Program Overview

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Program Description

The mission of the Department of Communication & Media is to develop students who are effective and ethical communicators with the creative, critical, and collaborative skills necessary to succeed in a diverse global environment. The focus of the program is to enhance students' knowledge and practical skills in various areas of human communication, including organizational leadership, public relations, and relational communication.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Gather, evaluate, and synthesize information to build and defend arguments.
• Demonstrate communication competence in varied contexts.
• Employ discipline-specific knowledge in applied communication situations.

General Requirements

• Core Curriculum Program: 42 hours
• First-Year Seminars (when applicable): 0-2 hours
• Communication Studies Major Requirements: 39 hours
• Electives: 33 hours
• Foreign Language Requirements: 6 hours
• Total Credit Hours: 120-122 hours

Program Requirements

Communication Core Courses

• COMM 1318: Interpersonal Communication (3 hours)
• COMM 2330: Introduction to Public Relations (3 hours)
• COMM 2335: Presentational Communication (3 hours)
• COMM 3326: Research Methods (3 hours)
• COMM 4345: Intercultural Communication (3 hours)

Communication Emphasis

Students select one of the following emphases:

• Communication Studies Emphasis
• Public Relations Emphasis

Electives

Students select 33 hours of university electives.

Foreign Language Requirements

See the College of Liberal Arts for the college language requirement.

Communication Studies Emphasis

Major Requirements

• COMM 2333: Small Group Communication (3 hours)
• COMM 3310: Communication Theory (3 hours)
• COMM 4380: Senior Seminar in Communication Studies (3 hours)

Prescribed Electives

Students select 15 hours of major electives from the following courses:

• COMM 1321: Business and Professional Communication
• COMM 3311: Nonverbal Communication
• COMM 3325: Relational Communication
• COMM 3330: Persuasion
• COMM 3350: Leadership
• COMM 4314: Gender Communication
• COMM 4315: Communication and Sexuality
• COMM 4331: Public Relations Campaigns
• COMM 4335: Crisis Communication
• COMM 4350: Organizational Communication
• COMM 4360: International Leadership
• COMM 4390: Topics in Communication Studies
• COMM 4399: Communication Internship
• MEDA 1307: Media and Society
• MEDA 1380: Introduction to Media Production
• MEDA 2350: Media Performance
• MEDA 3380: New Media and Communication

Public Relations Emphasis

Major Requirements

• COMM 3331: Public Relations Writing and Design (3 hours)
• COMM 4331: Public Relations Campaigns (3 hours)
• COMM 4335: Crisis Communication (3 hours)
• COMM 4394: Professional PR Portfolio (3 hours)

Prescribed Electives

Students select 12 hours of major electives from the following courses:

• COMM 3311: Nonverbal Communication
• COMM 3330: Persuasion
• COMM 4350: Organizational Communication
• COMM 4390: Topics in Communication Studies
• COMM 4399: Communication Internship
• ENGL 4321: Grants and Proposals
• MEDA 1307: Media and Society
• MEDA 2350: Media Performance
• MEDA 3318: Editing & Layout
• MEDA 3340: Photojournalism
• MEDA 3361: Sports Writing
• MEDA 3380: New Media and Communication
• MEDA 4340: Advertising Criticism
• MEDA 4341: First Amendment and Ethical Issues in the Media
• MEDA 4342: Global Media and International Communication
• MEDA 4343: News Publication
• MKTG 3320: Basic Advertising

Course Sequencing

Communication Studies Plan of Study Grid

• First Year:
  • Fall: UNIV 1101, COMM 1311, University Core Curriculum (12 hours)
  • Spring: UNIV 1102, COMM 1318, COMM 2333, University Core Curriculum (12 hours)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: COMM 2335, COMM 1321, University Core Curriculum (12 hours)
  • Spring: COMM 2330, MEDA 2350, University Core Curriculum (12 hours)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: COMM 3310, COMM 3311, College Core, Upper Divisional Elective (12 hours)
  • Spring: COMM 3326, COMM 4314 or COMM 4315, College Core, Upper Divisional Elective (12 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: COMM 4345, COMM 3350, Upper Divisional Elective, Lower Divisional Elective (12 hours)
  • Spring: COMM 4380, Upper Divisional Elective, Upper Divisional Elective, Lower Divisional Elective (12 hours)

