Skip to Main Content
The Sports Media major provides students with a strong foundation for a career in the sports media industry. Areas of emphasis include sports journalism, sports production and public/media relations for sports organizations.
Contact the Office of Admissions
Contact the Office of Admissions
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
Array ( [0] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 94629 [post_author] => 62 [post_date] => 2021-05-27 09:04:23 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-05-27 13:04:23 [post_content] => [post_title] => Bobby Hayes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => dr-bobby-hayes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-04-04 12:03:38 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-04-04 16:03:38 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?post_type=faculty-staff&p=94629 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 98031 [post_author] => 53 [post_date] => 2021-06-03 16:21:46 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-06-03 20:21:46 [post_content] => Dr. Patrick J. McConnell is an Associate Professor of Sport Communication at High Point University. He holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication (U of Georgia), a M.A. in Liberal Studies (UNC Charlotte) and a B.A. in Speech Communication (Humboldt State University).   In a broadcasting career that spanned 20 years, Dr. McConnell served as a radio/TV play-by-play announcer for over 2,000 games of professional, college and high school sports. He has experience as a sports talk show host and as a reporter covering professional baseball, the NBA, NFL, NASCAR and college sports. In addition, he was the Director of Communications for a number of professional baseball organizations over a 13 year period.   “In the Sport Communication program students will learn the needed fundamental skills in the classroom and then will have the opportunity to hone those skills in the field. This combination of classroom instruction and hands on experience is the best way to ensure our students are well prepared for the sport communication industry.”   Dr. McConnell’s areas of academic interests include globalization and sport, sports media and culture, and communication law. [post_title] => Patrick McConnell [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => patrick-mcconnell [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2021-08-05 09:49:50 [post_modified_gmt] => 2021-08-05 13:49:50 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://www.highpoint.edu/?p=98031 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => faculty-staff [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) )
Professor of the Practice of Journalism

The Sports Media major provides students with a strong foundation for a career in the sports media industry. Areas of emphasis include sports journalism, sports production and public/media relations for sports organizations. Students learn the structure and techniques of  sports communication as both journalism and entertainment. The Sports Media major prepares students to tell sports stories through analysis, research, writing, audio/visual elements and performance. Students participate in the broadcast coverage of athletic events and learn to work as members of sports broadcast production teams in the studio and on location in preparation for career opportunities as on-air talent, producing live and studio sports programs for media outlets, and providing media content for sports organizations.

{{post.post_description}}
Course Requirements 2022/2023
Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media
Bachelor of Arts in Sports Media
Degree Requirements Credits
Major Requirements 54
University Core Requirements 36-44
Electives 30-38
Total 128
Minor in Sports Media
Minor in Sports Media
Minor Requirements Credits
Course Requirements 20
Total 20
Requirements for B.S. in Sports Media
Requirements for B.S. in Sports Media
Course Course Title Credits
COM 1110 Human Communication 4
COM 1112 Audio and Video Software Packages 2
COM 1113 Graphic Software Packages 2
COM 1450 Media Law and Literacy 2
COM 3450 Media Law and Ethics 2
SPT 2269 Sports Announcing Practicum 2
For-credit Internship OR COM elective outside of major (4 credits) OR SPT 2881/3881/4881 OR COM 4998 Internship OR Outside Elective OR Special Topics OR COM 4998: Research Methods 4
Major Core Requirements (36 credits)
COM 2001 Techniques in Media Production 4
JOU 2243 Reporting and Writing Across Platforms 4
SMG 2100 Sport Marketing 4
SPT 2246 Sports Reporting 4
SPT 2256 Sport and Communication 4
SPT 3006 Sports Broadcasting 4
SPT 3342 Advanced Sports Broadcasting 4
SPT 4006 Advanced Sports Reporting 4
SPT 3325 Sports Public Relations 4
Course Descriptions
Requirements for Minor in Sports Media
Requirements for Minor in Sports Media
Course Course Title Credits
SPC 2246 Sports Reporting 4
SPC 2256 Sport and Communication 4
SPC 3006 Sports Broadcasting 4
SPC 3342 Advanced Sport Broadcasting 4
SPC 4006 Advanced Sports Reporting 4
Course Descriptions
Career Opportunities
The Sport Communication major provides students with a strong foundation for a career in the sports communication industry, with emphasis on sports broadcasting, sports production, and public/media relations for sports organizations.

High Point alumni are working in advertising and public relations agencies, radio and television stations and are producing corporate and theatrical media throughout the nation. A number of our graduates have gone on to earn Ph.D.’s in communication and other fields, while others have chosen to attend graduate and law school at some of the finest institutions in the country including:

-The Annenberg School at the University of Southern California
-Boston University
-Clemson University
-Georgetown University
-High Point University (M.A. in Strategic Communication)
-Purdue University
-The University of Florida
-The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
-The University of Georgia
Student Outcomes
Jake Fahler
WTAE Pittsburgh Action News 4

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

Thomas Hart
Tupelo Honey Media

HPU graduates are leading prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems, top-tier law, medical and graduate school programs, and many other…

  Name: Megan Hovey Hometown: Canandaigua, New York Year: Class of 2024 Major: Sports media with a minor in social media marketing Internship: Over the summer, Hovey worked with Slate Teams…

Name: Wendell Epps Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia Year: Class of 2023 Major: Sports media Internship: Over the summer, Epps joined WXII 12 News at the sports desk in Winston-Salem, North Carolina….

Name: Harris Eisenberg Hometown: Old Bethpage, New York Year: Class of 2022 Major: Sports media with a minor in sport management Internship: Over the summer, Eisenberg was a broadcasting intern…

Name: Danny Shay Hometown: Holtsville, New York Year: Class of 2023 Major: Sports media Internship: Shay is a content intern at SportsNet New York (SNY) in New York City. His…

Thomas Hart
WEIMA Maschinenbau

Name: Thomas Hart Hometown: Tega Cay, South Carolina Year: Class of 2022 Major: Sports media Internship: Hart joins WEIMA Maschinenbau as a video design intern where he will be working…

Joshua Noel
The Patriot League

Name: Joshua Noel Hometown: Easton, Pennsylvania Year: Class of 2023 Major: Sport media Internship: Noel is spending the summer interning with The Patriot League, a collegiate athletic conference comprised of…

Dru Loman
Dallas Wings

Name: Dru Loman Hometown: Wilmington, North Carolina Year: Class of 2021 Major: Sport communication with a minor in marketing Internship: This summer, Loman served as a marketing and community relations…

With another successful Commencement behind us, recent High Point University graduates are kicking off prestigious career paths around the world at Fortune 500 companies, international service programs, public school systems,…

Study Abroad
At High Point University, our emphasis on global perspectives is designed to provide students with opportunities to enhance their international awareness and to develop their cross-cultural communication skills. Study abroad is strongly encouraged as a part of this emphasis on global studies. With a variety of extraordinary options at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, students at High Point University are encouraged to study abroad as early as the summer after their freshman year. Employers are looking for more than just a degree; they want well-rounded individuals who have familiarity with diverse cultures, special skills, and knowledge of the world around them.
School of Communication Gallery
School of Communication Gallery
View photos from Nido R. Qubein School of Communication
Apply
You have completed your search and found your perfect match at High Point University. Let’s begin.
Visit
See for yourself what an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people looks like.
Discover
The Premier Life Skills University is focused on preparing YOU for the world as it is going to be.