Sports Media and Communications BA (Hons) Degree

Program Overview

This three-year program in Sports Media and Communications from UA92, awarded by Lancaster University, prepares students for careers in the sports media industry. Through coursework-based assessments, industry-inspired courses, and practical media work, students develop skills in media production, communication techniques, and marketing. The program also emphasizes character and personal development through the 92 Programme, which focuses on mindset, skillset, and career readiness.

Program Outline

Outline:

Level 4 (Year 1)

• Module 1 - Media, Technology and Culture
• Explores media consumption, rapid changes in communication technologies, and their impact on society.
• Investigates media production, dissemination, and reception.
• Module 2 - Communication Techniques and Creating Content
• Explores different approaches to media products.
• Students produce a magazine, podcast, or documentary.
• Introduces practical media skills, group work, and presentation.
• Module 3 - Media Production
• Develops practical media skills.
• Students work individually and collectively using cameras, audio equipment, and editing software.
• Students learn to display their work online professionally.
• Module 4 - Sports Media and Public Relations
• Explores how sports organizations use media and communication tools for persuasion.
• Introduces different communication techniques and professional practices.
• Students create media artefacts to respond to a specific brief.

Level 5 (Year 2)

• Module 1 - Politics, Power and Communication
• Critically examines how media communication is tied to political, economic, social, and cultural power.
• Explores how transnational corporations use new technologies to exert influence.
• Students understand how political power is reinforced and challenged through media.
• Module 2 - Media Narratives
• Explores storytelling in an online environment.
• Examines digital narratives and creating stories using different structures.
• Investigates how technology and interactivity have reconfigured media experiences.
• Module 3 - Audio and Video Production
• Further develops video and audio production skills.
• Students work in small groups to create sophisticated media artefacts.
• Module 4 - Integrated Sports Marketing Communication
• Explores the importance of market research, product design, promotion, and customer feedback in sports and media industries.
• Students understand the role of digital media and enhance creative skills.

Level 6 (Year 3)

• Module 1 - Media Law and Ethics
• Provides in-depth knowledge of legal, ethical, and regulatory constraints in the media industries.
• Focuses on UK context and key tensions in media coverage.
• Students familiarize themselves with relevant laws, regulations, and professional codes.
• Module 2 - Advanced Marketing and Communication Techniques
• Further refines creative skills by responding to a professional marketing brief.
• Students advance their research, communication, and presentation skills to create a well-designed response.
• Module 3 - Sports Media and Communications: Professional Practice
• Looks at case studies of different media and communication roles.
• Students develop a personal career plan and identify key skills and experience.
• Students engage in practical media work and showcase their skills in a professional context.
• Module 4 - Final Project
• Students complete a project on a relevant subject area that demonstrates their research, problem-solving, and practical skills.

The 92 Programme:

• A program designed to boost students' mindset, skillset, and prepare them for future career success.
• Focuses on character and personal development.
• Engages students in focus days with activities designed to improve self-awareness, wellness, resilience, professionalism, and employability.
• Upskills students in different areas to prepare them for the future workplace.

Assessment:

• **No traditional end-of-year exams.

• **100% coursework in year 1 and 2.

• **100% coursework in year 3.

• **Submissions include essays, presentations, media projects, and learning journals.

• **Learning journals document student experiences and are assessed at the end of each year to meet the required standard.

Teaching:

• **Fixed morning or afternoon timetables.

• **Study one module at a time.

• **Industry-inspired courses and guest lectures from professionals.

• **Small group work and individual projects.

• **Access to industry-standard media facilities including a media studio, podcast booths, editing suites, and camera equipment.

Careers:

• **Prepares students for various roles in sports media, including broadcast, press, marketing, advertising, and public relations.

• **Graduates can pursue careers as advertising executives, content creators, social media managers, PR and influencer executives, communications officers, press officers, publicists, or partnerships managers.

• **UA92's high-profile partnerships and industry connections provide access to internships, work placements, and career opportunities.

Other:

• **Three-year program awarded by Lancaster University.

• **Multiple start dates throughout the year.

• **Focus on character and personal development.

• **Located at the Old Trafford Campus in Manchester.

• **Close proximity to tram stops and Manchester city center.