The Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication is obtained by successfully completing 120 credit hours, with at least 72 hours outside the Communication major. Fifty-three (53) of those 72 hours must be courses in liberal arts and sciences. A minor outside of the major field is required for this degree.
The Jax MIX General Education requirements are made up of the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Jax MIX Communication | 12 | |
For math, select one course from the following: | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
or MS 112 | Precalculus Algebra | |
or MS 204 | Basic Statistics | |
| Jax MIX Expression | 9 | |
| Jax MIX Inquiry | 8 | |
| Jax MIX Experience | 12 | |
| Professional Development in Sports Management- Select two courses: | 6 | |
| History of Sport | ||
| Topics in International Sport Management and Recreation | ||
| Legal and Ethical Aspects of Sport Management and Recreation | ||
| Human Resource Management in Sport and Recreation | ||
| Social and Cultural Foundations - Select two courses: 1 | 6 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Current Social Issues | ||
| Survey of African American Literature I | ||
| Survey of African American Literature II | ||
| Native American Literature | ||
| Women's Literature | ||
| LGBTQ+ Literature | ||
| Beginner's French I | ||
| Beginner's French II | ||
| Beginner's Spanish I | ||
| Beginner's Spanish II | ||
| Social Problems | ||
| Sociology of Disability | ||
| Social Movements and Activism | ||
| Race, Ethnicity, and Society | ||
| Religion, Spirituality, and Cults | ||
| Sociology of Sexualities | ||
| Gender and Society | ||
| Total Hours | 53 | |
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If six (6) hours of foreign language is selected, then students should pursue a sequence in SH of FH to do so.
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.00 and complete, with a minimum grade of “C,” all Department of Communication courses required for the degree. Students who make a grade of “D” or “F” in a communication course may repeat the course only once. A second “D” or “F” in the same course will exclude a student from majoring or minoring in communication.
A major in communication must include:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 200 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| COM 320 | Video Production and Editing 1 | 3 |
| COM 358 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM 380 | Media Law (WI) | 3 |
| COM 395 | Media Ethics (WI) | 3 |
| COM 415 | Mass Communication Research 2 | 3 |
| or COM 412 | Digital Media Analytics | |
| COM 491 | Internship 3, 4 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
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Students in Digital Media Production and Sports Media Analytics - Broadcasting should avoid taking COM 320 Video Production and Editing (3) in corequisite with COM 301 Introduction to Television Production (3) or COM 302 Introduction to Audio Production (3).
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Students in Digital Journalism, Digital Media Production, and Public Relations and Advertising concentrations in the B.A. in Communication should take COM 415 Mass Communication Research (3). Students in the Sports Media and Analytics concentration should take COM 412 Digital Media Analytics (3).
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COM 491 Internship (3), is a required course for all communication majors. Before registering for COM 491 Internship (3), a student must have satisfactorily completed specific courses in his/her area of concentration.
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Each communication major should also complete a portfolio before graduation. To assess and improve its academic programs, the department must obtain periodic measurements of student learning. Such measures will include, among others, an exit exam and exit interview.
The concentration in Sports Media and Analytics Offers Students the flexibility to complete the program by pursuing one of three areas of focus in their studies - Digital Journalism, Broadcasting, or Public relations and advertising.
Students Must Choose One of the Following Three (3) Areas of Focus
Digital Journalism Focus:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 315 | Introduction to News | 3 |
| COM 318 | News Reporting | 3 |
| or COM 410 | Media Features (WI) | |
| COM 319 | Sports Writing and Reporting | 3 |
| COM 420 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| COM 445 | Media Management | 3 |
| 3 hr COM Elective | 3 | |
| 3 hrs. of COM Workshop 4, 5 | 3 | |
| SMR 410 | Business of Sport | 3 |
Broadcast Focus:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 205 | Introduction to Broadcast Writing | 3 |
| COM 301 | Introduction to Television Production | 3 |
| COM 302 | Introduction to Audio Production | 3 |
| COM 352 | Sports Broadcasting | 3 |
| COM 445 | Media Management | 3 |
| COM 470 | Advanced Electronic News | 3 |
| 3 hrs COM Workshop 4, 5 | 3 | |
| SMR 410 | Business of Sport | 3 |
Public Relations and Advertising Focus:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 304 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| COM 306 | Sport Communication | 3 |
| COM 330 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 340 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| COM 440 | Campaign Management: Public Relations & Advertising | 3 |
| 3 hr of COM Elective | 3 | |
| 3 hrs. of COM Workshop 4, 5 | 3 | |
| SMR 410 | Business of Sport | 3 |
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To complete the COM workshop section of each focus option, students may choose from any of our 1 hour COM Workshop courses (COM 360, COM 361, COM 362, COM 363, COM 364, or COM 365). Student may repeat any section up to 3 times, or complete different workshops to vary their experience.
