Sports Media Certificate
Sports Media
Certificate
Preparing aspiring sports media professionals in the most in-depth yet wide-ranging program of its kind.
Overview
The Carmical Sports Media Institute is home to the Sports Media Certificate, the most in-depth yet wide-ranging program of its kind.
The six-course certificate program uses hands-on experience to help students develop a variety of skills, including broadcasting (on-air and production) and creating social and digital sports content. The Sports Media Certificate is open to all UGA undergraduates, regardless of major or year in school.
Certificate students explore the societal impact of sports and sports media while gaining the multiplatform skills that give them a distinct job-market advantage in one of the media industry’s growth sectors.
The Sports Media Certificate debuted in 2014. Its graduates are working across the sports media industry, for networks such as ESPN, for professional and college teams, and for media outlets such as The Washington Post and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For more information about the Sports Media Certificate and up-to-date information on how to apply for the program, please visit sportsmediainstitute.uga.edu.
Sports media institute
Sports media institute
The Sports Media Certificate program is offered by the Sports Media Institute to to allow undergraduates to explore a range of sports media specialties, including writing, broadcasting, social media and team communications.
ELIGIBILITY
Admission is open to students who meet the following criteria:
- All freshman, sophomore and junior University of Georgia students are eligible to apply.
- Successful applicants have more than just a keen interest in sports. They have demonstrated a passion for and curiosity about sports journalism and/or sports communications. They have taken advantage of media opportunities at the high school and/or college levels to gain real-world experience. Acceptance is not based on GPA.
- Students who were declined acceptance to the program in the past are eligible and encouraged to apply again.
CERTIFICATE TRACK: HOW IT WORKS
Students enrolled in the Sports Media Certificate program take three core courses, two topics courses and one capstone course. The program is designed to be completed in at least three semesters, including two spring semesters.
Core Courses
Students will take three core courses, including SPTM 3850: Introduction to Sports Reporting and SPTM 4800: Writing and Multiplatform Storytelling for Sports. For the third core course, students choose one of the four courses below.
SPTM 3800 – Sports, Media and Society
Explore how sports, and the media coverage of sports, reflect and drive social change through this course taught in a hybrid online/lecture format.
SPTM 5750 – Social and Digital Media Production for Sports
Learn how to produce compelling sport-related content for social and digital media. Study how social and digital content affect audience engagement for sports media outlets, teams, leagues and athletes.
SPTM 5800 – Sports Enterprise Reporting and Writing
A project-oriented laboratory experience that will focus on the various competencies required in reporting and writing in-depth and multi-faceted sports enterprise stories.
SPTM 5810 – Sports Media Relations
Topics Courses
Students will take two topics courses, from among the choices listed below.
SPTM 3800 – Sports, Media and Society
Explore how sports, and the media coverage of sports, reflect and drive social change through this course taught in a hybrid online/lecture format.
SPTM 5880 – Advanced Topics in Sports Media
Multiple topics course available.
Capstone Course
The capstone course is required for all Sports Media Certificate students.
SPTM 5900 – Sports Media Capstone
This class, usually completed via an internship with a professional media outlet or sports organization, allows students to explore their specific sports media interests and possible career paths in a real-world setting. Instructors provide learning parameters and objectives for the students’ supervisors. The supervisors give critical feedback on student work as the term progresses. Students learn to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional environment. They also learn to adapt to daily demands in the ever-evolving sports media industry.
CLASS SAMPLER
SPTM 3800 – Sports, Media and Society
Explore how sports, and the media coverage of sports, reflect and drive social change through this course taught in a hybrid online/lecture format.
SPTM 3850 – Introduction to Sports Reporting and Writing
Learn the concepts and skills necessary for multimedia sports coverage as a working student journalist at high school, UGA and pro sports events.
SPTM 4800 – Multiplatform Storytelling for Sports
Tell a variety of sports stories across platforms, including audio and video, while covering a UGA or high school sports beat.
SPTM 5820 – Sports Broadcast and Production
Work behind and in front of the camera, reporting and producing live sports broadcasts and weekly studio shows. Start building on-air skills for play by play, color analysis, sideline reporting and show hosting.
SPTM 5800 – Sports Enterprise Reporting and Writing
A project-oriented laboratory experience that will focus on the various competencies required in reporting and writing in-depth and multi-faceted sports enterprise stories.
