Sports Media

This program carries 8 quarter units of UC credit. Students in this track are enrolled in the following classes:

FTV 188A: Special Courses in Film, Television, and Digital Media (4) – This course will explore the intersection of sports and entertainment

FTV 194: Internship Seminars: Film, Television, and Digital Media (2) – Mentorship through the internship experience and industry guest speakers

FTV 195: Corporate Internships in Film, Television, and Digital Media (2) – Production-based internships for sporting events and other media coverage

Internships

Sports Media students are placed in internships through an official partnership with UCLA Athletics. In these paid internships, students can expect to learn the ins and outs of live broadcast production for Big Ten Network sports coverage. During live events, students will support the broadcast team, while having the opportunity to observe and learn about critical roles—including producing, directing, graphics, camera operation, and announcing. These positions will be primarily associated with StudentU, the B1G+ student operated broadcast team responsible for all UCLA in-house production.

Students who participate in the UCLA Athletics internship are required to attend all assigned games and events. The internship involves night and weekend commitments, with the game schedule announced near the start of the program. This is an intensive, hands-on experience that reflects the standards and pace of professional sports media production. Students must adequately fulfill all internship requirements to receive credit for the internship.

Alternatively, students may choose to pursue production-based internships at live-sports entertainment companies such as the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Tennis Channel, and Van Wagner, to name a few. These internships can focus on live production, marketing, social media, development, or other areas contributing to sports and live event industries.

Once students are enrolled in the Sports Media Summer Institute, they receive an introductory email from the Summer Institute Internship Coordinator. The coordinator will work closely with each student, helping them to prepare their cover letter, resume, and interview techniques as well as guide them in the internship search process. While internship placement at UCLA Athletics is guaranteed, students must apply and interview for their placement. Students must attend all games and fulfill internship duties in order to maintain the internship and receive internship credit. For outside internships, our coordinator may provide leads for certain internship opportunities, but the onus is ultimately on the student to secure an internship. Students may instead complete a research paper to fulfill the curriculum. Internships are six weeks, for the duration of the program, with the potential to continue their paid internship throughout the following academic year.