The Communication Studies program is designed as an area of study to apply scholarly communication research for a variety of careers and personal goals in an interconnected world.
Two general goals of the program for graduates are:
1. Each graduate will be the most communicatively informed person in every communication situation they find themselves in, such as understanding others verbally and nonverbally in professional and personal situations.
2. Each graduate will be the most effective communicator verbally and nonverbally in each communication situation they find themselves in, such as professional and personal contexts. Furthermore, an essential part of effective communication is the ability to communicate strategically verbally and nonverbally to accomplish one’s goals.
The program is designed around better understanding human communication in the general areas of study: Public Speaking, Nonverbal Communication, Business Communication, and Interpersonal Communication. Communication Studies prepares graduates for careers in positions such as human resources, sales, communication consultant, teaching, event planning, politics, corporate trainer, law, management, public relations, professional presenter, business, graduate school, and theological speaker to mention a few. The certification program for teacher education is comprehensive. It is a flexible major that can accommodate a variety of interests and career goals. A Minor in Communication Studies is also offered. For Questions Contact: Dr. John Ballotti (John.Ballotti@tamuc.edu) Program Director or
Dr. Stephen Furlich (Stephen.Furlich@tamuc.edu)
For course descriptions please refer to the university online undergraduate course catalogue. http://catalog.tamuc.edu/undergrad/colleges-and-departments/humanities-social-sciences-arts/literature-languages/communication_studies/
A graduate in Communication Studies should possess: The ability to understand and apply the skills necessary for success:
| Core Curriculum Courses: | 42 | |
| See the Core Curriculum Requirements | ||
| Required Courses: | 24 | |
| Studies in Human/Communication * | ||
| Fundamentals of Public Speaking * | ||
| Multimedia Writing | ||
| Argument & Debate, Oral Interpretation Deliveries | ||
| Leadership & Conflict Management | ||
| Communication Research Methods & Theory | ||
| Organizational Communication | ||
| Capstone in Communication | ||
| Choose one Communication Emphasis: | 18 | |
Strategic Communication | ||
Choose 18 SCH (6 courses): | ||
| COMS 2330 | Public Relations Principles | 3 |
| COMS 2327 | Advertising Principles | 3 |
| COMS 4336 | Public Relations Campaigns | 3 |
| COMS 4353 | Social Media | 3 |
| COMS 303 | Images with Messages | 3 |
| COMS 444 | Communication and Compliance Gaining | 3 |
| COMS 485 | Internship | 3 |
| COMS 489 | Independent Study | 3 |
| COMS 497 | Special Topics (according to topic) | 3 |
Emphasis in Interpersonal and Nonverbal Communication | ||
Choose 18 SCH (6 courses) | ||
| COMS 301 | Computer Mediated Communication | 3 |
| COMS 312 | Persuading Others | 3 |
| COMS 316 | Communibiology and Gender Communication | 3 |
| COMS 406 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
| COMS 408 | Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| COMS 485 | Internship | 3 |
| COMS 489 | Independent Study | 3 |
| COMS 497 | Special Topics (according to topic) | 3 |
Emphasis in Digital Media | ||
Choose 18 SCH (6 courses) | ||
| COMS 1336 | Audio-Visual Communication | 3 |
| COMS 3301 | Podcast Production | 3 |
| MMJ 221 | Basic Audio Production and Radio Programming | 3 |
| MMJ 320 | Broadcast Writing | 3 |
| MMJ 336 | Media Law | 3 |
| MMJ 440 | Broadcast & Digital Journalism | 3 |
| MMJ 445 | Ethics in the Media | 3 |
| MMJ 495 | Media Internship | 3 |
| COMS 489 | Independent Study | 3 |
| COMS 497 | Special Topics (according to topic) | 3 |
| Minor(s) and Additional Electives | 36 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
This course will satisfy the university core curriculum requirement.
A grade of “C” or higher must be earned in all courses in this Major .
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| ENG 1301 | College Reading & Writing | 3 |
| COMS 1307 | Mass Communication in Society | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | History of the United States through Reconstruction | 3 |
| PSCI 2305 | United States Government and Politics | 3 |
| CID 2301 | The Human Experience | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENG 1302 | Written Argument/Research | 3 |
| COMS 1311 | Studies in Human/Communication | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History of the United States Since Reconstruction | 3 |
| PSCI 2306 | Texas Government and Politics | 3 |
| Core Science 1 | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMS 2327 | Advertising Principles | 3 |
| Core Science 2 | 3 | |
| Core Lang/Phil/Culture | 3 | |
| Core Social/Behavioral Sciences | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMS 2330 | Public Relations Principles | 3 |
| Core Math | 3 | |
| Core Creative Arts | 3 | |
| Degree Pathway | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMS 312 | Persuasion | 3 |
| COMS 316 | Gender Communication | 3 |
| COMS 333 | Persuasive Deliveries in Context | 3 |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMS 319 | Leadership & Conflict Management | 3 |
| COMS 303 | Images with Messages | 3 |
| COMS 323 | Popular Culture Promotion (Elective/minor) | 3 |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMS 407 | Communication Research Methods & Theory | 3 |
| COMS 406 | Nonverbal Communication | 3 |
| Upper Level Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMS 414 | Political Communication | 3 |
| COMS 4353 | Social Media (Upper Level Elective/minor) | 3 |
| Upper Level Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Elective/minor | 3 | |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
