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. The program requirements include:
- 41 hours within the general studies curriculum and
- 45 hours in communication courses
- 18 or more hours in a minor field
- Electives
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 1, 2 | 3 |
| Total Hours | 21 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | 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 of Public Relations and Advertising includes:
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COM 304 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| COM 330 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| COM 340 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| COM 400 | Public Relations and Advertising Case Studies | 3 |
| COM 430 | Strategic Media Writing | 3 |
| COM 440 | Campaign Management: Public Relations & Advertising | 3 |
| COM Electives (2 courses) | 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 late 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 Public Relations and Advertising 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 306 | Sport Communication | 3 |
| COM 307 | Media Literacy | 3 |
| COM 316 | Podcasting | 3 |
| COM 325 | Publication Design | 3 |
| COM 345 | Social Media Strategy | 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 410 | Media Features (WI) | 3 |
| COM 411 | Advanced Media Workshop | 1 |
| COM 412 | Digital Media Analytics | 3 |
| COM 445 | Media Management | 3 |
| COM 475 | Directed Study | 3 |
| MKT 301 | Principles of Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 325 | Digital Marketing | 3 |
| MKT 361 | Sales/Sales Force Management | 3 |
| MKT 378 | Consumer Behavior | 3 |
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
| Fine Arts | 3 | |
| EH 141 | Speech | 3 |
| MS 204 or MS 110 | Basic Statistics or Finite Mathematics | 3 |
| History sequence | 3 | |
| SSC 101 | First Year Experience | 0 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| EH Composition sequence | 3 | |
| Natural Science sequence | 4 | |
| History sequence | 3 | |
| COM 200 | Introduction to Mass Communication | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| Literature sequence | 3 | |
| Natural Science sequence | 4 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| COM 304 | Introduction to Advertising | 3 |
| COM 330 | Introduction to Public Relations | 3 |
| Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| Literature sequence | 3 | |
| Social/Behavioral Science | 3 | |
| CS 201 | Introduction to Information Technology | 3 |
| COM 320 | Video Production and Editing | 3 |
| COM 340 | Public Relations Writing | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| Foreign Language sequence 3 | 3 | |
| CS 315 | Intro to Web Design | 3 |
| COM 358 | Communication Theory | 3 |
| COM 380 | Communication Law (WI) | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign Language sequence 3 | 3 | |
| COM 400 | Public Relations and Advertising Case Studies | 3 |
| COM 415 | Mass Communication Research | 3 |
| COM Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Minor or General Electives | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer | ||
| COM 491 | Internship | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| COM 395 | Ethics and Global Journalism (WI) | 3 |
| COM 430 | Strategic Media Writing | 3 |
| Minor or General Electives | 6 | |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Spring | ||
| COM 440 | Campaign Management: Public Relations & Advertising | 3 |
| COM Elective 4 | 3 | |
| Minor or General Electives | 7 | |
| Hours | 13 | |
| 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. |