Communications/Sports Journalism

(130 semester hours) Requirements are subject to change.

The communications/sports journalism major is designed to educate students in the fields of print and electronic journalism so that they may work in the media profession and/or pursue graduate studies in communications. The major seeks not only to provide preprofessional training, but also to educate the student in the traditional liberal arts and humanities. The major is interdisciplinary, allowing the student to pursue individual interests and providing a broad cultural context for the specialized field of communications/sports journalism. Communications/sports journalism majors, in consultation with their academic advisors, will be expected to work on campus publications and/or contribute writing to these publications.

For more information about the communications/sports journalism major, contact Professor Dennis Gildea of the Humanities Department at (413) 748-3245 or the Admissions Office at (800) 343-1257.

Download a Communications / Sports Journalism Program Checksheet

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

I. General Education Program (44 s.h. in addition to courses taken for the major)

To integrate the humanics philosophy into their lives, Springfield College students engage in the search for knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of values through a variety of courses in the sciences and humanities. In addition to those General Education courses, students must complete 6 s.h. of Writing-Across-the-Curriculum (WAC) courses. For more information see the General Education Program and WAC courses. In the major requirements listed below, selected courses which fulfill General Education categories are marked with an asterisk; selected WAC courses are marked with a “W”.

II. Departmental Requirements (48-57 s.h.)

COMM 120W - Introduction to Journalism Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 134 - Introduction to Communication Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 207 - Desktop Writing and Publishing Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 219 - Television Journalism Credits: 3 s.h
or
COMM 288 - Special Topics: Radio Journalism Credits 3 s.h.
COMM 224 - Advanced Journalism Credits: 3
COMM 386 - Journalism Internship Credits: 3-12 s.h
COMM 482 - Seminar in Mass Communications Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 241W - Survey of American Literature I Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 242W - Survey of American Literature II Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 261*W - Survey of British Literature I Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 262*W - Survey of British Literature II Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 375 - Structure of American English Credits: 3 s.h
or
ENGL 377 - The History of the English Language Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 467* - Shakespeare Credits: 3 s.h

Select three of the following courses:

COMM 208 - Newspaper Design and Production Credits: 3 s.h.
COMM 211W - Sports Information Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 212W - Sports Writing Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 217 - Sports, Gambling and the Media Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 230 - Video Editing Credits: 3 s.h.
COMM 240 - Literature of Journalism Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 260 - The Press in America Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 288 - Special Topics in Journalism Credits: 3 s.h
COMM 301 - Media, Sport and Culture Credits: 3 s.h.
ENGL 216* - The Athlete in Literature Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 301W - Advanced Composition Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 302W - Business and Technical Writing Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 303 - Business and Professional Speaking Credits: 3 s.h
ENGL 305W - Introduction to Writing as a Profession Credits: 3 s.h
SOCI 420 - Media and Society Credits: 3 s.h
(SOCI 101 is a prerequisite)

III. Journalism Internship

All students in the communications/sports journalism major must complete COMM 386, Journalism Internship for a minimum of 3 s.h. and a maximum of 12 s.h. Prior to the internship, students must successfully complete COMM 120 and COMM 219 or COMM 288 (Radio Journalism). All internships are coordinated by the COMM 386 supervisor. Students seeking an internship need the permission of the COMM 386 supervisor and must consult with the supervisor the semester before registering for COMM 386.

IV. Electives (29–38 s.h., to complete 130 s.h.)

Students can choose from a wide variety of elective courses to complete their program, including such courses as Psychology of Sport, Sociology of Sport, Creative Writing, Film as Narrative Art, Public Relations, Principles and Problems of Coaching, Athletic Administration, and/or Introduction to Sports Laws.

V. Program Standards

In order to continue in the communications/sports journalism major, students must:

Earn a grade of C or better in COMM 120, Introduction to Journalism. Students who earn a C- or less will be immediately removed from the major and will not have an opportunity to reapply, even if they repeat the course for a higher grade.
Earn a minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average for all courses required for the COSJ major and all COMM courses. Grades will first be reviewed once a student has earned 24 credits (at Springfield College or via transferring). Thereafter, grades will be reviewed each semester.
Students who fall below the 2.50 criteria will be put on departmental probation and have one semester to raise their cumulative average in the major. If they fail to do so, they will be removed from the major. Students who successfully meet the 2.50 criteria through subsequent coursework may appeal for readmission to the major, but readmission is not guaranteed.

VI. Sample Program by Year

The program listed below is a sample—courses are not guaranteed to be offered during the semester or year listed. It is the student’s responsibility to insure that all requirements are met on a timely basis and that needed prerequisite courses are completed before taking upper-level requirements; therefore, they should consult carefully with an advisor when planning their program. Students must average a minimum of 16.25 s.h. a semester to complete this program in four years.

In addition to the courses identified below, the following General Education categories need to be fulfilled for this major: Natural Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Health, Physical Education, Second Language/Culture, Visual and Performing Arts, History, Social Science, Social Justice, Philosophy, and Religion. 29–38 s.h. of electives will be required to complete 130 s.h.

Courses marked with an * fulfill or partially fulfill a General Education category. Courses marked with a w may fulfill a WAC requirement, depending on the year taken.