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    Dec 06, 2024  
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication Studies, BA


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A Bachelor of Arts with a major in communication studies equips you with the effective communication, critical thinking and problem-solving skills needed for success in today’s marketplace. You will investigate communication in aesthetic, health, international, interpersonal, cultural, legal, organizational and political contexts.


Communication studies admission and initial requirements


Entering students are classified as majors but must fulfill initial requirements for the degree prior to enrolling in upper division courses in the department. An advisor is available in the department to help students with questions regarding the degree and transitioning from lower division to upper division courses. To progress from lower division course work to upper division course work, students must complete the following requirements.

30 hours of college credit


Complete at least 30 hours of college credit, including:

English composition requirement


Complete the University Core English Composition and Rhetoric requirement with a grade of C or better in each course.

GPA requirement for admission and initial requirements:


Have a UNT grade point average of 2.5 or higher.

Degree requirements


Hours required and general/college requirements


A minimum of 120 semester hours, of which 42 must be advanced, and fulfillment of degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts degree as specified in the “University Core Curriculum ” in the Academics section of this catalog and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences  requirements. Students wishing to major in communication studies should consult an advisor in the Undergraduate Advising Office, General Academic Building, Room 320F.

Major requirements


A total of 36 semester credit hours:

Initial upper-division course sequence requirements


COMM 3010  may be taken concurrently with one other communication course; students may either take COMM 3010  concurrently with their final 2000-level COMM core course or their first enrollment in an upper-division course. If students elect to take COMM 3010  concurrently with their first upper-division course, it must be approved by a Department of Communication Studies advisor. 

Students who do not complete COMM 3010 with a grade of C or better are prohibited from enrolling in other upper-division communication courses until they have completed COMM 3010  successfully.

9 hours distributed


One course taken from each of the following groups:

9 additional advanced hours in Communications Studies (COMM) courses


No more than 3 hours total credit for COMM 3880  may be applied to the communication studies major or minor.

Other course requirements


None.

Minor requirements


Majors are required to complete a minor of at least 18 hours, including 6 advanced hours, from another department, or an interdisciplinary minor.

Electives


Hours required for electives may vary based on course selection and the University Core Curriculum  requirements. Electives may be required to satisfy the advanced hour requirement (42) and/or the minimum total hours required for the degree. For specific information see an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Other requirements


A student who has completed 90 hours with at least a 3.5 grade point average is eligible to write a Senior Honors Thesis. Students who elect this option are expected to complete their theses in the course of a single term/semester.

Students majoring in communication studies are required to have a minimum grade of C in all COMM courses that count toward the major to graduate. COMM courses taken beyond requirements for the major cannot be taken pass/no pass.

Students must observe prerequisites for each COMM course. If a student registered for a course has not completed prerequisite(s) for the course with a grade of C or better, the student is subject to being dropped from the course without notice. Prerequisites are listed with individual course descriptions.

All students taking COMM 3010 may only take one additional COMM class concurrently, which must be approved by a Department of Communication Studies advisor. 

Because of the high demand for many COMM courses, students who miss the first class day without prior consent of the instructor are subject to being dropped from the course so that other students may be added. It is the student’s responsibility to secure prior consent of the instructor.

Four-year degree plan (example)


The following four-year plan is one example of a variety of ways in which you can complete your chosen degree in four years, and will serve as a guide for you to design your pathway to degree completion. Variations will depend on whether you need to take prerequisites or have college credit from exams or dual enrollment.

 

Year 1

Semester 1 Semester 2
COMM 1010 - Introduction to Communication   3 hours   COMM 2020 - Interpersonal Communication    3 hours  
HIST 2610 - United States History to 1865    3 hours   HIST 2620 - United States History Since 1865   3 hours  
Communication core   3 hours PSCI 2305 - US Political Behavior and Policy   3 hours  
Mathematics core    3 hours Communication core   3 hours
CLASS Foreign Language-elementary       3 hours CLASS Foreign Language-elementary  3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 2

Semester 1 Semester 2
COMM 2060 - Performance of Literature   3 hours   COMM 3010 - Communication Perspectives   3 hours  
COMM 2140 - Advocating in Public   3 hours   Communcation Group A selection 3 hours
PSCI 2306 - US and Texas Constitutions and Institutions   3 hours    Life & Physical Science core  3 hours
Life & Physical Science core     3 hours CLASS Foreign Language-intermediate    3 hours
CLASS Foreign Language-intermediate     3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 3

Semester 1 Semester 2
Communication Group B selection 3 hours Communication Studies 3000 or 4000 Level selection 3 hours
Communication Group C selection 3 hours CLASS Distribution-Communication and Digital Skills     3 hours
Communication Theory selection 3 hours Communication Major - Required Minor selection 3 hours
Language, Philosophy & Culture core      3 hours Communication Major - Required Minor selection 3 hours
Communication Major - Required Minor selection 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

 

Year 4

Semester 1 Semester 2
Communication Studies 3000 or 4000 Level selection 3 hours Communication Studies 3000 or 4000 Level selection 3 hours
CLASS Distribution-Cultural Diversity and Global Issues     3 hours Communication Major - Required Minor selection  3 hours
Communication Major - Required Minor selection 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Communication Major - Required Minor selection 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Elective 3 hours Elective 3 hours
Total 15 hours Total 15 hours

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