University of Texas Arlington

The degree Bachelor of Arts in Communication is offered with multiple specializations. The department curricula provide students with an overview of the role and function of communication in society. These courses present a broad academic exposure, including theories, skills, techniques, critical analysis, historical perspectives, and aesthetic appreciation.

The Department of Communication seeks to emphasize theories and techniques which give students the ability to adapt to rapid changes in communication technology.

Within the major disciplines, specializations are available in advertising, broadcasting, communication technology, journalism, public relations, organizational communication, and speech communication. Additionally, there are two specializations for teacher certification: secondary teaching level in journalism and secondary teaching level in speech communication. Contact the College of Education for more information.

All majors in the Department of Communication must complete the following core courses: COMM 2315, COMM 3300 and COMM 3310.

I. Admission to Major

All undergraduate students seeking to declare a major in the Department of Communication (ADVT, BCMN, COMS, CTEC, JOUR, PREL) must meet the following criteria:

Completion of a minimum of 12 hours in residence at The University of Texas at Arlington with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0/4.0.

Students that do not meet these minimum requirements can request to be admitted as a COMM Intended major. Please see restrictions below.

II. Admission as a COMM Intended Major

1. COMM Intended majors may enroll in up to a total of 18 hours in the Department of Communication (ADVT, BCMN, COMS, CTEC, JOUR, PREL).

2. Students who do not achieve a cumulative UT Arlington GPA of 2.0/4.0 by the completion of 18 hours in the Department of Communication will not be cleared to continue in the department.

III. Dismissal from Department of Communication COMM Intended Status

Students who do not meet the requirements for declaring a Department of Communication major after completing eighteen (18) hours of communication course work will not be allowed to take additional communication courses at UT Arlington. The student will be suspended from the Department of Communication COMM Intended status and must choose a major other than COMM Intended at that time in order to remain enrolled at UT Arlington.

1. Graduation as a major in the Department of Communication must meet the UT Arlington graduation standard of a minimum GPA of 2.0/4.0.

2. Graduation as a major in the Department of Communication must meet the department graduation standard of a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0/4.0 in all department courses (ADVT, BCMN, COMS, CTEC, JOUR, PREL).

English

Six hours of composition.

Literature

Three hours of English or modern and classical languages literature or other approved substitute.

Liberal Arts Elective

Three hours above the freshman level of literature, or social and cultural studies designated as taught in the College of Liberal Arts, or fine arts or philosophy, or technical writing.

Modern and Classical Languages

1441, 1442, 2313, and 2314 or equivalent.

Political Science

2311, 2312.

History

Six hours of American history or three hours of American and three hours of Texas history.

Mathematics

Six hours (level of college algebra or higher, see individual sequences for additional statistics requirement).

Science

Eight hours in lab science (biology, chemistry, geology and/or physics).

Social/Cultural Studies

Three hours of designated courses in archaeology, classical studies, communication, economics, foreign languages, history, humanities, linguistics, political science, social or cultural anthropology, social/political/cultural geography, social psychology, sociology, or women's studies.

Fine Arts

Three hours from architecture, art, dance, music, or theatre arts.

Electives

Sufficient to give the total number of hours required for a degree.

Major

A minimum of 39 semester hours, 18 of which must be 3000/4000-level courses. A student must complete the requirements for one of the departmental specializations.

Minor*

18 hours, six of which must be 3000/4000 level, selected after consulting with an advisor.

Total

120 hours, at least 36 of which must be 3000/4000 level.
*In addition to these requirements, journalism majors must choose a minor outside the Communication Department but within the Colleges of Liberal Arts or Sciences.

Advertising

JOUR 1345.
ADVT 2337, 3304, 3305, 3306, 4300, 4301.
COMM 2315, 3300, 3303, 3310.
PREL 2338.
Three hours electives in the department at the 3000/4000 level.
ECON 2305
A minimum grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher in JOUR 1345 and ADVT 2337 must be achieved prior to enrolling in any upper-division advertising course. Advertising majors must meet the following math requirement: MATH 1308, Elementary Statistical Analysis, with a grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher.

Broadcasting

JOUR 1345 with a grade of C (2.0/4.0) or higher.
BCMN 2347, 2357, 2358, 2360, 3340, 3319 or 3350, 4320 or 4350. COMM 2315, 3300, 3310.
COMS 2305, COMS 3302 or BCMN 3355.
Three hours electives in the department at the 3000/4000 level.

