Broadcast journalism courses are designed to teach students how to gather, analyze and deliver news for television and radio. The syllabus of a sports broadcasting curriculum typically includes learning the operational aspects of video and audio production such as directing, reporting, programming and producing. Students are provided with a combination of theoretical and practical classes and many programs offer students hand-on learning experiences through student-run broadcasts at the school or internships with local media outlets.
Students in bachelor's degree start by learning the basic principles of broadcast journalism and take public speaking courses to build confidence and gain experience speaking to an audience. Students are taught the technical skills needed for production as well as on-camera interviewing and commentary techniques. Learning media law is an important aspect of any form of journalism, while knowing a sport's history, rules and ethics is particularly important from a sporting perspective. In sport-specific classes students also learn how to write about various sports, sports psychology and the role of media relations in sport.
Universities do not typically offer master's degrees in sports broadcasting. Instead, students should look for broadcast journalism or mass communications degree programs that offer specific classes is sports broadcasting. Master's students are expected to have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Broadcast journalism programs are designed to enhance students' journalistic skills and students often work in a deadline-driven environment to simulate real-life situations. Students in sports broadcasting classes learn the role of social media in sports and online reporting as well the business side of sports and broadcasting ethics. Students often are required to write a graduate thesis or complete a professional project at the end of the program.
Journalism schools are found throughout the country. Centralia College in Washington state, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Santa Ana College in California are among those that offer associate degrees in broadcast journalism. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Georgia and Temple University in Philadelphia are the four-year public institutions that offer of a bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism and classes in sports broadcasting. Private four-year institutions with BA broadcast journalism programs include the University of Southern California, Boston University and the University of Miami. Online universities such as Walden University, Ashford University and Full Sail University also offer degree journalism programs.