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 accepts applicants every fall and spring semester. Application periods are in September and February. Accepted applicants begin the program in the subsequent semester.
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 the Carmical Sports Media Institute website.
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
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Carlo Finlay
Lecturer, Assistant Director of Carmical Sports Media Institute
Carlo Finlay is the associate director and lecturer for the Carmical Sports Media Institute.
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Andy Johnston
Editor in Residence
Andy Johnston is the editor of The Oglethorpe Echo, a weekly newspaper in partnership with Grady College that provides real-word community journalism experience for UGA students. The Echo was second […]
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David Lawson
Lecturer, Sports Media
David Lawson in a lecturer at Grady College.
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Dayne Young
Program Coordinator
Dayne is the program coordinator for both the NMI and the Carmical Sports Media Institute. With the NMI, Dayne serves as the TEDxUGA Producer, chair of the New Media Advisory […]
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Sam Jones
Part-time Instructor
Sam Jones received his master’s degree in journalism from UGA in 2020. Upon graduation, he began writing a daily newsletter and regular features for MLSsoccer.com, the official site of Major […]
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Perspectives
“I have made such good friendships in my classes. From Intro to Sportsource, I’m grateful for the all the times covering games and assignments. It’s truly a sports media family!.”
Laney Martin
(AB ’25)
Perspectives
“I’ve seen my work featured by global outlets and I connected with professionals from around world. These experiences reminded me what I love what I do.”
Savannah Hernandez
(AB ’25)
Perspectives
“There is always an open-door policy in the Carmical Suite. I always appreciate being able to get career advice or just chit-chat about sports media trends with our professors.”
Patrick Cassat
(AB ’23)
Perspectives
“My favorite moments were getting close to my classmates while working high school games together!”
Mariah Rose
(AB ’22)
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
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Gain the skills and knowledge necessary to become a successful sports media professional.