UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire/Preston Campus
3. University School/Centre
Journalism, Language and Communication
4. External Accreditation
Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC)
5. Title of Final Award
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
6. Modes of Attendance offered
Full time
7. UCAS Code
P501
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
Communication, Media, Film and Cultural Studies.
9. Other external influences
National Council for the Training of Journalists /
Broadcast Journalism Training Council
10. Date of production/revision of
this form
July 2015
11. Aims of the Programme




To develop sports journalism practitioners who are independent thinkers and doers
To enable students to acquire the necessary skills, competencies and reasoning skills to move
confidently from the course to a journalism career
To encourage the development of critical thinking, reasoning skills and independence of
thought
To provide a learning environment for personal development and growth both as an individual
and as a contributor to teams and groups
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
 A1. Knowledge of the development, structures and operation of the sports media
 A2. Understanding of theoretical and conceptual issues which relate to sports journalism.

A3. Understanding of how a journalist works, what news and sports news are and how they
are obtained written, presented and edited.


A4. Knowledge of legal, economic, ethical and regulatory controls on sports production.
A5 Analysing sport from an historical, structural and socio-cultural perspective
to underpin journalistic practice/investigation/writing.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, practical workshops, seminars, case studies. Students can choose a dissertation route in
the third year if they wish which requires independent research into a defined area of journalism.
They also choose either Print or Broadcast route in Year Three, both routes underpinned by the
teaching of online applications.
Assessment methods
Essays, work portfolios, examinations, presentations, group projects, time-constrained in-class
assessments, coursework.
B. Subject-specific skills
 B1. Selecting, gathering and processing of news and sport for a range of media
 B2. Technical production, interviewing and presentational skills.
 B3. Media law
 B4 Shorthand.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Course work in practical workshops concentrate on providing students with the core skills required
by a trainee journalist.
The course culminates in students specialising in one area of the sports media and working in
teams to produce a live newspaper, radio, television and/or online news production.
Assessment methods
Portfolios of work, assessed production of practical journalism work, reflective essays,
presentations, group projects, examinations, time constrained assignments, work placements
C. Thinking Skills
 C1. Selecting, researching, analysing and critically appraising information from a
range of primary and secondary sources.
 C2. Relating the practice and products of journalism work to theoretical perspectives and
concepts.
 C3. Planning and conducting research and communicating results
Teaching and Learning Methods
Lectures, seminars and coursework encourage students to become reflective practitioners.
Assessment methods
Essays, examinations, presentations, practical projects, time constrained assessments.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
 D1. Self-confidence, curiosity, common sense, persistence.
 D2. Focus, brevity, effective verbal and written communication
 D3. Team working

D4. Independent thinking, reflection and criticism.

