Sports Communication Graduate Certificate

This course teaches effective communication strategies and techniques within an organizational and professional context for the sports industries. The course uses the professions of public relations and journalism as its foundation. Special attention is given to the ways in which digital media and communication technologies are used by professional communicators in these fields with an emphasis on writing and layout for web distribution.

This course explores the role of social media in the sports industry. In this course, students will interrogate the sociological impact of these new media platforms on sports communication and develop the skills necessary to create integrated, ethical, and professional social media campaigns.

This graduate-level course explores the contemporary sports media industry through the lens of professionals working within it. Students will engage critically with the structures, practices, and challenges that shape today's sports media landscape-from traditional broadcast networks and print outlets to digital platforms, streaming services, and emerging content ecosystems. A hallmark of the course is a series of guest speakers representing diverse roles across the industry, including producers, journalists, play-by-play announcers, digital strategists, executives, and alumni working in the field. These sessions provide firsthand insights into current trends, ethical considerations, technological innovation, and career pathways within sports media. Through discussions, reflective writing, and applied projects, students will analyze key issues such as media rights, athlete storytelling, brand management, audience engagement, and the evolving relationship between sports organizations and media partners. By the end of the course, students will gain a deep understanding of how the sports media industry operates and where their own skills and interests fit within it.