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Sports Media

You like to cross the finish line first. We like that top-notch ranking, too. The College of Communication’s Sports Media major is the only degreed program of its kind in Indiana and one of only a handful of degreed programs in the Midwest. You’ll be able to take advantage of competitors with a unique and innovative skill set that puts you ahead of the pack and is founded on the integration of sports journalism and digital sports production.

Sports media careers have become some of the most highly competitive and sought-after positions in the job market. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that drives audience interaction and interest in sports on a worldwide scale. And, you’ll have access to hands-on learning day-one in one of the richest sports cities in the world that plays home to the NCAA, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, and the Indy 500 to name just a few.

COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS

126 Total Credit Hours (Includes Butler University Core Requirements)

COM 101                    Rhetoric and the American Democratic Tradition

SW 266-CCM         Media Literacy

Foreign Language of Choice (3 credit hours at 204 level or above)

Communication & Culture course (selected from approved list)

Second major, minor or concentration area required

Description of Sports Media Major (SPM) – Major 41/42 Required Credit Hours

SPM offers a solid foundation in media production, writing, and multimedia storytelling. Hands-on opportunities provide students with the skills and understanding necessary to thrive in the modern sports media landscape. SPM has a strong relationship with the vibrant Indianapolis sports scene. It regularly hosts speakers from the sports media industry and often sends students out to work with events/organizations such as the Indy 500, the Indiana Pacers, the Indianapolis Colts, the Big Ten Football Championship, and the NCAA.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

SPM 101                       Introduction to Sports Media

SPM 120                       Introduction to Sports Production

SPM 220                       Sports Shooting and Editing

SPM 320                       Live Sports Production

SPM 458                       Perspectives in Sports Media OR

CCM 470                      Sports, Media and Culture

SPM 405                       Sports Newsroom

SPM 400                       Sports Media Capstone

SPM 440                       Internship

JR 112                             Introduction to Multimedia Journalism

JR 210                            Reporting and Writing

JR 312                            Multimedia Journalism

JR 414                            Media Law OR

CME 452                      Entertainment Media and the Law

COM 245                      Media Analytics

COM 480                      Media Entrepreneurship

STR 356                         Sports Promotion

One elective from the following approved courses:

SPM 101                       Introduction to Sports Media

SPM 140                       Esports: The World of Competitive Gaming

JR 412                            In-Depth Journalism

SPM 310                       Sports Fan Identity, Attitudes, and Behaviors

JR 417                            Global Media

SPM 390                      Special Topics

JR 421                           Media Ethics

SPM 458                      Perspectives in Sports Media

JR 427                           Special Topics

JR 325                           Gender and News: Global Views

CCM 470                     Media, Sports and Culture

JR 409                           Media Economics and Regulation

CCM 390                      Special Topics

JR 414                            Media Law

CME 452                      Entertainment Media and the Law

JR 411                             Multimedia Newsroom

The information found on this website with respect to major/minor/program requirements is primarily directed at providing prospective students a general roadmap of the curriculum. Current Butler students are expected to review their degree audit report at my.butler.edu and speak with their advisor regularly for detailed information regarding their specific degree requirements and their progress toward degree completion.
Student Work

Experiential Learning

“It’s been a great experience—a once in a lifetime thing, for sure!”

Caroline Crosby, a junior Sports Media major, is working for the NCAA® this semester as an extern in the Division I Women’s Basketball Championships and Alliances Division. Part of her role consists of traveling to San Antonio, Texas, for three weeks to help organize the NCAA® Women’s Basketball tournament.

See Caroline’s Story
Student standing in front of an NCAA sign in an arena
Sports Media Degree FAQs

Sports Media is the defining commercial and cultural connection for the sports journalism and digital media industries. While sports continue to garner massive audiences and advertising revenue to the media, sports coverage has become the product that drives audience interaction and interest in sports.

Sports Media careers are some of the most highly competitive and sought-after positions in the job market. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that drives audience interaction and interest in sports worldwide. These careers vary in fields from sports journalism, sports media and information, sportscasting, and sports media production.

There are a wide variety of jobs that you can get with a Sports Media degree. Some include, but are not limited to:

  • Sports Editor
  • Public Relations manager
  • Photographer
  • Sports Analyst
  • TV Announcer
  • Sports Information Specialist

Butler’s Sports Media degree program offers students a unique hands-on education with a wide range of sports media opportunities. With a degree in Sports Media, you will learn about the historical, cultural, and economic aspects of the sports industry and be able to use your knowledge to communicate that information to audiences effectively.