Major in Communication

Bachelor of Arts
Communication offers concentrations in corporate and professional communication, mass communication/television production, and interdisciplinary options. Each area of concentration offers students opportunities to develop a professional portfolio showing their competencies to prospective employers in their chosen field.

The corporate and professional sequence is designed for students interested in public relations, promotion, meeting planning, sports information, advertising, and technical writing. The emphasis in this concentration is on helping students gain skills in interpersonal communication, writing, and oral presentation of informative and persuasive messages.

The mass communication/television production concentration is an appropriate choice for students preparing for careers in print, sports information, journalism, radio, and television.

The communication interdisciplinary program concentration has been developed especially to give students the opportunity to combine a six-course sequence in one of the humanities, sociology, psychology or computer science with a communication focus either in corporate and professional communication or mass communication/television production. This option also allows students to efficiently complete a double major in communication and any of the above programs. Students interested in a double major should check with a communication advisor for details.

The communication interdisciplinary program - Corporate Studies is an attractive option for those students interested in combining knowledge of the financial and management structure of organizations with an emphasis in communication theory and practice. Students may take the 18 semester hours in business administration, accounting, finance, marketing, criminal justice or computer science along with 24 semester hours in communication, appropriate to their professional goals.

Because of the variety of potential career opportunities in communication, students will work closely with their academic advisors in choosing the communication courses and electives most suitable to their career goals. Communication students are encouraged to take part in the extensive communication internship program offered as part of the communication major. Students who are considering graduate work in communication should discuss this possibility with an academic advisor upon entering the program.

Students may complete a minor in communication by choosing 18 semester hours from communication program offerings.

Students in communication are encouraged to take support courses that will strengthen their knowledge of history, society, art, and culture.

Concentrations: 

Corporate and Professional Communications
Courses in this concentration focus on preparing students to analyze audiences and situations, write informational and persuasive messages, make effective oral presentations, and plan promotional campaigns. These are tasks corporate and professional communication specialists are most often expected to perform.

Required Core Courses: 15 semester hours
COM250 Principles of Communication
COM280 Mass Communication and American Culture
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM400 Critical and Ethical Perspectives in Communication
COM499 Senior Seminar in Communication

Selected Courses: In consultation with an academic advisor, choose 21 semester hours from the list below:
ART121 Two Dimensional Design
ART/COM267 Introduction to Photography
ART/COM360 Media Technology for Instructional/Corporate Settings
COM/ENG114 Journalism
COM300 Organizational Communication
COM320 Persuasion
COM351* Corporate and Professional Communication
COM354 Computerized Publication Systems
COM356 Sports Information
COM361 Television Production I
COM362 Television Production II
COM380 Popular Culture
COM384 Advanced Topics in Television Production
COM494 Career Application Field Experience: (6 semester hours)
COM181, 281 381, 481 Selected Topic:
COM294, 394
or
COM/ENG204* Technical and Professional Writing
ENG302* Advanced Academic Writing
ENG312 Semantics
SBS/ECN232 General Statistics

* Other courses in the communication curriculum appropriate to building the final portfolio.

* NOTE: At least one writing course is required. Writing courses are indicated with an asterisk.

Mass Communication/Television Production
For students interested in obtaining a comprehensive foundation for careers in print journalism (newspapers, magazines, specialized periodicals), radio, television, or graduate study in communication.

Required Core Courses: 15 semester hours
COM250 Principles of Communication
COM280 Mass Communication and American Culture
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM400 Critical and Ethical Perspectives in Communication
COM499 Senior Seminar in Communication

Selected Courses: Choose 21 semester hours from the list below: *
ART/COM267 Introduction to Photography
ART/COM360 Media Technology for Instructional/Corporate Settings
COM/ENG114 Journalism
COM160 Television and Visual Literacy
COM214 Writing for the Mass Media
COM300 Organizational Communication
COM330 Media Law and Regulations
COM340 Film Genres
COM356 Sports Information
COM361 Television Production I
COM362 Television Production II
COM380 Popular Culture
COM384 Advanced Topics in Television Production
COM485 Television Production Workshop
COM181, 281, 381, 481 Selected Topic:
COM294, 394 Career Investigation Field Experience: (3 semester hours)
or
COM494 Career Application Field Experience: (6 semester hours)
ENG302 Advanced Academic Writing
ENG312 Semantics
THE140 An Introduction to Film
THE225 Oral Interpretation of Literature

* Other courses in the communication curriculum appropriate to building the final portfolio.