Public Relations Plan of Study Grid

• First Year:
  • Fall: UNIV 1101, University Core Curriculum (12 hours), COMM 1311
  • Spring: UNIV 1102, COMM 1318, University Core Curriculum (12 hours), MEDA 1307
• Second Year:
  • Fall: University Core Curriculum (12 hours), COMM 2335, COMM 1321
  • Spring: University Core Curriculum (12 hours), COMM 2330, MEDA 2350
• Third Year:
  • Fall: College Core, COMM 3330, Upper Divisional Elective, Upper Divisional Elective (12 hours)
  • Spring: COMM 4331, College Core, Upper Divisional Elective, COMM 3331 (12 hours)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: COMM 4335, COMM 4399, Upper Divisional Elective, Lower Divisional Elective (12 hours)
  • Spring: COMM 4394, Upper Divisional Elective, Upper Divisional Elective, Lower Divisional Elective (12 hours)

Courses

COMM 1311: Foundation of Communication

This course examines a breadth of topics fundamental to the study of communication and works to improve students' communication skills in three primary contexts: interpersonal relationships, group/teamwork, and presentational speaking.

COMM 1315: Public Speaking

Research, composition, organization, and delivery of speeches for various purposes and occasions, with emphasis on listener analysis and on informative and persuasive techniques.

COMM 1318: Interpersonal Communication

Predominant issues related to verbal and nonverbal communication with a focus on interpersonal relationships.

COMM 1321: Business and Professional Communication

Introduces students to basic skills, principles, and contexts of communication in business and professional settings by combining public speaking with aspects of communication ethics and organizational, small group, and interpersonal communication.

COMM 1342: Voice and Diction

Basic voice training, including techniques for vocal production, manipulation, and control.

COMM 2330: Introduction to Public Relations

An exploration of the history and development of public relations including the theory and process of public relations, and the various publics and careers associated with the public relations industry.

COMM 2333: Small Group Communication

Application of small group theories and techniques as they relate to group process and interaction.

COMM 2335: Presentational Communication

Advanced study of the principles and methods of formal presentations for various purposes and audiences to further develop students into effective communicators.

COMM 3310: Communication Theory

The foundations, processes, and effects of human communication.

COMM 3311: Nonverbal Communication

The study of body movement, touch, paralanguage, space, environment, and other nonverbal factors in the communication process.

COMM 3325: Relational Communication

This course is an advanced interpersonal communication course that focuses on communication within relationships, such as family, romantic, friendship, and workplace relationships.

COMM 3326: Research Methods

The purpose of this course is to increase student's knowledge of the research process used in the Communication Studies discipline.

COMM 3330: Persuasion

Various theories and forms of rhetorical persuasion.

COMM 3331: Public Relations Writing and Design

This course will introduce students to the basic principles and formatting requirements for public relations writing.

COMM 3335: UIL Debate and Speech

Understanding the University Interscholastic League debate and speech events.

COMM 3350: Leadership

Focuses on the communication of influence that takes place to achieve goals or encourage change.

COMM 4314: Gender Communication

Examination of communication about women and men, as well as communication between them.

COMM 4315: Communication and Sexuality

This course will focus on communication and sexuality, specifically exploring sex and gender identity development and expression.

COMM 4331: Public Relations Campaigns

An application of the public relations process through the production and presentation of a public relations campaign for a local organization.

COMM 4335: Crisis Communication

An application of crisis communication through the development and presentation of a crisis communication plan for a local organization.

COMM 4345: Intercultural Communication

An investigation of the process by which persons and groups of different cultural backgrounds create understanding.

COMM 4350: Organizational Communication

Examination and exploration of realistic applications of communication theories within the framework of an organization.

COMM 4360: International Leadership

Study of international leadership in the context of communication and in multi-cultural and diverse settings.

COMM 4380: Senior Seminar in Communication Studies

This course serves as the capstone for the Communication Studies degree.

COMM 4390: Topics in Communication Studies

Study of specialized topics and themes in communication studies.

COMM 4394: Professional PR Portfolio

Students prepare documents, explore strategies for enhancing their marketability, and assemble a professional portfolio of public relations work.

COMM 4396: Directed Individual Study

See College description.

COMM 4399: Communication Internship

Practical experience in the field through placement in a communication internship position.