully enter the world of sports media. Graduates have pursued careers in sports journalism, announcing, sports broadcasting and reporting and digital media.

• Sports Anchor
• Digital Content Creator
• Media Specialist
• Olympics Researcher
• Sports Radio Producer
• Video Producer
• Videographer

Graduates have worked at:

How do you land a job covering the Super Bowl?

Iona alumnus Kevin Walsh ’17MA, now at SportsGrid, talks about what it’s been like being live on the scene at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. While studying Sports Communication & Media at Iona, Kevin also covered as many events as possible from the Hynes Athletics Center.

Deyaneyra Perea Rivera: From the Classroom to Telemundo

Deyaneyra Perea Rivera '22MA credits the mentorship she received from Iona faculty with helping her land her dream job at Telemundo, the nation's #1 Spanish television station.

Iona University Welcomes Emmy Award-Winning Sports Anchor Bruce Beck as Executive-in-Residence

Beck will serve as a mentor and resource for students in Iona’s Sports Communication & Media Graduate Program helping them to "improve their skills now and define new opportunities for the future."

Read More: Bruce Beck at Iona

Program Highlights

Espn production truck.

Iona University broadcasts its home sporting events on ESPN+ and the ESPN app. Students in the Sports Communication & Media program work inside the facilities—calling the games and operating the cameras—and on a state-of-the-art equipment truck directing and producing the broadcast. These skill-building opportunities are integrated into the sports journalism courses.

State-of-the-Art Multimedia Lab

Our new, state-of-the-art multimedia digital lab helps develop sports media skills crucial to your future career. You will have hands-on experience with the radio studio and audio desk with Adobe Creative Suite software and more.

Cover Championship Teams

Our students have the opportunity to cover MAAC championship games for multiple sports including cross country, basketball and esports. Iona’s 2023 men’s and women’s basketball teams were among one of four programs in the country to win both conferences, and our students were on the ground to cover this exciting milestone.

The Showdown in Beantown: A Night with Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez

In the Fall 2023 semester, Iona graduate student Julius Luchs was given the opportunity to personally interview baseball legends Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez. Additionally, Iona professor Mike Damergis sat down for in-depth interview to talk about their time with the Yankees and more.

Mike Torrez Talks About the 1978 Showdown in 1978 vs the Yankees with Graduate Student Julius Lachs

Iona Sports Media Professor Mike Damergis's Full Interview with Bucky Dent and Mike Torrez

Bucky Dent Speaks About his Home Run in 1978 with Graduate Student Julius Lachs

Iona Students Interview Baseball Legends

Ray Jarvis ‘24MA and Julius Luchs ‘24MA landed one-on-one interviews with Dwight “Doc” Gooden and William “Mookie” Wilson when the baseball legends visited Iona on April 4, 2023. This is just one example of the kind of opportunities students in the Sports Communication & Media (MA) program can expect to receive during their graduate education.

Julius Luchs '24MA Interviews William "Mookie" Wilson

Ray Jarvis '24MA Interviews Dwight "Doc" Gooden

Prof. Mike Damergis Hosts a Q&A with "Doc" Gooden and "Mookie" Wilson

Read the News Story Here

Learn From Industry Professionals

Mike jimenez.

• Emmy Award-Winning Producer

Rick Cerrone

• Former New York Yankees PR Director during World Championships (1996-2007).

Marc Malusis

• Sports Anchor with WPIX TV

Anthony Carlo ‘15MA from Eyewitness News credits Iona with helping him land his dream job!

Read Anthony's Story Now

Where Are They Now?

Our graduates have gone on to work at SiriusXM, CBS Sports, the YES Network and more!

Learn More: Where our Graduates Work

Iona University Professor Wins Cannes World Film Festival “Best Historical Documentary”

Clinical Professor Mike Damergis '89, '06MS shares the powerful story of a man who saved 350,000 Christian minorities from slaughter during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Read More about this exciting award

Emmy Award-Winning Students

Anthony Carlo '15MA

Emmy Award-Winning Reporter

Nick Hydo '18MA

Emmy Award-Winning Director

Learn more about Sports Communication & Media at Iona

Iona University’s Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media degree offers unique experiences and courses in sports journalism. Our graduate program’s hands-on approach to sports media and expert faculty prepares you for a successful career in sports communication.

Request information to learn more , or begin your application .

