Sports Media Industry Graduate Certificate

Sporting culture impacts the American public through economic and ideological institutions that structure our perceptions of the world. In contemporary society, sport is both big business and personal recreation, and yet, despite its influence on American culture, sport remains a relatively unexplored segment of popular culture. In this class we will pay particular attention to the images and narratives of sporting media that construct representations of class, masculinity, gender, and nation in and around everyday mass-mediated athletic activities. This course is an examination of sports and media in our everyday lives.

Students develop the skills to produce both written and multimedia sports stories as they analyze current sporting media and construct their own work. Throughout this course, students will be partnered with specific SHU athletic teams and will cover their games throughout the semester.

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.