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  • Sports and Adventure Media
WVU Morgantown

Sports and Adventure Media, B.S.J.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science in Journalism

Nature of the Program

The Sports and Adventure Media Major prepares students for careers as content creators with fundamental knowledge in media, sports and adventure. The Sports and Adventure Media program offers courses that focus on video production for the sports broadcast industry and journalism purposes. Courses also include instruction on multi-platform content production for public relations and journalism purposes.

Students will be prepared to enter an ever-changing digital media landscape by taking innovative courses that utilize the latest storytelling technology and audience engagement tactics, while instilling fundamental storytelling principles and media ethics. Graduates of this degree will stand out in sports media, adventure sports media, and adventure tourism and travel industries. 

Admissions for 2026-2027

  • Admission to the School of Media and Communications
  • Scholarships
  • Choosing a Major
  • Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program

Admission to the School of Media and Communications

For specific information regarding the admissions requirements for First Time Freshmen to the School of Media and Communications, please visit Admission to the School of Media and Communications. 

Students who have completed at least one full-time semester of college work (either at WVU or elsewhere) with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher may also qualify for direct admission into the School of Media and Communications irrespective of standardized test scores. Students who do not meet these criteria will automatically be enrolled in WVU's Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success (CLASS). Students advised in CLASS may declare a major in the School of Media and Communications once they have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.0 at WVU. Or, if a student has a 2.0 cumulative GPA at WVU, they may enroll in MDIA 215S (space permitting) or they may declare the College's Multidisciplinary Studies major. If the student earns a C- or better in MDIA 215S and maintains a 2.0 overall GPA at WVU, then the student may then declare a major in the School of Media and Communications.

Scholarships

In addition to financial aid from West Virginia University, the School of Media and Communications offers a number of scholarships each year to eligible students. All students applying for scholarships must file a FAFSA form by the deadline, even if they are not eligible for need-based aid. 

Choosing a Major

The School of Media and Communications offers five majors: advertising and public relations, integrated marketing communication, journalism, sports and adventure media, and multidisciplinary media studies.  

Direct admission students are admitted to the School upon admission to the University and declare their majors at that time.

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Program

Students in the advertising and public relations or journalism BSJ programs in the School of Media and Communications with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 are eligible for this program. The accelerated MSJ program allows students to customize a research project that is relevant to their interests, whether they are Advertising and Public Relations or Journalism majors. Interested students are identified during their initial year or two at the School, and, if interested, must meet with their academic advisor by the fall of their junior year. Freshmen and sophomores are welcome to stop by to discuss the program as well. Information is posted on the School's website. 

3+3 BSJ/JD

High-achieving students may also participate in the 3+3 BSJ/JD degree program with the WVU College of Law. See the School of Media and Communication's 3+3 BSJ/JD degree program website for more information about this program.

Major Code: 3726

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Degree Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements47
Sports and Adventure Media Program Requirements21
School of Media and Communications Core Requirements15
Sports and Adventure Media Major Requirements37
Total Hours120

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 2, 5, 6, and 719
MDIA 191First-Year Seminar2
General Electives*26
Total Hours47

Sports and Adventure Media Program Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
ECON 200Survey of Economics3
BCOR 350Principles of Marketing3
STAT 111Understanding Statistics (GEF 3)3
PSYC 101Introduction to Psychology3
or SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology
PSYC 251Introduction to Social Psychology3
or SOC 320 Social Psychology
SEP 371Sport in American Society3
English literature or Creative Writing Course 3
Total Hours21

School of Media and Communications Core Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum grade of C- is required in College of Media Core Requirements.
MDIA 101Media and Society (GEF 4)3
MDIA 215SMedia Writing3
MDIA 225SMedia Tools & Applications 3
MDIA 328Media Ethics and Law3
Select one of the following:3
MDIA 401
Making Media in the Digital Age
MDIA 427
History of American Journalism, Media & Pop Culture
MDIA 455
Media, Identity, and Power
Total Hours15

Sports and Adventure Media Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum grade of C- is required in all Sports and Adventure Media Major Requirements.
JRL 235SVideo Editing1
JRL 330SSports and Adventure Media Writing3
MDIA 361Media Relations In Sport3
MDIA 438Branded Content and Narrative3
JRL 380SSports and Adventure Media Video Storytelling3
JRL 484SAdvanced Sports and Adventure Video Production3
Select two of the following:6
JRL 325S
Podcast Reporting & Producing
JRL 435S
Live Sports Video Production
MDIA 340S
Creative Video Production
MDIA 441
Internship
JRL 448S
Digital Publication: Social Video
JRL 487S
Advanced Video Reporting and Producing
Required Minor15
Total Hours37
*

*General Elective and Elective Credits can vary - students must have a minimum of 120 credit hours total to complete the degree

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MDIA 101 (GEF 4)3MDIA 225S3
MDIA 1912ENGL 102 (GEF 1)3
GEF 2B4PSYC 101 or SOC 1013
SEP 3713MDIA 215S3
ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3GEF 63
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
JRL 235S1JRL 380S3
JRL 330S3ECON 2003
PSYC 251 or SOC 3203STAT 111 (GEF 3)3
GEF 53GEF 73
General Elective3Minor Course 13
General Elective2 
 15 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
MDIA 3613MDIA 4383
MDIA 3283BCOR 3503
MDIA 401, 427, or 4553Major Elective 23
Major Elective 13Minor Course 23
ENGL Literature or Creative Writing Course3General Elective3
 15 15
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
JRL 484S3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
General Elective3Minor Course 43
Minor Course 33Minor Course 53
 15 15
Total credit hours: 120

Major Learning Outcomes

Sports and Adventure Media

The goal of the major in Sports and Adventure Media is to provide students with a foundation of knowledge and critical thinking and a depth of skills and understanding that will prepare them for professions in the sports and adventure media industries and/or for further education and research pursuits in sports and adventure media. We will achieve this goal by meeting the following objectives, which will culminate in a B.S.J. degree: 

  1. Graduates of the Sports and Adventure Media program will be adept
    at researching, synthesizing and ultimately conveying to audiences information through various mediums, including text, photo, audio and video.
  2. Graduates of the Sports and Adventure Media program will be skillful
    in live and pre-produced programming, dissemination of content, effective audience engagement, and creative expression using the latest tools and technologies in the industry.
  3. Graduates of the Sports and Adventure Media program will demonstrate
    an understanding of the historical context, theoretical foundations and contemporary trends within media, particularly as it relates to sports.
  4. Graduates in Sports and Adventure media will be practitioners of sound
    media ethics and understand laws and regulations that have shaped and continue to impact media.
  5. Graduates in Sports and Adventure media will understand the significance
    of diversity within the realms of the sports and adventure recreation industries and media. They will apply their knowledge through hands-on experiences, creating work that both serves and contributes to a diverse society.
  • School of Art and Design
  • School of Media and Communications -​ Reed
    • Advertising and Public Relations
    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Journalism Program
    • Multidisciplinary Media Studies
    • Sports and Adventure Media
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WVU Morgantown

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Morgantown, WV 26506
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Phone: 304-293-5355

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