Find Out what an Iona Education Can Do For You

Visit Campus

Our scenic campuses, located just 20 miles from midtown Manhattan, truly do offer the "best of both worlds." Let us show you around, answer your questions and give you a feel of our tight-knit community.

Apply Today

If you're considering applying to Iona, you're not alone! During the past two years, our new-student enrollment is up nearly 30% . Additionally, graduate students automatically qualify for consideration of merit scholarships during their graduate program.

Learn more about Iona University today!

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Indiana University Indianapolis

Sports capital journalism program.

Master of Arts in Sports Journalism

Do you want to take your passion for sports to the next level? Consider the Master of Arts in Sports Journalism. This degree is designed to equip you with the specialized skills needed to be highly qualified for landing a position in the sports world where you will work with websites, traditional media outlets, and sports teams, leagues and organizations locally, nationally and internationally.

As the first U.S. graduate program in sports journalism, you will benefit from established partnerships with national and local sports organizations such the Associated Press Sports Editors, the NCAA, the Indiana Pacers, the Indianapolis Indians, and IndyCar Series, to name a few. You will have the opportunity to participate in news bureaus, in which you will work in teams covering major sporting events, as well as internships.

This degree is ideal for graduating seniors with an extensive or very limited journalism background, and professionals that are early in their careers. You will receive top quality instruction on sports media from full-time and adjunct faculty that provide individual attention and guidance. The curriculum is a mix of skills and seminar courses that focus on the converging worlds of print and online journalism, public relations, advertising, documentary and emerging technologies as expressed in the new commercial reality of sport. Courses combine experiential and classroom learning and stress versatility and skill-building across platforms.

Courses are offered on IUPUI’s downtown Indianapolis campus, which is within easy walking distance of major sporting venues and a short drive of the state’s major newspaper, television and radio headquarters. The Master of Arts program is 30 credit hours and can be completed in less than a year.

Required Courses

Jour-j501 public affairs reporting.

This course includes lectures and roundtable discussion of problems in covering public affairs issues at the national, state, and local levels. Emphasis is on reporting on government, social welfare agencies, elections, political parties, special interest groups and other areas of general public interest.

JOUR-J510 Media and Society Seminar

This course offers an examination of structure, functions, ethics, and performance of communication and mass media, stressing a review of pertinent research literature. Students will analyze media policies and performance in light of communication theory and current economic, political and social thought.

JOUR-J540 Business of Sports Media

A history of how media have evolved from radio, network television and magazines into the multi-dimensional world of regional and national cable, the Internet, and the networks. The way media provide so much of the revenue for sports as an entertainment industry has made it the anchor for the sports industry.

JOUR-J541 Digital Sports Journalism

Students in this hands-on, practical course will learn how to envision, build, design and produce a sports website. Students will receive substantive training in the software used to produce web videos, podcasts and interactive graphics. And, students will be taught how to marry all of those elements into a compelling website.

JOUR-J542 Sports Journalism and Society

This course provides a broad understanding of how social issues impact sports and how sports impacts society. Included will be a historical overview of sports, athletes’ rights, race and gender in sports, the Olympics and international sports, youth sports, the commercialization of sports and the influence of the media on sports.

JOUR-J543 Sports Law

Students will develop a basic understanding of the relationship between sports and the law and of the basic concepts of major legal issues—antitrust, labor, contract and intellectual property—in sports today, while translating that knowledge into analytical reporting on those subjects.

JOUR-J545 Sports Writing

This course is an intensive, in-depth and practical instruction on reporting and writing for print, magazines and the Web. This course will include a broad range of sports writing, from long-form narrative for magazines to twittering on the Web. It also will explore the essentials of beat reporting, with experiential learning at live press conferences and events.

JOUR-J546 Sports Journalism Research

This course explores issues surrounding the highly lucrative nature of collegiate sports in America, such as which sports are the most and least profitable and the gap between men’s and women’s sports. Students will produce a research project in collaboration with a major media outlet.

JOUR-J547 Sports Broadcast Journalism

The course is an intensive, in-depth and practical instruction of sports broadcasting. This course will include instruction in everything from play-by-play broadcasting of live events to the art of interviewing for television to writing and editing long segments.

JOUR-J620 Media Coverage of Sports

This course will examine athletes, coaches, events and sports media coverage. It will focus on current events and controversies such as amateurism, competitive balance, debate over school mascots, gambling and problems in recruiting and the ensuing media coverage.