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Students enrolling in COM 360 Media Workshop - News Publishing (1), COM 361 Media Workshop - Radio Broadcasting (1), COM 362 Media Workshop - Public Relations & Advertising (1), COM 363 Media Workshop - Video News (1), COM 364 Media Workshop - Sports Media Production (1), COM 365 Media Workshop - Multimedia Production (1), COM 475 Directed Study (3), or COM 491 Internship (3) must apply for eligibility into those courses no later than the pre-registration period preceding the semester in which the courses will be taken. Media workshop courses are strongly recommended electives for all students.
For Students Completing 3 hours of COM Elective Credit in the Digital Journalism or Public Relations and Advertising Focus Areas, they may choose a course from the following courses for elective credit:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 301 | Introduction to Television Production | 3 |
| COM 302 | Introduction to Audio Production | 3 |
| COM 304 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| COM 305 | Advanced Audio Production | 3 |
| COM 306 | Sport Communication | 3 |
| COM 307 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| COM 309 | Entertainment & Media | 3 |
| COM 315 | Introduction to News | 3 |
| COM 316 | Podcasting | 3 |
| COM 325 | Publication Design | 3 |
| COM 330 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 345 | Social Media Strategy | 3 |
| COM 350 | Announcing | 3 |
| COM 385 | Multimedia Design | 3 |
| COM 397 | Advanced Video Production | 3 |
| COM 400 | Public Relations and Advertising Case Studies | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 325 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 378 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| SMR 231 | History of Sport | 3 |
| SMR 331 | Topics in International Sport Management and Recreation | 3 |
| SMR 355 | Principles of Finance in Sport Management and Recreation | 3 |
| SMR 410 | Business of Sport | 3 |
| SMR 425 | Contemporary Issues in Sport Management and Recreation | 3 |
In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about Jax MIX requirements and Alabama Transfers equivalents can be found in their respective section of the catalog.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| Jax MIX Communication: EH Composition Sequence | 3 | |
| Jax MIX Expression: Fine Arts | 3 | |
| EH 141 | Speech (Jax MIX Communication) | 3 |
| MS 110 | Finite Mathematics (Jax MIX Communication) or Precalculus Algebra or Basic Statistics | 3 |
| Jax MIX Experience: History | 3 | |
| SSC 101 | First Year Experience | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Jax MIX Communication: EH Composition Sequence | 3 | |
| Jax MIX Inquiry: Science | 4 | |
| Jax MIX Experience: History | 3 | |
| COM 200 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Jax MIX Expression: Literature | 3 | |
| Jax MIX Inquiry: Science | 4 | |
| Jax MIX Experience: Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| COM 320 | Video Production and Editing | 3 |
| Concentration Focus 1, 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Jax MIX Expression: Literature | 3 | |
| Jax MIX Experience: Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | 3 | |
| COM Workshop | 1 | |
| Concentration Focus 1, 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Concentration Focus 1, 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Professional Development - Sports Management | 3 | |
| COM 358 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM 380 | Media Law (WI) | 3 |
| COM Workshop | 1 | |
| SMR 410 | Business of Sport | 3 |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| Professional Development - Sport Management | 3 | |
| Concentration Focus 1, 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Concentration Focus 1,2,3 | 3 | |
| COM 412 | Digital Media Analytics | 3 |
| General Elective or Minor | 3 | |
| COM Workshop | 1 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 395 | Media Ethics (WI) | 3 |
| General Elective or Minor | 6 | |
| Concentration Focus 1, 2, 3 | 3 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 491 | Internship | 3 |
| General Elective or Minor Hours | 10 | |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
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Digital Journalism Focus - Order of Course Completion - COM 315, COM 318, COM 410, COM 319, COM 445, and COM 420. Students should note that COM 420 is a spring course to be taken during their senior year.
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Broadcast Focus - Order of Course Completion - COM 205, COM 301, COM 302, COM 352, COM 445, and COM 470. Students should note that COM 470 is a spring course during their senior year.
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Public Relations and Advertising Focus - Order of Completion - COM 330, COM 340, COM 304, COM 306, COM 400, COM 440. Students should note COM 440 is a fall course to be taken during their senior year.