Degrees for Sports Writing
Becoming a sportswriter is a dream job for many sports fans, which makes the industry an incredibly tough one to crack. Some sports writers attend sporting events, writing a recap or summary of the event, while others focus on producing in-depth feature stories on a certain sport, event or athlete. Employers typically hire candidates with experience, qualifications and natural writing ability.
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Sports Journalism
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Bachelor's degree programs in sport journalism focus on preparing students for careers in print and electronic media. Students are taught the basic principles of journalism and hone their skills through a series of theoretical and practical classes. Students are given specialized training in writing, editing and reporting and are expected to have a solid understanding of current events. Students will also be required to know media law and ethics. Professional experience is a central part of many programs, and students often do internships with local companies or work for the university newspaper. Universities that are renowned for their sporting prestige often offer sports-based programs because they have access to good journalism facilities and have contacts with some of the leading professionals in the field.
English
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A degree in English can lead to a career as a film critic, novelist or sportswriter. A typical English program has no links to sports in its curriculum, but classes in creative writing improve your literary skills. Classes in professional writing and editing practices can be taken as electives as part of some programs, while other universities offer them as majors in their own right. Either way, they prepare you for a career as a writer. If you don't think studying the likes of Shakespeare, Chaucer and Tolstoy can lead you to a career in the sports industry, just take a look at legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno -- an English major at Brown University.
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Mass Communications
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Degree programs in mass communications can be a springboard to numerous roles in the media industry, including a job as a sportswriter. Students who major in communications learn about the influence that mass media play in society. A sample curriculum includes classes that focus on methods of communication, research methods and media propaganda. Students also often have the option of taking electives in journalism, linguistics and sociology.
Philosophy
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Degree programs in philosophy teach students to become critical thinkers and pose difficult questions before answering them as clearly and logically as possible. Philosophy majors are taught to build rational arguments and present a compelling case to back up their thoughts, as well as how to think and respond to difficult questions from various perspectives. Combine your thoughts with a talent for writing and an interest in sports and you could be on your way to writing features that keep readers coming back for more.
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References
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