Regardless of what your undergraduate degree is in, you may apply at any time for admission to the Department of Journalism and Public Relations at IUPUI Master’s degree in Sports Journalism. This degree is a great way to expand on your professional writing and reporting skills while diving into the influential world of sports.

Key application dates

If you wish to begin your studies in fall, your completed application must be submitted no later than July 15 . For spring entry, your completed application must be submitted by Oct. 15 . To begin in the first summer session, submit your completed application by April 1 .

In order to apply, complete the online application at the IUPUI Graduate Office website .

You will also need to submit the following materials:

• A statement of purpose of approximately 500 words.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Superior record in the undergraduate major from a recognized university as demonstrated by university transcript.
• A Graduate Record Exam score (within the last five years). Applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better do not have to submit a GRE score.

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Earn your MA in Journalism with a concentration in Sports Reporting

Earn your ma in journalism with a specialization in sports.

Course Offerings

• Advanced Sports Writing
• Journalism Capstone
• Media Relations for Sports and Entertainment Industries
• Professional Internship
• Special Topics in Journalism
• Sports Journalism and Social Media
• Sports and Entertainment Marketing
• Television Media in Sports and Entertainment Industries
• Television Sports Reporting and Producing

On-Campus Opportunities

WRHU 88.7FM

Rated the best college radio station in the country in 2015 by The Princeton Review and winner of the National Association of Broadcasters’ Marconi Radio Award as best non-commercial radio station (2014). In 2010 Radio Hofstra University became the flagship station of the New York Islanders, the first and only college radio station in the nation to have an exclusive Broadcasting agreement with a major-league sports team.

Pride Productions

This multi-camera production produces live online broadcasts of select Hofstra events, including NCAA Division I athletics. Students work as directors, technical directors, camera crew, and graphics and replay operators, getting hands-on experience with state-of-the-art HD broadcast systems.

TV / Radio / Web / Print

Students cover more than 100 Hofstra Pride basketball, baseball, softball, lacrosse, volleyball, field hockey, and soccer games a year for campus media outlets, including The Chronicle , WRHU , Hofstra Today , Sports Beat , and Long Island Report .

Internships

Students get valuable career experience and professional connections with sought-after internships at the best sports media companies in the nation. Our successful, accomplished alumni bring numerous networking opportunities to campus and are employed at many major media outlets.

Our award-winning faculty have won numerous Emmy Awards and other top honors for their work on major sporting events, including the Olympics, Monday Night Football, Super Bowl, Preakness, Belmont Stakes, Masters Tournament, Wimbledon, U.S. Open, World Cup, NBA finals, World Series, and Indianapolis 500, as well as for major publications, network and cable stations, and online sites.

The Herbert School’s fully HD-equipped learning environment includes a state-of-the-art converged digital newsroom, radio station, editing and screening suites, production studios with 4K-capable cameras, control rooms, and a new sound and color-correction production suite.

Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media

Begin your journey take the next step.

With a Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media, transform your passion into a career in a program designed to showcase multimedia production skills and capitalize on SHU’s ideal geographic location in the heart of the U.S. sports media industry.

Why Earn Your Master of Arts in Sports Communication & Media from Sacred Heart?

Graduates of Sacred Heart University’s Sports Communication & Media (SCM) program are working as on-air broadcasters and sports media professionals at companies across the country. Held on-campus, the SCM curriculum is a combination of:

• Television studio production 
• Live-event broadcasting
• Single camera production
• Advanced Editing
• Sports media history and theory
• Hands-on practicum and internship experiences

The program is designed to produce successful media professionals with well-developed critical thinking skills focused on the issues surrounding sports, culture and the media.

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Connect with us!

Discover the benefits of earning your MA in Sports Communication & Media from Sacred Heart University.

• Located in the geographic center of the sports media industry
• Connections to industry leaders
• World-class professional facilities
• High-value practicum experiences and numerous internship possibilities
• Full-time faculty with a wealth of experience in the sports media industry
• Alumni network from major sports media companies

Sports Broadcasting

Our Sports Broadcasting program trains students in sports media through a combination of in-class exercises, out-of-class field production work and internships with some of the many sports media companies that are located near SHU. Professional sports broadcasters with experience at companies like ESPN, NBC Sports and The Dan Patrick Show provide guidance and feedback throughout the curriculum. Students have the opportunity to produce sports media content as both on-air talent and behind-the-camera producers. All SCM students will graduate with an accomplished digital portfolio/production reel of their work.

