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Sports and Adventure MediaMajor

With its big-time college sports programs and beautiful natural setting, the Mountain State is a mecca for sports and adventure enthusiasts, and the perfect setting for a major designed to prepare you for careers in sports journalism and adventure media communications.

By the numbers1

Only known undergraduate major in the U.S. focusing on sports and adventure media

Overview

What is Sports and Adventure Media at WVU like?

Description

In the Sports and Adventure Media major, you will be prepared to enter an ever-changing digital media landscape by taking innovative courses that use the latest storytelling technology and audience engagement tactics, while instilling fundamental storytelling principles and media ethics.

As a graduate of this program, you will stand out in sports media, adventure sports media and adventure tourism and travel industries thanks to the already experimental and innovative culture in the Reed College of Media. You will also be positioned to provide leadership in your career in these industries, because of the exposure and experiences you will receive during their college careers.

This unique program combines coursework from both the WVU Reed College of Media and the WVU College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences to offer students a curriculum that includes journalism, media, strategic communications, sports psychology and sports management.

Sports and Adventure Media program highlights:

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At a Glance

Next Steps

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

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Areas of Emphasis

Tailor this major to your interests by taking courses in one of these areas:

  • Adventure Media
    Offers courses on multi-platform content production for strategic communications and journalism purposes. Includes Physical Education courses in adventure sports, which will provide students with necessary technical skills to work as media professionals in the adventure media industry.
  • Sports Media
    Offers courses that focus on video sports production for industry and journalism purposes. Requires two College of Media electives, which offer students some flexibility to further tailor their specific interests and skill sets.

Fast Facts

What makes Sports and Adventure Media at WVU unique?

Research and Academic Opportunities

In addition to your coursework, you will get additional hands-on experience through a required internship at a sports or adventure media organization. Potential regional internship partners include Mountaineer Sports Network, the West Virginia Black Bears, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Snowshoe Mountain Resort and Adventures on the Gorge.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Sports and Adventure Media. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • JRL 101: Media and Society
  • JRL 215: Media Writing
  • JRL 225: Media Tools & Applications
  • STAT 111: Understanding Statistics

Living-Learning Communities (LLCs)

Live, study and pursue outside-the-classroom learning in a residence hall community that shares your interests:

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU. Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Student Organizations

Connect with other students who share your academic interests as a member of:

View all of the student organizations you can join.

Careers

How does this degree prepare students for a career?

Graduates can pursue careers as sports writers, announcers, video producers, digital media editors, social media specialists, promotions coordinators and multimedia specialists.

Possible Careers

Wondering what you can do with a degree from WVU's Sports and Adventure Media major? Check out these ideas from WVU Career Services and the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). A median salary is the midpoint of what people typically earn—half of those surveyed earned above the median salary, and half earned below.

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.

Courses

What are the courses like in Sports and Adventure Media at WVU?

Plan of Study

Check out a program overview, learning goals, course descriptions and suggested plan of study for WVU's Sports and Adventure Media major.

View the Plan of Study
 

Popular Courses

JRL 361:
Media Relations In Sport

Provides an in-depth understanding of how effective public relations plays an integral role in any sports organization via a myriad of communication efforts used in the dissemination of information to the media and the public.

JRL 424:
Adventure Travel Writing & Photography

Best practices and ethical considerations of travel and adventure journalism, including photography and point-of-view videography, and appropriate use of digital platforms, blogging and social media for journalistic purposes. Includes a travel component.

RPTR 472:
Tourism System and Destination Management

Analysis of the demand and supply components of the tourism system and identification of destination management approaches to manage this tourism system in-order to build and maintain a competitive and sustainable destination.

SM 486:
Sport Marketing

The study of marketing principles as they relate to sport organizations. Specific attention is focused on the marketing planning process, marketing informational systems and internal marketing.

STCM 439:
Strategic Social Media

This online majors only, course is an accelerated examination of the social media landscape with a focus on crafting messages and successful case studies.

Cost and Aid

How much does Sports and Adventure Media at WVU cost? And how can you save?

Tuition and Fees

Estimated rates are available on our tuition website. Anyone who is not a current West Virginia resident, including international students, will be charged non-resident rates.

View Tuition and Fees
Scholarships

Estimate your eligibility for merit scholarships at WVU Morgantown.

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Net Price Calculator

Estimate your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid and scholarships at any WVU System campus.

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Ways to Save

Here are a few ways for you to save on the cost of attending WVU in addition to university scholarships.

Early College Program

Get a head start (and save money) in our High School ACCESS program for high school students. Choose from online, on-campus or dual credit courses that fulfill requirements for general education or Sports and Adventure Media. Online courses to consider for this major include:

  • JRL 101: Media and Society
  • JRL 215: Media Writing
  • JRL 225: Media Tools & Applications
  • STAT 111: Understanding Statistics

Learn About Our HS ACCESS Early College Program

Extra Merit-based Scholarships

Incoming freshmen to the Reed College of Media may qualify for Innovators scholarships based on GPA. No additional application is necessary. These scholarships are in addition to University scholarships.

See if You Qualify

Transfer Articulation Agreements

To simplify the transfer process, we have formal agreements with certain institutions. These agreements outline the courses you should take to prepare for transferring to WVU.

Review the full list of transfer articulation agreements to see if your institution is listed.

Learn How to Transfer Course Credits

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Sports and Adventure Media at WVU?

To be admitted to WVU's Sports and Adventure Media major, you must meet WVU's first-time freshman admission requirements for the 2024-25 academic year. Interested in transferring? Review the transfer admission requirements.

Related Majors and Minors

What other options does WVU have?

What minors could I consider?

Related Pathways

What majors share similar career interests with this major at WVU?

Next Steps

I like this major. What are the next steps?

Apply Now

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission. Our online application makes the process as convenient as possible.

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Request Information

Want to know more about Sports and Adventure Media at WVU? Fill out the Request Information form to receive more information about the program and life at WVU.

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Visit WVU

It's the next-best thing to being here – you can virtually tour residence halls and the WVU Morgantown Campus.

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