Interdisciplinary Studies: Cultural Communications
In consultation with your program advisor, choose 18 semester hours from course offerings of ONE of the following programs: History, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Art, Music, Theatre, Spanish, Writing and Language, Sociology, or Psychology. To complete the major, choose 24 semester hours from the appropriate sequences in either media studies or corporate and professional communication.

Required Core Communication Courses: Choose 6 semester hours plus COM499:
COM250 Principles of Communication
COM280 Mass Communication and American Culture
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM400 Critical and Ethical Perspectives in Communication

Required of all communication students: 3 semester hours
COM499 Senior Seminar in Communication

Selected Courses: Choose 15 semester hours from the list below:*
ART121 Two Dimensional Design
ART/COM267 Introduction to Photography
ART/COM360 Media Technology for Instructional/Corporate Settings
COM/ENG204 Technical and Professional Writing
COM240 Corporate Video Production
COM300 Organizational Communication
COM320 Persuasion
COM351 Corporate and Professional Communication
COM354 Computerized Publication Systems
COM356 Sports Information
COM361 Television Production I
COM362 Television Production II
COM384 Advanced Topics in Television Production
COM181, 281, 381, 481 Selected Topic: (appropriate to the concentration)
COM294, 394 Career Investigation Field Experience: 3 semester hours

*Other courses in the communication curriculum appropriate to building the final portfolio.

Interdisciplinary Studies: Mass Communication/Television Production
In consultation with your program advisor, choose 18 semester hours from course offerings of ONE of the following programs: History, Philosophy, Religion, Literature, Art, Music, Theatre, Spanish, Writing and Language, Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice or Computer Science. To complete the major, choose 24 semester hours from the appropriate sequences in either media studies or corporate and professional communication.

Required Core Communication Courses: Choose 6 semester hours, with consent of program chair, plus COM499:
COM250 Principles of Communication
COM280 Mass Communication and American Culture
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM400 Critical and Ethical Perspectives in Communication

Required of all communication students: 3 semester hours
COM499 Senior Seminar in Communication

Selected Courses: Choose 15 semester hours from the list below:*
ART/COM267 Introduction to Photography
ART/COM360 Media Technology for Instructional/Corporate Settings
COM/ENG114 Journalism
COM160 Television and Visual Literacy
COM214 Writing for the Mass Media
COM300 Organizational Communication
COM330 Media Law and Regulations
COM340 Film Genres
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM361 Television Production I
COM362 Television Production II
COM380 Popular Culture
COM384 Advanced Topics in Television Production
COM485 Television Production Workshop
COM181, 281, 381, 481 Selected Topic: (appropriate to the concentration)
COM294, 394 Career Investigation Career Experience: 3 semester hours
THE225 Oral Interpretation of Literature

*Other courses in the communication curriculum appropriate to building the final portfolio.

Interdisciplinary Studies: Business Communications
This sequence offers students the opportunity to combine their interest in business administration, accounting or economics, with a communication focus. To complete this major, choose 18 semester hours in business administration, accounting, economics, or marketing plus 24 semester hours in communication from the sequences listed below.

Required Core Courses: Choose 6 semester hours, with consent of program chair, plus COM499:
COM250 Principles of Communication
COM280 Mass Communication and American Culture
COM350 Cross-Cultural Communication
COM400 Critical and Ethical Perspectives

Required of all communication students: 3 semester hours
COM499 Senior Seminar in Communication

Selected Courses: Choose 15 semester hours with consent of program chair:
ART/COM267 Introduction to Photography
ART/COM360 Media Technology for Instructional/Corporate Settings
COM/ENG114 Journalism
COM160 Television and Visual Literacy
COM/ENG204 Technical and Professional Writing
COM214 Writing For The Mass Media
COM240 Corporate Video Production
COM300 Organizational Communication
COM320 Persuasion
COM330 Media Law and Regulations
COM340 Film Genre Series
COM351 Corporate and Professional Communication
COM354 Computerized Publication Systems
COM361 Television Production I
COM362 Television Production II
COM380 Popular Culture
COM384 Advanced Topics in Television Production
COM181, 281, 381, 481 Selected Topic
COM294, 394 Career Investigation Career Experience: (3 semester hours)