A featured element of the Sports Broadcasting track in SCM is the weekly graduate student-produced sports show, Sports Buzz, where students are able to gain the hands-on skills they need to refine their craft. Additionally, there are opportunities in live-event production with SHU’s Division I football and basketball teams with some games being broadcast on the SNY Sports Network.

Athletic Communications & Promotions

The Athletic Communications & Promotions track focuses on extensive multimedia training in graphics production. A featured element of this track is event production for “Getting in the Game,” the annual Women in Sports Media symposium. Students participate in practicum and internship experiences that showcase their production skills and critical thinking ability as they produce written work and multimedia content in their coursework.

Dual Degree Program

Students apply to the dual degree program as incoming freshmen and are admitted directly into the SCM graduate program at the same time as their admission as undergraduate students. Dual degree students are guaranteed a place in the Master of Arts in Sports Communication and Media program provided they continue, as undergraduate students, to meet program-specific criteria to progress into enrollment in the graduate program.

Learning Outcomes

Students in the SCM program develop a theoretical, aesthetic and historical understanding of the sports communication field, and will acquire the knowledge and technical skills necessary to pursue careers in the digital world of the sports media industry.

Internship Opportunities & Career Outlook

Located in the geographic center of the sports media industry, the sports communication & media graduate program is within driving distance to ESPN, NBC Sports, MLB/NHL Networks, WWE and many other sports media companies that make their home in the area. This provides extensive networking, recruiting and internship possibilities for SCM graduate students.

The sports industry has shown dynamic growth over the past five years, and is projected to reach over $83 Billion by 2023 in North America alone. Sports communication & media graduates pursue careers across the sports media industry in a variety of roles, including:   

• Broadcast journalist
• Multimedia content producer
• Public address announcer
• Public relations specialist
• Athletic communications manager
• Videographer/editor
• Sports team publicist
• Sports writer
• Television or radio broadcaster

Facilities & Equipment

All SCM graduate students receive a Macbook Pro laptop outfitted with the latest multimedia production software, which are theirs to keep when they graduate with a master of arts degree. In addition, students are assigned their own personal camera kit while in the program thus giving them the complete tools to become multimedia storytellers. 

The SCMA program is housed in the Frank & Marisa Martire Center for the Liberal Arts , a $50 million, 120,000-square-foot world-class facility offering unparalleled resources. Students have access to media production studios and interactive laboratories designed to advance the skills and knowledge students need for the global marketplace. The Martire Center and Sacred Heart’s West Campus offer these fully featured production spaces: 

• Three broadcast studios
• Three networked control rooms
• Film soundstage
• Two media labs
• Six individual editing rooms
• Film finishing room
• Networked presentation forum
• Large media theater
• Two screening rooms

Faculty Highlights

More Information

To learn more about the Master of Arts in sports communication & media, contact:

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The Latest in Sports Communication & Media

What’s it take to work at the Super Bowl?

SHU Alumni Bring Home 2023 Emmy Awards

How Do You Break Into the Sports Media Industry?

The MA in Sports Communication & Media is a 36 credit degree designed to prepare students for the exciting world of sports media. Students will be trained to function at the highest level of professional competence and integrity in all aspects of sports media, including live game reporting, video editing, studio and radio show production, and sports blogging. The program blends traditional coursework with engagement in real-world broadcasting of professional and collegiate sports. Iona’s proximity to New York City provides the ideal location for students to gain practical experience in the ever-changing sports industry. Our students will possess the decision-making skills to meet the opportunities and challenges of the digital age, the self-awareness and reflectiveness to be life-long learners, and respect for human diversity. Graduates will be well-positioned for careers in all areas of athletic communications and sports broadcasting.

Required Courses (21 credits):

• SCM 601 - Introduction to Sports Broadcast Journalism Credits: 3
• SCM 602 - Sports Video/Field Production Credits: 3
• SCM 604 - Sports Imaging Credits: 3
• SCM 606 - Sports Radio Hosting/Producing Credits: 3
• SCM 612 - Sports Studio Anchoring, Writing & Editing Credits: 3
• SCM 980 - Project Preparation Credits: 3
• SCM 981 - Thesis Project Credits: 3

Elective Courses (15 credits):

Choose five courses from the following:

• SCM 607 - Sports Media & Public Relations Credits: 3
• SCM 608 - Sports History & Culture Credits: 3
• SCM 611 - Sports Live Event Broadcasting/Producing Credits: 3
• SCM 614 - Creative Content in Sports Communication & Media Credits: 3
• SCM 615 - Social Media in Sports Communication Credits: 3
• SCM 691 - Special Topics in Sports Communication & Media Credits: 3
• SCM 699 - Internship in Sports Communication & Media Credits: 3
• PR 605 - Legal and Ethical Challenges in Media Communication Credits: 3
• PR 629 - Converged Technology Applications for Public Relations Credits: 3
• PR 699 - Internship in Communications Credits: 3

Total Credits: 36

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The master of science in sports media is a 36-credit program that prepares students for employment in many sports media outlets, especially those on the Internet where sports content has been growing rapidly; those in sports information offices in any sport, collegiate or professional; and those in sports management positions.

The program to develop professionals who will be able to explain and apply appropriate information technologies and methodologies to help individuals or organizations achieve their goals through the use of sports media by:

• Anticipating the changing direction of sports media
• Evaluating and communicating the potential utility of new technologies utilized in sports media
• Living and working as a contributing, well-rounded member of society through ethical sports media practices

In accomplishing these goals, the program will:

• Familiarize students with the technology and skills required to be successful in sports media
• Provide significant hands-on internship experience in a real-world setting
• Enable students to integrate management skills and ethical perspectives into their study
• Prepare students for employment in sports media

Required Coursework

The master of science in sports media may be completed in 15 to 18 months. International students are strongly recommended to take 24 months to complete the degree program.

Some program coursework is available online during the later summer; otherwise, students are strongly encouraged to begin the program in the fall semester.

GRADUATE COURSES

Coursework in the Department of Communication investigates the ways we express ideas — from public speaking to social media to corporate communication

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Sport Management Ph.D

Program info, about the ph.d. in sport management program.

Over the past two decades, the sports industry has grown into a $435 billion industry, and a strong curriculum and faculty with professional expertise will prepare you to be a part of the exciting and expanding world of sport management. Whether you are a current professional looking to advance in higher education or someone interested in achieving leadership positions within the ever-growing sport industry, Troy University’s Ph.D. in Sport Management program holds the keys to a successful future.

Broaden Your Opportunities

• Demonstrate knowledge from core and specialized areas of study.
• Conduct pertinent and relevant research related to sport industry.
• Interpret and evaluate research studies in sport management.
• Apply sport management knowledge to the solution of complex issues with demonstration of sensitivity to crucial, controversial sport issues.
• Analyze and apply sport management principles, approaches and rationales to contemporary sport management cases.
• Organize and plan programs of service designed to meet local, state, regional, national and international needs.
• Prepare research within the field of sport management for presentation and/or publication.

Program Flexibility and Faculty Excellence

Sport management ph.d. curriculum.

• Seminar in Sport Marketing
• Seminar in Legal Aspects of Sport
• Seminar in Sport Finance
• Seminar in Organizational Behavior and Leadership

Sport Management Ph.D Program Locations

TROY's Sport Management Ph.D. is offered as a blended program. A blended program combines both online and face-to-face courses. For more information about program availability and delivery options, call 1-800-414-5756

Why Choose TROY For Your Sport Management Ph.D.?

The Ph.D. in Sport Management at TROY is designed to enhance your critical thinking, analytical, statistical and research-based skills required for survival in the contemporary sport industry. Students will acquire these skills through engagement in an integrated academic learning and research-oriented environment with highly regarded faculty that includes the man often referred to as the “Father of Modern Sport Management,” Professor Packianathan Chelladurai. Collectively, TROY’s sport management faculty has published 14 textbooks, 78 textbook chapters, 362 peer-reviewed manuscripts and given 646 national and international peer-reviewed presentations. Highly regarded within the field of sport, TROY’s Sport Management faculty members have served on 158 doctoral dissertation committees and serve as Editor or Associate Editor of eight peer-reviewed journals in the sport management field and as members of more than 20 Editorial Boards. So, if you are looking to advance in the field of sport management, start that journey with us today. Sport Management is a growing academic discipline in the United States as well as globally.  The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Sport Management at Troy University is a terminal degree focusing on student comprehension and interpretation of contemporary, theoretical and applied studies within the field of Sport Management. The mission of the program is to prepare the graduate for a broad range of sport management-related positions to include, but not limited to higher education, research, professional or amateur athletics, and professional sport industry.  The doctoral program in Sport Management is the only Ph. D. program that is offered primarily online in the United States. The program concentrates on developing students to generate the research, critical thinking, and teaching skills necessary for them to be successful in the sport industry and higher education. The coursework in the Ph.D. program provides an interdisciplinary approach to the study of sport management that is intended to build upon each student’s interests. Through areas of specialized coursework and doctoral seminars taught by graduate sport management faculty members, the program offers flexibility for students to analyze a wide variety of opportunities and interests within the discipline of sport management (i.e., organizational management, finance, legal aspects, and marketing of sports). The Ph.D. in Sport Management program at Troy University serves two primary populations: the sport practitioner and the future sport management educator.  Thus, the graduate will be prepared to apply research to the sport industry, contribute to the advancement and dissemination of scholarly research, and/or educate future sport managers. As such, the Sport Management Ph.D. program at Troy University is designed to address the challenge by industry and educational institutions to train high quality academicians with a sport management background. Students will be offered the chance to develop and produce original theoretical-specific knowledge that is germane to the sport industry and academy. Such research-oriented endeavors will permit the doctoral students to be in the middle of new advances in sport management.

