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 is required for this degree.
The General Education requirements are made up of the following:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written Composition sequence | 6 | |
| Literature, Humanities, Fine Arts | 12 | |
| Natural Science and Mathematics | 11 | |
For math, select one course from the following: | ||
| Finite Mathematics | ||
| Basic Statistics | ||
| History, Social Sciences, Behavioral Sciences | 12 | |
| Professional and Aesthetic Development - Select two courses: | 6 | |
| Graphic Design Technologies | ||
| Design I | ||
| Introduction to Photography | ||
| Photoshop Tools | ||
| Film Technology Foundations I | ||
| Technology in Music | ||
| Advanced Technology | ||
| Social and Cultural Foundations - Select two courses: 1 | 6 | |
| Cultural Anthropology | ||
| Current Social Issues | ||
| Anthropology of Sexual Behavior | ||
| 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 | ||
| Introduction to Gender and Diversity Studies | ||
| 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 | |
| 1 | If foreign language is selected, then a sequence is required. |
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 | 3 |
| COM 358 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM 380 | Communication Law (WI) | 3 |
| COM 395 | Ethics and Global Journalism (WI) | 3 |
| COM 415 | Mass Communication Research | 3 |
| COM 491 | Internship 2, 3 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| 2 | 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 her/his area of concentration. |
| 3 | 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 Digital Journalism includes:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Journalism | ||
| COM 315 | Introduction to News | 3 |
| COM 317 | Editing | 3 |
| COM 325 | Publication Design | 3 |
| COM 410 | Media Features (WI) | 3 |
| COM 420 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| COM 445 | Media Management | 3 |
| COM Electives (2 courses) 4 | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 24 | |
Students enrolling in COM 404 Media Workshop (1), COM 405 Media Workshop (1), COM 406 Media Workshop (1), COM 407 Advanced Media Workshop (1), COM 408 Advanced Media Workshop (1), COM 411 Advanced Media Workshop (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.
Communication electives for the Digital Journalism concentration should be selected from the following:
| 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 316 | Podcasting | 3 |
| COM 330 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 345 | Social Media Strategy | 3 |
| COM 385 | Multimedia Design | 3 |
| COM 397 | Advanced Video Production | 3 |
| COM 404 | Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 405 | Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 406 | Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 407 | Advanced Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 408 | Advanced Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 411 | Advanced Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 412 | Digital Media Analytics | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 325 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 378 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
In addition to courses noted below, candidates for graduation must successfully complete all JSU Academic Regulations. More information about general education requirements can be found in the Summary of Degrees/Requirements section of the catalog.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| English Composition sequence | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| EH 141 | Speech | 3 |
| History | 3 | |
| MS 204 or MS 110 | Basic Statistics or Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| SSC 101 | First Year Experience | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| History | 3 | |
| COM 200 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Natural Science | 4 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| COM 315 | Introduction to News | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Literature | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| Professional and Aesthetic Development | 3 | |
| COM 317 | Editing | 3 |
| COM 320 | Video Production and Editing | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Professional & Aesthetic Development | 3 | |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | 3 | |
| COM 358 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM 380 | Communication Law (WI) | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 325 | Publication Design | 3 |
| COM 410 | Media Features (WI) | 3 |
| COM 415 | Mass Communication Research | 3 |
| COM Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Social and Cultural Foundations | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| COM 491 | Internship | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 395 | Ethics and Global Journalism (WI) | 3 |
| COM Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Minor or General Electives | 7 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 420 | Advanced Reporting | 3 |
| COM 445 | Media Management | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
| 3 | The sequence must be taken in the same foreign language. |
| 4 | Six credit hours of elective credit are required in the COM major. Please select a course from the approved list (1-3 hours) to work towards this requirement. |