D5 Work effectively as a group member and leader
Teaching and Learning Methods
Seminars and tutorials stress the need for independent, focused thought. Group projects
encourage teamwork. Practical workshops stress the need for brevity and clarity in written and
verbal communication.
Assessment methods
Team working, project management and criticism are displayed in the production of live
newspapers, radio, television or online news production.
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Module
Code
Level 6
JN3025
JN3046
JN3051
JN3052
Module Title
Compulsory Modules
Journalism Ethics & Regulation
Work Placement
Plus one of the following:
Advanced Print and Online
Sports Journalism
Advanced Broadcast Sports
Journalism
14. Awards and Credits*
Credit
rating
20
20
40
Bachelor Honours Degree
Requires 360 credits including a
minimum of 240 at Level 5 or
above and 120 at Level 6
Bachelor Degree
Requires 320 credits including a
minimum of 180 at Level 5 and
above and 40 at level 6
40
Optional Modules (select 40
credits from)
JN3993
JN3053
JN3054
TL3030
TL3076
TL3031
PR3112
Sports Journalism Project
Football and Communication
Football and Popular Culture
Business of Football
Sport in the Global Village
The Sporting Image
Sports PR
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
JN2054
JN2050
JN2200
TL2115
Compulsory Modules
Sports Journalism Practice
The Digital Landscape
Law for Journalists
Current Issues in Sport
40
20
20
20
Level 5
JN2033
JN2055
TL2002
TL2055
TL2064
Level 4
JN1014
JN1015
JN1016
JN1017
TL1035
TL1036
JN1005
Optional Modules (select 20
credits from)
International Journalism
Football and the Media
Marketing and Promotion of
Sport
Developing Research Skills
Economics of Sport and Leisure
Compulsory Modules
Reporting Skills
Broadcast Journalism Skills
Creating Content
Multiplatform Journalism
The Sporting Infrastructure
Optional (Select 20 credits
from)
The Making of Modern Sport
Shorthand for Journalists
Diploma of Higher Education
Requires 240 credits including a
minimum of 100 at Level 5 and
above.
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
20
Certificate of Higher Education
Requires 120 credits at Level 4 or
above
15. Personal Development Planning
Personal Development Planning is an integral part of the course aimed at assisting students to take
responsibility for their personal, educational and career development. The course encourages the
development of critical thinking, reasoning skills and independence of thought and students are also
encouraged to be reflective practitioners. Students are encouraged to engage in relevant work
experience as part of the course and in their own time. Personal tutors support students in their
reflection on their Personal Development. In consultation with personal tutors students are required to
maintain a log or diary detailing their performance and development.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have
been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for
the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
We will make a conditional offer of 300 points at A2 (or the equivalent) to everyone who is predicted
to achieve or exceed that, subject to achievement of GCSE English at grade C or above and the
following:
Where General Studies is one of three A2s, the General Studies result will count towards the total
Where General Studies is one of more than three A2s, the General Studies result will not count
towards the total
Where there is evidence of focus on sports journalism from the personal statement application, for
instance significant work experience, allowance may be made in the offer to recognise this.
In the case of mature or non-standard applicants any offer will be made at the discretion of the
admissions tutor and/or the course leader.
Overseas applicants who do not have English as their native language will be required to achieve
IELTS 7.5
17. Key sources of information about the programme
University prospectus, university website – www.uclan.ac.uk
Department website www.ukjournalism.org
Course fact sheets
UCAS handbooks and website
Department Facebook page
Journalism Department open and applicant days
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Compulsor
Other skills relevant
y (COMP)
to employability and
Module
or Option
Knowledge and
Subject-specific
personal
Level Code
Module Title
(O)
understanding
Skills
Thinking Skills
development
PR3112 Sports Public Relations
Advanced Broadcast Sports
JN3052 Journalism
Advanced Newspaper and
JN3051 Online Sports Journalism
JN3993 Sports Journalism Project
JN3025 Ethics and Regulation
JN3046 Work Placement
TL3076 Sport in the Global Village
TL3031 The Sporting Image
TL3030 Business of Football
JN3053 Football and Communication
JN3054 Football and Popular Culture
JN2050 The Digital Landscape
JN2033 International Journalism
JN2055 Football and the Media
JN2200 Law for Journalists
JN2054 Sports Journalism Practice
Marketing and Promotion of
TL2002 Sport
TL2055 Developing Research Skills
Economics of Sport and
TL2064 Leisure
TL2115 Current Issues in Sport
JN1014 Reporting Skills
e
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LEVEL 6
A1
A2
A
A3
3
A4
A5
B1
B2
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O
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O
COMP
COMP
O
O
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COMP
O
O
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COMP
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X
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O
O
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B3
B4
C1
X
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X
C2
C3
C4
D5
D1 D2 D3 D4
X
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O
COMP
COMP
X
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X
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X
XX
X
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X
X
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X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
JN1015
JN1016
JN1017
TL1035
TL1036
JN1005
Note:
Broadcast Journalism Skills
Creating Content
Multiplatform Journalism
The Sporting Infrastructure
The Making of Modern Sport
Shorthand For Journalists 1
COMP
COMP
COMP
COMP
O
O
X
X
XX
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
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X
Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks
X