Careers in Sport Management

TROY's Sport Management program prepares graduates for a broad range of sport management-related positions including higher education, research, professional or amateur athletics and professional sport industry.

Faculty Profiles

Dr. Win (Gi-Yong) Koo

Frequently asked questions.

• Troy University Graduate School Application Form
• One official transcript per each institution of higher education ever attended
• Each individual must address the applicant’s readiness to enroll in a doctoral program. It is recommended that such individuals be previous undergraduate or graduate professors, advisors or others who can substantiate the applicant’s academic preparation for admittance to a doctoral program.
• Details of your rationale for pursuing a Ph.D. in Sport Management.
• Details regarding your career and research interests.
• Identify 1-2 TROY Sport Management doctoral faculty members that you are interested in working with. A list of doctoral directive faculty members and their curriculum vitae indicating their research areas may be viewed at the HSTM website .
• The goal of the writing sample is to measure the applicant’s ability to write clearly and succinctly in an academic fashion. The writing sample may include a thesis completed by the student, a significant research or case study class project, preferably written at the graduate level. It is expected that the applicant be either the first or second author if the submission was a group project. The paper must be double spaced, 12 point, Times New Roman font with 1 inch margins on all sides. Since the American Psychological Association (APA) style is followed in all written assignments in the Ph.D. program, it is recommended that the sample also be written in APA format. However, other writing styles, including but not limited to Chicago, Modern Language Association (MLA), Turbian, AMA Manual or other accepted research writing styles, will be considered. Note: The writing sample could also include an accepted or published research that the applicant was either the sole or co-author of a research project. The applicant must submit a pdf of the paper or a link as proof of publication.

Applications to the Ph.D. program may be submitted twice per academic year, once in fall and once is spring. The applicant must submit an application to the Troy University Graduate School. After all required documentation has been submitted, the applicant’s entire application packet will be reviewed for admission into the Doctoral Program. No pre-requisites will be required for admission other than the applicant must have attained a Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. In order to be given full consideration, all requested materials must be received by the deadlines listed below:

Application Deadlines: Fall Admission for U.S. citizens: February 1 Fall Admission for non U.S. citizens: December 1 Spring Admission for U.S. citizens: September 1 Spring Admission for non U.S. citizens: July 1

From a research review, collectively, the current Sport Management faculty at Troy University have published 15 textbooks, more than 80 textbook chapters, over 360 peer-reviewed manuscripts and given more than 650 national and international peer-reviewed presentations. Currently, TROY Sport Management faculty members serve as Editor or Associate Editor of 8 peer-reviewed journals in the sport management field and over 20 Editorial Boards. Finally, TROY Sport Management faculty members have served on nearly 160 doctoral dissertation committees.

In regards to service and reputation of doctoral directive faculty, two of the present faculty members have previously served as the President of the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM), considered the flagship organization in academic sport management. Additionally, another faculty member has served as the President of the Sport and Recreation Law Association, the foremost organization for the study of legal aspects of sport in the sport management academy. Finally, and importantly, a faculty member has served on the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA) which is the only accrediting body of academic sport management programs in the world.

Consistent with other terminal degree programs at TROY, the Sport Management doctoral student will have a maximum time for degree completion of eight years, inclusive of completing dissertation requirements. However, it is important to note that a full-time student (i.e., taking 6 credits per term) may be able to complete coursework in two (2) years. Additionally, dissertation may require 1-2 years to fully complete.

