Mass Communication B.A./B.S.
Objectives
The study of mass communication prepares students for careers in news reporting and editing for digital media, newspapers, television, public relations, and other mass media. The department’s graduates usually take jobs with businesses, government agencies, professional, and non-profit organizations. Other graduates enter advertising or areas of specialized communication such as writing about medicine, technology, or business. Still others are choosing careers in “new media” - interactive computer systems, and information distribution. The mass communication major also is excellent preparation for law school.
The department offers the B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders; the B.A. and B.S. in Mass Communication, and the B.A. and B.S. in Speech Communication and the Master of Arts in Communication. The B.A. requires a foreign language sequence. The B.S. requires a set of courses in geography, economics, computer science, mathematics and/or science in place of the foreign language. The study in mass communication should be part of a broad and flexible education and the total educational experience is more important than any single part of it. Accordingly, more than seventy percent of a major’s work must be done outside of mass communication.
Students desiring teacher certification in mass communication or speech communication for Texas secondary schools must meet additional requirements that vary according to whether mass communication/speech communication is their first or second teaching field.
Options
- B.A. in Mass Communication: 36 hours in mass communication, 24 of which must be upper division; 18 hours in a minor; 12-14 hours of a foreign language.
- B.S. in Mass Communication: 36 hours in mass communication, 24 of which must be upper division; 18 hours in a minor; six hours of mathematics, science, economics, geography and/or computer science, in addition to those otherwise counted as lower-division preparation.
- Minor in Mass Communication: 18 hours in mass communication, 12 of which must be upper division.
- Teacher Certification
- Minor in Graphic Design: 18 hours of coursework, comprised of 15 hours of required courses in mass communication and 3 hours electives.
Degree Requirements
Total Semester Credit Hours=120
University Core Curriculum (42 hrs.)
A minimum grade of "C" in all mass communication courses
36 hours of Mass Communication, 24 of which must be upper-division, and 12 of these 24 upper-division hours must be taken at UT Tyler.
Mass Communication Core: (15 hours)
MCOM 2306, MCOM 2311, and MCOM 2313: must be taken within the first nine (9) hours of mass communication courses.
MCOM 2306: students demonstrating competency may substitute an additional three hours of mass communication electives.
Electives, which include 12-14 hours of foreign language (the student may also complete this foreign language requirement by passing a written examination approved by the foreign language faculty).
Minor: at least 18 hrs. in a single related discipline, 12 of which must be upper-division, to be chosen in consultation with the student's major advisor.
Multimedia Journalism Option - Outside Required Courses (9 hours)
Competency: Argument
Choose 3 hours from:
| SPCM 1315 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication [TCCN: SPCH 1315] | |
| SPCM 2335 | Argumentation and Debate [TCCN: SPCH 2335] | |
| SPCM 3321 | Business and Professional Speaking | |
| SPCM 3325 | Persuasive Communication | |
Competency: Analysis and Systematic Inquiry
3 hours:
Competency: Complex Organization
Choose 3 hours from:
Multimedia Journalism Option: (21 hours)
Competency: Writing/Storytelling (12 UD hours)
Required 3 hours:
Choose 9 hours from:
Competency: Diversity/Human Relations (3 hours)
Competency: Mediated Presentation (6 UD hours)
Total Multimedia Journalism Option - 36 Sem. Credit Hrs.
Public Relations/Integrated Communication - Outside Required: (9 hours)
Competency: Argument
Choose 3 hours from:
| SPCM 1315 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication [TCCN: SPCH 1315] | |
| SPCM 2335 | Argumentation and Debate [TCCN: SPCH 2335] | |
| SPCM 3321 | Business and Professional Speaking | |
| SPCM 3325 | Persuasive Communication | |
Competency: Complex Organization
Choose 3 hours from:
Competency: Diversity/Human Relations
Choose 3 hours from:
Total PR/Integrated Communication Outside Required - 9 Sem. Credit Hrs.
Public Relations/Integrated Communication Option: (21 hours)
Competency: Analysis and Systematic Inquiry (9 UD hours)
| MCOM 2375 | Introduction to Public Relations [TCCN: COMM 2330] | |
| or | |
| MCOM 2340 | Introduction to Advertising [TCCN: COMM 2327] | |
| MCOM 4363 | Public Relations Case Studies | |
| MCOM 4365 | Public Relations Campaigns | |
Competency: Writing/Storytelling: (6 UD hours)
| MCOM 3395 | Writing for Public Relations and Advertising | |
Choose 3 hours from:
Competency: Mediated Presentation: (6 UD hours)
Total Public Relation/Integrated Communication Option - 36 Sem. Credit Hrs.