SPTM 5750 – Social and Digital Media Production for Sports
Learn how to produce compelling sport-related content for social and digital media. Study how social and digital content affect audience engagement for sports media outlets, teams, leagues and athletes.
FACULTY & STAFF
-
Learn More
Vicki Michaelis
John Huland Carmical Chair in Sports Journalism & Society
About: Vicki Michaelis is the director of the John Huland Carmical Sports Media Institute at UGA. She teaches classes in the institute’s undergraduate Sports Media Certificate program. View Curriculum Vitae […]
-
Learn More
Welch Suggs
Associate Professor
About: David Welch Suggs, Jr. is associate director of the Carmical Sports Media Institute and an associate professor of journalism. He has had previous careers as a journalist, as a policy […]
-
Learn More
Carlo Finlay
Senior Academic Professional, Assistant Director of Carmical Sports Media Institute
Carlo Finlay is the associate director for the Carmical Sports Media Institute.
-
Learn More
David Lawson
Lecturer, Sports Media
David Lawson in a lecturer at Grady College.
-
Learn More
Andy Johnston
Editor in Residence
Johnston has covered sporting events on every level in his 33 years as a writer and editor for daily newspapers and websites. He was recognized as one of the country’s […]
-
Learn More
Darryl Ledbetter
Part-time faculty
About:: His professional background includes work in both the print and broadcast media. He’s currently the award-winning Atlanta Falcons Beat Writer for The Atlanta Journal Constitution. He has appeared on […]
-
Learn More
Dayne Young
Program Coordinator
Dayne Young (ABJ ’11) is the program coordinator for the Carmical Sports Media Institute and the New Media Institute, a role he began in 2022. He graduated from the University […]
The Latest
Read the newest headlines, get updates and discover events happening at Grady.
Sports Media senior Cassidy Hettesheimer wins top student paper award at international conference
Two years ago, Cassidy Hettesheimer was struck by the challenges female athletes in “adventure” sports faced in marketing themselves to fans and sponsors. At the time, the journalism major was […]
Audrie Uphues named senior speaker for Fall 2023 Convocation
Audrie Uphues, a graduating journalism major from Odessa, Florida, has been named the distinguished senior speaker for the Grady College Fall Convocation. Graduating students will be celebrated during Convocation ceremonies […]
Students return from covering World Cup with sharpened skills and AP bylines
This summer, 17 University of Georgia sports media and visual journalism students traveled to Australia to cover the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for The Associated Press. “It’s one thing […]
Sports Media students prepare for Women’s World Cup
Covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia would be a dream opportunity for most college journalists. For a group of University of Georgia sports media and visual journalism students, […]
Perspectives
“This was massive. This was the best decision I’ve ever made. I transferred to Georgia a little over a year ago, and this is why. These opportunities.” Winstel covered the Australian national team as a writer in Brisbane during the Women’s World Cup.
Luke Winstell
Journalism, Current Student
Perspectives
“I chose Grady and journalism because I love to talk and tell stories. I love meeting people and learning random information. Journalism has allowed me to be put in spaces and opportunities that I wouldn’t normally be in because I have to tell the story.”
Armani Kardar
Journalism, (AB ‘22)
Perspectives
“My favorite memory is getting selected to cover the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia. THe opportunity to cover such talented and high-profile athletes at an event like the World Cup is a dream come true.”
Emily Dozier
Journalism, AB ‘23
Perspectives
“My favorite memory is covering several Clarke Central athletes at the Track and Field State Championships for my Sports Social Media Production class. I worked, learned and grew with them all season, and it was awesome to be there in person to see it all come to fruition.”
DonA Traylor-Askew
Journalism, AB ‘23
Perspectives
“The Carmical Institute “aided me in finding my true passion of videography. It’s good to be multi-dimensional in this industry, but it’s just as important to find something specific that you can turn into a career path.””
LJ Jackson
Social content specialist, Purdue Sports, AB ‘22
Perspectives
“I am so thankful to have gone through one of the toughest programs in the country and learned from some of the greats in the industry. They have given me the resources and guidance to be successful.”
Kennedie Weems
Audio Video Technology and Film teacher, Richmond Hill High School, AB ‘22
Apply
Gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful sports media professional.