As a result, students can finish the program in as little as three (3 years). To do so, the students must communicate with their major advisor on a regular basis.

Helpful Links

What Can a Ph.D. in Sport Management Do for Your Career?

As a sixth-degree black belt in Taekwondo, Dr. Win Koo achieved the status of master of martial arts in his native South Korea before becoming a grandmaster in the United States. However, it’s Dr. Koo’s academic talent rather than his martial arts skills that he calls on when he comes out fighting as the program coordinator on Troy University’s Ph.D. in Sport Management program.

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These are the best graduate school programs in Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World

Top graduate schools in Wisconsin landed on the latest U.S. News & World Report list ranking more than 2,000 programs across the country. U.S. News & World Report published its 2024-'25 report in April, ranking graduate programs in business, education, law and nursing, among other fields.

University of Wisconsin-Madison's the School of Education tied for first overall with Teacher's College, Columbia University, according the report. That's up from third overall and second among public universities last year.

Several of Marquette University's graduate programs moved up on the list, including the master's program in the College of Nursing, which moved up from 66 to 58.

Schools were evaluated based on expert opinion and statistical data measuring the quality of the school's faculty, research and post-graduate outcomes. You can find the full list on the U.S. News website for graduate rankings on their website www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools .

Top business graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #43

Top law graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #36 (tie)
• Marquette University: #68 (tie)

Top nursing graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• Marquette University: #58 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #82 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: #107 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh: #118
• Alverno College: #119 (tie)
• Milwaukee School of Engineering: #153-169

Top medical graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #35 (tie)

Top education graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #1 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #169 (tie)
• Marquette University: #192

Top Engineering graduate programs in Wisconsin:

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: #27 (tie)
• Marquette University: #142 (tie)
• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: #177 (tie)

RELATED: Here's how Wisconsin universities ranked in the 2024 Best Colleges list

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How Marketers Choose College Athlete Influencers

• Kimberly A. Whitler
• Graham Twente

The authors’ research findings: Athletes’ image and quality of social media posts are more important than their follower counts, posts should feature sports more than personal content, and sexy imagery should be avoided.

Here are the characteristics that matter most.

Since 2021 McDonald’s, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Berkshire Hathaway, Amazon, Unilever, and other leading companies have done something that was never before possible: They have paid U.S. college athletes to act as product endorsers and influencers. Until a Supreme Court ruling that year, paying college athletes was forbidden under the rules of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In the aftermath of the Court’s ruling, the NCAA adopted a policy that enabled more than 520,000 student athletes to monetize their names, images, and likenesses by signing what have become known as NIL deals. Although no definitive count exists of athletes who have signed such deals, 278 students (40% of varsity athletes) at Texas Tech had been sponsored as of 2022. In just a few years marketers have already spent more than $1 billion on such endorsements. For individual athletes these deals can be lucrative. Consider Paige Bueckers, a University of Connecticut basketball player, whom Gatorade chose as its first sponsored college athlete. Bueckers is expected to earn more than $1 million while playing college basketball.

Over the past 20 years the social media influencer industry has completely rearranged the way information and culture are conceived, produced, marketed, and shared. This month’s Spotlight package looks at how brands are responding.

• Kimberly A. Whitler is the Frank M. Sands Sr. Associate Professor of Business Administration at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and a coauthor of Athlete Brands: How to Benefit from Your Name, Image & Likeness .
• GT Graham Twente is a former senior research manager at the Darden School of Business and currently a member of the data and analytics technology consulting staff at EY in Washington, DC.

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Where to buy 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' apparel seen on Dawn Staley, Jason Sudeikis

You've seen Jason Sudeikis , Chelsea Handler , Sue Bird and fashion icon Dawn Staley wear the message.

After an average of 18.7 million fans tuned in to watch South Carolina defeat Iowa for the women's college basketball championship , it seems that "Everyone Watches Women's Sports."

The "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" merchandise is made by Togethxr, pronounced "together." It's a media company launched in 2021 by Bird, Alex Morgan, Chloe Kim and Simone Manuel. The star athletes united to uplift women's sports through digital storytelling.

The clothing furthers the mission by letting people know that there is an interest in women's sports.

"A lot of times people think that people aren't watching," Staley said when asked about her shirt that she wore during a regular season game in December. "Women's basketball, women's sports are at an all-time high and it's in high demand."

