Division of Arts and Humanities

Communications

Communications, B.A. (COMAL)

Degree Information

The curriculum of this B.A. in Communications provides a general grounding in traditional media forms along with work in the area of media convergence. Students must do coursework at both the practical and theoretical level. On the theory side, coursework will be offered in the areas of media criticism and theory, visual communications, and media history at the introductory and advanced levels. On the applied side, coursework will be offered in video and audio production, news writing and photojournalism, radio and television studio production, and public relations and advertising at the introductory and advanced levels. In the Convergent Media News Service courses, which form the most distinctive component of the program, students will actually produce and deliver a college news service in print, broadcasting (TV and streaming radio), and a multimedia online format. This hands-on experience will provide students an opportunity to create materials suitable for inclusion in a portfolio. Although not required, students will be strongly encouraged to do an internship sometime during their junior or senior years. Finally, the capstone Convergent Media Seminar will bring seniors together to consider the larger, theoretical issues related to the fast-paced changes in communications today and into the future. With a degree in this program, students will be well-positioned to go right into industry, where they will be able to compete in a number of different job markets, or to graduate school for advanced training.

For the B.A. in Communications, a minimum of 123 credits is required.

Scheduling Recommendation by Semester Standing given like (Sem: 1-2)

GENERAL EDUCATION: 45 credits
(See description of General Education in front of Bulletin)

FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR:
(Included in ELECTIVES OR GENERAL EDUCATION course selection)

UNITED STATES CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURES:
(Included in ELECTIVES, GENERAL EDUCATION course selection, or REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM:
(Included in REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR)

ELECTIVES: 12 credits

BACHELOR OF ARTS DEGREE REQUIREMENTS: 24 credits
(3 of these 24 credits are included in the REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR, GENERAL EDUCATION, or ELECTIVES and 0-12 credits are included in ELECTIVES if foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.)
(See description of Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements in front of Bulletin.)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 42 credits[1]

PRESCRIBED COURSES (12 credits)
COMM 100 GS(3), COMM 150 GA(3) (Sem: 1-3)
COMM 260W(3) (Sem: 2-3)
COMM 490(3) (Sem: 7-8)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (30 credits)
Select 12 credits from the following, including 6 credits at 400-level: COMM 001(1)[2], COMM 002(2-3)[2], COMM 215(3), COMM 241(3), COMM 242(3), COMM 251(3), COMM 269(3), COMM 270(3), COMM 287(3), COMM 296(1-6), COMM 337(3), COMM 345(3), COMM 346(3), COMM 347(3), COMM 374(3) (Sem: 3-6)
COMM 360(3), COMM 374(3), COMM 415(3), COMM 421W(3), COMM 447(3), COMM 448(3), COMM 460W(3), COMM 461(3), COMM 462(3), COMM 467(3), COMM 468(3), COMM 469(3), COMM 471(3) (Sem: 5-8)
COMM 436(3), COMM 472(3), COMM 481(3), COMM 495(1-9), COMM 496(1-18) (Sem: 7-8)

Select 12 credits from the following, including 6 credits at 400-level: COMM 180 GS(3), COMM 205 US(3), COMM 250 GA(3), COMM 261 GH(3), COMM 292(3), COMM 296(1-6), COMM 294(1-3), COMM 320(3), COMM 331(3), COMM 370(3) (Sem: 3-6)
COMM 401(3), COMM 403(3), COMM 408(3), COMM 409(3), COMM 411(3), COMM 412(3), COMM 413W(3), COMM 454(3) (Sem: 5-8)
COMM 417(3), COMM 451(3), COMM 452(3), COMM 494(1-3), COMM 496(1-18) (Sem: 7-8)

Select 6 credits from COMM 470A(3), COMM 470B(3), COMM 470C(3)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
[2] A student may apply only 6 credits total of COMM 001 and COMM 002 towards the requirements of the Communications degree.

Contact:

Dr. Robert C. Trumpbour
Associate Professor of Communications
Arts and Humanities

Office: 102 Cypress Building
Phone: 814-949-5769
Email: