Lawrence Township, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 37,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Rider practices rolling admissions
** additional fees may apply
Key Summary
Introduction
Prepare to join the next generation of sports media professionals by building your skills in multimedia production, writing/storytelling, social media, and sports communication.
Rider’s B.A. in Sports Media is designed to help you acquire the diverse skills and competitive edge that sports media employers seek. As a student in this program, you’ll build a solid foundation in journalism, public relations and marketing. Courses in the major will give you the opportunity to specialize in sports-related communications (written, multimedia, and social media) for a wide variety of audiences.
The sports media program allows students to learn and utilize their communication skills in an academic setting that reflects a professional environment. The program features classes in sports journalism, broadcasting/announcing, content creation, social media, and public relations. Besides coursework in these areas, students will have the opportunity to cover sports for ESPN+, 107.7 The Bronc, The Rider News, Rider University’s Divison I athletics program, and a multitude of internships in the nearby New York City and Philadelphia markets. From the first day, students set foot on campus, they can be involved with the coverage and production of sporting contests that leads them to the ultimate goal of developing a professional portfolio to market themselves with upon graduation.
From minors to majors
Through individual internship advising, our students have interned with a number of major professional sports franchises, minor league organizations, and Division 1 programs. Rider communication majors have successfully interned with ESPN, the New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils, Trenton Thunder, and the Rider Broncs. Recent graduates are working as multimedia producers with Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. Other recent graduates are working at CBS Sports and NBC Sports.
Curriculum
Students will learn the fundamental and advanced procedures involved with journalism, television, and public relations. All of these academic areas are focused on sports content in order to make a student well-versed in both communication skills and the inner workings of the sports media industry.
Classes will utilize the Department of Communication, Journalism and Media's three state-of-the-art journalism labs, television studio, and radio studio, and have access to college and professional sports organizations.
Because of Rider’s commitment to professional learning, students will be able to produce content for 107.7 The Bronc, The Rider News, The Rider University Network R.U.N. TV, and intern with the many college and professional teams located within minutes from campus.
The capstone experience for Sports Media students is a live sport reporting class in which students attend multiple live sporting events and create content from the press box and have access to post-game interviews.
The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure a timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.
Year 1
Fall Semester
- CMP 120 Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric
- MTH 102 Finite Mathematics
- HIS 150 World History to 1500
- COM 102 Introduction to News Writing
- Scientific Perspectives
Spring Semester
- CMP 125 Seminar in Writing and Research
- HIS 151 World History Since 1500
- COM 104 Speech Communication
- COM 105 Communication, Culture and Media
- Social Perspectives
Year 2
Fall Semester
- COM 131 Fundamentals of Video Production
- COM 264 Digital Media: Theory and Practice
- Scientific Perspectives
- Aesthetic Perspectives: Fine Arts
- Foreign Language 2
Spring Semester
- SPT 250 Introduction to the Business of Sports
- COM 270 Sports Multimedia Reporting
- Aesthetic Perspectives: Literature
- Philosophical Perspectives
- Foreign Language 2
Year 3
Fall Semester
- MKT 200 Marketing Principles
- COM 240 Public Relations
- COM 361 Photography
- COM 370 Sports Television and Field Production
- Elective Course Credits 1
Spring Semester
- COM 204 Advanced Speech Communication
- MKT 280 Sports Marketing
- COM 301 Communication Law
- COM 371 Sports Feature Content Creation
or COM 316 Feature Writing - Elective Course Credits 3
Year 4
Fall Semester
- COM 247 Covering the Sports Betting Industry
- COM 302 Communication Ethics
- COM 347 Sports Communication
- Elective Course Credits
Spring Semester
- COM 470 Live Sports Reporting Capstone
- Sports Media Elective
- Elective Course Credits
1 Suggested elective courses: SPT 355, AMS 211
2 For course placement information, see the course placement page.
3 Please note that elective credits may be used to complete requirements in a second major or minor.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
At Rider, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all, and our aid packages are no exception. In fact, 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid. Let us work closely with you and your family to find scholarships and aid that are right for you.
| 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid | $21.8 Average student assistance package | $71.2 million Total institutional funds awarded by Rider for the 21–22 school year |
Career Opportunities
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment increases in communications, sports, and related fields, with New York and New Jersey ranking among the top states in the nation for employment in sports media fields.
Common careers:
- Sports writing and editing
- Broadcasting and media production
- Digital media
- Web development
- Marketing
Student Testimonials
English Language Requirements
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