Sports Journalism, MA
Journalist, Social media, Sports Broadcasting, Sports Bureau, Sports Communication, Sports Degree, Sports Ethics, Sports Marketing, Sports Reporting, Sports Videography, Sports Writing, Sports and Media, Spring Training, media, sport
Spring and Summer applications are only open to current undergraduate Cronkite students in the accelerated master's program.
Combine your passion for sports with the craft of storytelling. In Arizona State University's Master of Arts in sports journalism program, you'll learn to report, produce and communicate across media platforms while covering major collegiate and professional sports. Through immersive, hands-on courses, you'll build the skills and experience needed to advance your career in the dynamic sports media industry.
Sports Journalism description
Sports media is among media's fastest-growing sectors. The Master of Arts in sports journalism is a 33-credit-hour, three-semester program in a city with five professional teams that provides extensive preparation for a career in sports media and communication.
You'll begin this program by developing multimedia skills through course work in writing, video, audio and photography, working toward producing compelling sports content for today's multiplatform audiences. From there, you'll choose advanced classes in sports reporting, videography, podcast production, live sports production, play-by-play delivery, narrative writing, documentary video and more before joining the award-winning sports bureau experience.
You'll learn game-changing content skills, fresh reporting approaches and foundations in ethics, law and leadership in as few as 12 months.
Why study Sports Journalism at ASU?
The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication is consistently ranked among the world's top mass communication schools. As the only premier sports journalism program located in a city with five professional sports teams, the Cronkite School offers unmatched access to live events and real-world experience.
Graduate study at ASU equips you with the strategic insight and leadership skills to advance your career in sports media leadership. You'll gain access to world-class tools, facilities and cross-disciplinary collaboration that position you at the forefront of modern sports storytelling.
Through the school's "teaching hospital" model, you'll learn by doing. You'll work in professional newsrooms, gain hands-on training in sports coverage, and build a portfolio that showcases your talent to employers. Students regularly cover Major League Baseball's Spring Training, NCAA championships, the Olympics and other major sporting events.
Cronkite faculty include award-winning reporters, editors and producers with deep industry expertise. Students benefit from their mentorship and from the #CronkiteNation alumni network, which spans every corner of the sports media industry.
You'll also have opportunities for global experience, from studying Cuba's media landscape to learning from Real Madrid executives in Spain. Cronkite's dedicated career services team helps connect you to internships, job opportunities and professional networks in sports media.
- College/school:
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Location: Downtown Phoenix
- STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
This video provides an overview of the Sports Journalism, MA degree program at ASU.
This program allows students to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. Accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for high-achieving students who want the opportunity to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of their master's degree. These programs feature the same high quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
33 credit hours including the required capstone course (MCO 570)
Required Core (12 credit hours) Electives or Research (6 credit hours) Other Requirement (9 credit hours) Culminating Experience (6 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information Students should see the academic unit for a complete list of approved electives.
MCO 503 Media Law (3)
MCO 525 Media Ethics Leadership (3)
MCO 540 Sports Reporting (3)
MCO 554 Media Models, Organizations and Leadership (3)
MCO 502 Multimedia Storytelling (8)
MCO 504 Cronkite Master's Seminar (1)
MCO 570 Capstone (6)
Students must complete a total of eight credit hours of MCO 502, which is offered at variable credit hours and can be taken multiple times.
General university admission requirements:
All students are required to meet general
university admission requirements.
U.S.
applicants | International
applicants | English
proficiency
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution.
Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program.
All applicants must submit:
- graduate admission application and application fee
- official transcripts
- three letters of recommendation
- personal statement of interest (350 to 500 words in length)
- resume
- proof of English proficiency
Additional Application Information
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency. Applicants should have a TOEFL iBT® score of at least 5, or a score of 100 (taken at a testing center) if taken before January 21, 2026. Students with an IELTS band score of 7.50 or a Duolingo score of 135 are also considered.
The Cronkite School's graduate committee reviews complete and on-time applications on a rolling basis, with priority for admission and funding for applications received by Dec. 1.
Spring and summer applications are open to only current undergraduate Cronkite students in the accelerated master's program.
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 06/01 | Final |
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/01 | Priority |
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Produce clear, accurate, and engaging written content that meets professional standards.
- Apply the values, principles, ethics and legal standards of sports journalism in media work.
- Create sports journalism for mass audiences using professional tools, technology, and techniques.
- Critically evaluate information, content, and research in professional contexts.
- Evaluate leadership approaches across professional media contexts.
Studying abroad is possible for graduate students. There are more than 50 program opportunities, with programs on every continent.
Faculty-directed programs tend to be the best fit for graduate students; taking courses with ASU professors over the summer or during academic breaks offers students close mentorship and professional network growth in many fields of study while they earn ASU credit. Exchange program participation is also possible with careful planning.
Careers this Sports Journalism master's degree prepares you for
A master's in sports journalism prepares you for roles such as sports reporter, editor, producer, commentator, sideline analyst or podcast host. With your multimedia skills and leadership experience, you'll be ready for high-impact roles that connect storytelling, fans and communities across the global sports industry.
Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Comm
|
CRONK 302
cronkitegrad@asu.edu
602-496-5555
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