BCMN 2347, 2357, 2358 and 2360 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher before enrolling in any upper-level BCMN courses.

Communication Studies

Organizational Communication

COMS 1301, 2304, 2305, 3309, 4315.
Six hours from COMS 3310, 3316, 3320.
Six hours from COMS 4300, 4320, 4322.
Three hours from COMM 4000-level courses.
COMM 2315, 3300, 3310.

Speech Communication

COMS 1301, 2304, 3310, 3312 or 4302, 3315, 3316.
Six hours from COMS 3321, 3322, 3323, 4395.
Six hours from COMS 4300, 4315, or 4321.
COMM 2315, 3300, 3310.

Communication Technology

JOUR 1345.
COMM 2315, 3300, 3310.
COMM 3303.
CTEC 2350, 3320, 3350, 4309, 4350.

Three hours from CTEC 4321 or 4323.

COMS 3302.

Three hours of electives in the department.

Journalism

JOUR 1345, 2340, 2346, 3345, 4325, 4326, 4346. COMM 2315, 3300, 3310, 3303. Six hours from the following courses: JOUR 3341, 4327, 4341, 4395, CTEC 2300, 3320, 3350, BCMN 3340 or 3350. Three hours from the following courses: COMS 1301, 2305, 3302, 3315, 4315. Journalism majors must meet the following math requirement: MATH 1308, Elementary Statistical Analysis, with a grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher.

Public Relations

JOUR 1345, 2346. PREL 2338, 3339, 3355, 4320, 4316. COMM 2315, 3300, 3310, 3303. ADVT 2337. ECON 2305. Three hours of electives in the department at the 3000/4000 level. PREL 2338 must be completed with a grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher before enrolling in any upper-level PREL courses. Public relations majors must meet the following math requirement: MATH 1308, Elementary Statistical Analysis, with a grade of C (2.0/4.0 scale) or higher.

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Department specializations that provide for teacher certification are the following: secondary teaching level in journalism or speech communication. Students interested in Texas Teacher Certification should consult the College of Education section of this catalog for the most recent changes in requirements regarding admission to teacher education, completion of University programs in preparation for certification, and eligibility for certification after graduation. Students whose major is taken in the Department of Communication will complete at least 30 semester hours in the major field.

Students seeking teacher certification with a major in a communication field should follow the sections below:

Secondary certification, journalism major requirements (30 semester hours):
COMM 2315, 3310 and 4305.
JOUR 1345, 2340, 2346, 3345, 4325 and 4326.
Three additional hours of advanced JOUR.

Secondary certification, speech communication major requirements (33 semester hours):
COMM 2315, COMM 3300, COMM 3310.
COMS 1301, 2304, 3315, 3316.
Six hours from COMS 3321, 3322, 3323, or 4321.
Three hours from COMS 3310, 3312, or 3320.
Three hours from COMS 4300, 4302 or 4315.

Computer use proficiency can be demonstrated by (a) successful completion of CSE 1301 or equivalent; (b) passing the University proficiency test measuring practical applications, ability and fundamental knowledge of computers; or successful completion of one of the following: CTEC 2300, CTEC 2350, COMM 3300, 3303, JOUR 1345, PREL 3339, ADVT 3304, 3305 or 3306.

Oral communication proficiency can be demonstrated by successful completion of COMS 1301, 2305, 3302, 3315, 4315, ADVT 4301, PREL 4316 or BCMN 3355.

Students should discuss these options with their undergraduate advisor who may also provide a list of other courses approved by the University to meet these requirements.

Chair

Associate Professor Markham Shaw

Professors

Spaniolo

Associate Professors

Christie, Clark, Ingram, Jang, Megwa

Assistant Professors

Chatterjee, Grant, Harp, Horton, Lopez-Preciado, Patel, Pribanic-Smith, Su, Tremayne, Wigley

Professors Emeritus

Cox, McCallum

View Course Descriptions for:

Communication (COMM)

Advertising (ADVT)

Broadcast Communication (BCMN)

Communication Studies (COMS)

Communication Technology (CTEC)

Journalism (JOUR)

Public Relations (PREL)