Sudeikis, who starred in the soccer comedy "Ted Lasso," wore a Togethxr T-shirt when he attended the national championship game.

How to buy 'Everyone Watches Women's Sports' apparel

Fans can buy "Everyone Watches Women's Sports" merchandise on the Togethxr website . The company has T-shirts, a hoodie and a tote bag for sale featuring the slogan. There were "varsity" colorways for teams in the NCAA tournament. The black and yellow T-shirt for Iowa, the purple and yellow T-shirt for LSU and the blue and yellow T-shirt for UCLA are sold out. A full list of sizes for a T-shirt in the "Championship Colorway" with South Carolina's maroon and gray are available for pre-order for $45.

The product descriptions offer fans an opportunity to be a part of the growing movement.

"After a record-breaking year across the board in women’s sports attendance and viewership, the numbers speak volumes, and now, so does your wardrobe," the product description for the Togethxr hoodie , which sells for $85, says. "We’ve all been here, witnessing the incredible feats and victories on the women's sports stage, and thanks to increased investment in the promotion, marketing, and visibility of women’s sports in recent years, the stats are becoming clear to those who were just a little bit behind the trend. This relaxed, premium, heavy fleece hoodie is more than just a piece of clothing; it's a statement of enthusiasm and support for the unstoppable rise of women's sports. It's the perfect staple to add to your wardrobe and the correct 'uniform' for any sporting event in your future. We’re here, we’re tuned in, and you can’t turn us down."

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY operates independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk and the Japan Minister of Education, Sports, Science and Technology, Masahito Moriyama, met in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2024 on advancing fusion energy.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy David M. Turk and the Japan Minister of Education, Sports, Science and Technology, Masahito Moriyama, met in Washington, D.C., on April 9, 2024 for a discussion on ways the nations can work together to advance fusion energy and released the following joint statement: 

The Department of Energy (DOE) of the United States of America and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan have today decided to form a major new strategic partnership to accelerate the demonstration and commercialization of fusion energy. This new partnership intends to focus on advancing the U.S. Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy and Strategy for International Partnerships in a New Era of Fusion Development , as well as the Japan Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy .

Fusion energy could provide a low-carbon, safe, sustainable and reliable energy supply with the potential to transform global efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions and to enhance energy security and resilience. This could deliver major societal and economic benefits. To fully realize these benefits, appropriate regulatory, social, and market policies are needed, alongside overcoming significant remaining technical challenges. 

The United States and Japan have a long history of collaborative activities in the area of fusion, including exchange programs, joint research and joint planning covered by the Coordinating Committee on Fusion Energy (CCFE), which is implemented under the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan on Cooperation in Research and Development in Science and Technology (the STA) 1 . The two countries are also participating in ITER, a large multi-national project that aims to bridge significant science and technology gaps toward the realization of fusion energy. 

This new partnership leverages the CCFE and is expected to further develop complementarity between U.S. and Japanese resources and facilities in fusion, including those in universities, national laboratories and private companies in the respective countries.  

This partnership is intended to focus on the following pillars: 

• Address the scientific and technical challenges of delivering commercially viable fusion energy for various fusion systems, through activities conducted pursuant to the STA; 
• Explore opportunities for shared access and/or development of facilities required for fusion research and development, and for how a coordinated, strategic approach can maximize value for the United States and Japan; 
• Promote the international harmonization of regulatory frameworks and codes and standards, including leveraging of rule-making efforts by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission as well as ongoing discussions under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Agile Nations Fusion Energy Working Group ;
• Identify and support the development of resilient global supply chains that facilitate commercial fusion deployment, welcoming and considering discussions among fusion industry groups in the respective countries;    
• Support public engagement with communities to facilitate a social license for deploying fusion energy and to support an equitable clean-energy transition; and 
• Promote skills development to ensure the people and talent growth necessary for the robust, inclusive and diverse workforce required by the fusion sector in the next decade and beyond.  

DOE and MEXT intend to drive the work of this strategic partnership through the CCFE, which is co-chaired by DOE and MEXT and is expected to meet in the coming months. The CCFE is expected to identify and delineate priority U.S.-Japan collaborative opportunities to realize our shared vision for fusion energy as an integral part of the world’s future energy supply. 

1 The CCFE was established in 1979 and is presently governed by the DOE-MEXT Implementing Arrangement Concerning Cooperation in Research and Development in Energy and Related Fields, which was signed in 2013 under the U.S.-Japan STA.