Sports Media and Communication Major
Get in the game with a major that prepares you to communicate effectively across multiple channels and build expertise in researching, concepting, and creating dynamic stories and strategic projects that meet media or sports organizations’ goals.
School of Journalism & Mass Communication | On-Campus
Program Options
There’s a vast fanbase out there—established, new, and soon-to-be. The instruction you receive at SJMC helps you understand how to authentically engage everyone, whether you seek to break news, fortify a league’s presence, or amplify a new player in town.
B.A.J.M.C. in Sports Media and Communication
Learn to communicate effectively using print, video, audio, and other channels while becoming a skilled storyteller. You’ll practice developing concepts, conducting research, and designing brands as you prepare for careers in journalism, public relations, media, and professional sports organizations.
Open JMC Major
Explore everything the School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers and then choose your path. Take your first two years to sample electives in advertising, public relations, sports media and communication, magazine and brand media, and digital media production.
Journalism/Law 3+3 Program
Earn your bachelor’s in journalism and a Juris Doctor degree from Drake Law School in just six years through this accelerated pathway. You’ll learn to think critically, research thoroughly, and write clearly in a program that delivers skills relied upon by both journalists and lawyers.
Meet the Faculty
As an SJMC student, you’ll study with professors who have produced investigative features at ESPN, led their own media-tech companies, and collaborated with international organizations on marketing efforts.
Outside the Classroom
One of the best parts about a career in sports media is gaining up-close access to the action—not just competition itself but everything leading up to it. Drake places you in this environment right from the start to help you build professional connections and an impressive portfolio.
NCAA Division 1 Teams
Our 16 men’s and women’s teams compete at the highest intercollegiate level. You’ll have a front-row seat to Bulldog athletics as you work for campus media, promote student athletes and brands, or conduct media training.
Internships
You’ll work with an internship coordinator to find career-making opportunities both locally and in national markets. Our students have interned with ESPN, the Des Moines Register, People Inc. (formerly Dotdash Meredith Corp.), and many other leading organizations.
Scholarships
Entering and returning SJMC students may qualify for several scholarships, in addition to university awards and financial aid. The SJMC dean’s office also employs students in a variety of part-time jobs.
Student Publications
Cover a beat for The Times-Delphic newspaper, go on-air with our student radio station, host your own podcast, or pursue longer-form pieces for the award-winning Drake Mag.
Drake Broadcasting System
From radio to television to our annual 48-hour film festival, you can do it all with the Drake Broadcasting System. Bring the Drake Relays to the world, entertain nationwide audiences with Bulldog athletics, and more.
Awards
Our Sports Media and Communication students stand out, winning awards from the Associated Collegiate Press, the Broadcast Education Association, and the Iowa Broadcast News Association and even Fulbright fellowships.
Careers & Skills
The modern media landscape rewards practitioners who can do it all. In Drake’s sports media program, you’ll get comprehensive training that gives you a running start toward your career.
In addition to teaching technical skills such as videography, live-event production, publicity and promotion, crisis management, and graphic design, your classes will present you with a 360-degree perspective on what it means to build a fulfilling career as a sports journalist, communicator, and leader.
Employers
- Buffalo Bills
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- ESPN
- University of Wisconsin-Madison athletics
- Two Rivers Marketing in Des Moines
- Chicago Bears
- KCCI-TV, WOI-TV, WHO-TV
- Toronto Sun online
- University of South Carolina Athletics
- Drake Athletics
Skills
- Planning, producing, and editing video segments for television and digital media
- Visual communication methods, including photography, print, and design software
- Sports reporting and storytelling for multiple audiences
- Presenting live and edited sports content
- Strategic communications, promotions, and publicity for sports and media organizations
- Crisis communication, brand management, and sports promotion
- How to work on your own and as part of a larger team
Salary & Growth Outlook
Median salary for public relations specialists in 2024. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Take the Next Step
Make the right call: Build the skills for an exciting career with a degree in Sports Media and Communication from Drake University.
