Apr 24, 2025  
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

News & Sports Media (BA)

Location(s): Manhattan Campus, Manhattan Online


The News & Sports Media degree prepares future journalists and media professionals to share nonfiction stories ethically, professionally, and creatively on any media platform. Students develop essential skills in storytelling content creation and distribution such as writing and reporting, broadcasting, social media news strategies, podcasting, sports journalism, and digital photo and video. Students are exposed to journalistic storytelling tools such as social media platforms, drones, streaming video, and other developing technologies. Students further specialize their degree by pursuing a concentration in a specific content area such as news, sports, photography, or innovative design in which they develop advanced skills. They also personalize their degree with an outside concentration. The hands-on nature of courses prepares students to pursue careers such as photojournalism, media production, sports broadcasting, news reporting, data journalism, and more.  

Kansas State University Core: 34-36 Credit Hours


KBOR Statewide Transfer (SWT) Courses: https://www.kansasregents.org/academic_affairs/transfer-articulation.

English (Written Communication Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


Communication (Oral Communication Outcomes): 3 Credit Hours


Natural & Physical Sciences (Natural & Physical Sciences Outcomes): 4-5 Credit Hours


Choose 1 subject area which must include a lab.

Social & Behavioral Sciences (Social & Behavioral Sciences Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Arts & Humanities (Arts & Humanities Outcomes): 6 Credit Hours


At least 2 courses from 2 subjects under this area.

Free Electives (Institutionally Designated Area): 6 Credit Hours


Includes ALL 100 and 200 level courses at K-State or in Transfer. 
Note: One course may be used to satisfy more than one requirement. However, students must complete a total of 34-36 credit hours of general education courses.

For a Full Listing of K-State 100/200 level courses you may search those courses individually via the University Course Catalog.

TOTAL CREDITS: 34-36


Program Requirements


Orientation: 1 Credit Hour


Outside Concentration: 9 Credit Hours


Outside credential of at least 9 credit hours (May be from any unit, except for School of Media and Communication OR from approved interdisciplinary credentials within the unit).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a single prefix (except for COMM or MC) (all must be 300 level or above OR at any level with a prereq in the same prefix; up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

OR

Any 9 credit hours in a microcredential (up to 5 credit hours may overlap with program).

Overlays: [9] Credit Hours


May be fulfilled in K-State Core, Outside Concentration, electives, or the Program itself.

  • Ethical Reasoning Overlay Credits: [3]
  • Global Perspectives Overlay Credits: [3]
  • US Multicultural Overlay Credits: [3]

Programs


Foundations: 8 Credit Hours


Writing Foundation I


Writing Foundation II


Complete 2 credits from the following courses:

Content Creator Studio I


Complete the following 3 credits:

Content Creator Studio II


Complete 2 credits from the following courses:

NSM Specialization: 9 Credit Hours


Choose one specialization from the following (courses used to fulfill NSM Electives may not also be used to fulfill Specialization):

BA Arts, Humanities, and Social Science Requirement: 3 Credit Hours


Any course or combination of courses in Fine Arts Credits: 3


BA Natural and Quantitative Requirement: 6 Credit Hours


One course in each of the following, with at least 3 credit hours total at 300 level or above OR at any level with a prerequisite in the same discipline.

Natural Science or Quantitative course Credits: 3


Natural Science, or Quantitative, or Social Science with MATH or STAT Credits: 3


BA Second Language Requirement: 3-16 Credit Hours


Choose one of the following:

Option 1: 3-14 Credit Hours


At least 3 credit hours of coursework culminating with level 4 or above (i.e., Frech 4, German 4, Spanish 4, etc.) or the equivalent of level 4 in a second language sequence.

Option 2: 16 Credit Hours


At least 16 credit hours of coursework in which student takes the first and second levels of two different languages, selected from any language offered within the department of Modern Languages, ASL, or from any other second language transferred in at an equivalent level.

Option 3: 3 Credit Hours


Students whose first language is not English may satisfy this requirement by meeting the English Proficiency Admission Standards for K-State or by completing the appropriate level of exit courses with the English Language Program.

Free Electives: 8-21 Credit Hours


In addition to K-State Core Free Electives requirement, take any course so that the total credit hours completed equals 120.

Grand Total for Program of Study: 120


A&S Common BA degree requirements met by the following:

  • COMM 470
  • A&S BA Fine Arts & Non-quantitative Social Science Quantitative Electives
  • A&S BA Natural and Quantitatitve Restricted Electives