Apr 03, 2025

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Communication Studies B.A./B.S.

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Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)/Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree

May be either depending on option selected; see the “Requirements for Baccalaureate Degrees ” section of this catalog.

Major in Communication Studies

(Major Codes: 1201, 1202, 1203, 1209)

Advocacy and Public Culture Emphasis (Code: 1201)
Organizational Communication and Leadership Emphasis (Code: 1202)
Relational Dynamics and Engagement Emphasis (Code: 1203)
Strategic Communication Emphasis (Code: 1209)

University Core Curriculum Requirements (42 hours)

**IMPORTANT: Before selecting from these courses, students should review any major-specific core requirements in the major below as they will be required to take those courses instead.**

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from ENGL options)

ENGL 1301 or ENGL 1311

Core 10 - Communication (3 hours from COMM options)

COMM 1315 ; COMM 1318 ; or COMM 1321

Core 20 - Mathematics (3 hours)

MATH 1314 ; MATH 1316 ; MATH 1324 ; MATH 1325 ; MATH 1332 ; MATH 1342 ; MATH 1350 ; MATH 2412 ; or MATH 2413
(4th hour from 4-hour course moves to Core 90.)

Core 30 - Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

ANSC 1319 ; BIOL 1308 or BIOL 1406 ; BIOL 1309 or BIOL 1407 ; BIOL 1411 ; BIOL 1413 ; CHEM 1305 or CHEM 1411 ; CHEM 1412 ; ENVR 1407 ; GEOL 1301 or GEOL 1403 ; GEOL 1302 ; GEOL 1404 ; PHYS 1311 ; PHYS 1312 ; PHYS 1371 ; PHYS 1401 ; PHYS 1402 ; PHYS 2425 ; PHYS 2426 ; PSES 1301 or PSES 1307
(Cannot receive University Core credit for both BIOL 1308 and BIOL 1406; or for both BIOL 1309 and BIOL 1407; or for both CHEM 1305 and CHEM 1411; or for both GEOL 1301 and GEOL 1403. CHEM 1305 does not count as a prerequisite for CHEM 1412.)
(4th hour from 4-hour courses move to Core 90.)

Core 40 - Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

ANTH 2351 ; ENGL 2321 ; ENGL 2326 ; ENGL 2331 ; ENGL 2341 ; ENGL 2343 ; HIST 2311 ; HIST 2323 ; HIST 2372 ; MCOM 1307 ; PHIL 1301 ; PHIL 2374 ; SPAN 2311 ; SPAN 2312 [or an equivalent course (second year or intermediate level) in a foreign language]; SPAN 2313 ; SPAN 2315 ; or SPAN 2371

Core 50 - Creative Arts (3 hours)

ARTS 1301 ; ARTS 1303 ; ARTS 1304 ; DANC 2303 ; MUSI 1306 ; MUSI 1307 ; MUSI 1310 ; or THRE 1310

Core 60 - American History (6 hours)

HIST 1301 ; HIST 1302 ; HIST 2301 ; HIST 2381 ; or HIST 2382

Core 70 - Government / Political Science (6 hours)

POSC 2305 and POSC 2306

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

AGBE 2317 ; COMM 2377 ; CRIJ 1301 ; ECON 2301 ; ECON 2302 ; GEOG 1302 ; PSYC 2301 ; or SOCI 1301

Core 90 - Component Area Option (6 hours or fewer; may depend on major requirements)

AGRI 2300 ; BUSI 1301 ; BUSI 1304 ; CIDM 1105 ; CIDM 1301 or CIDM 1315 ; CS 1301 ; ECON 2331 ; EDUC 1300 ; ENGL 1101 ; ENGL 1102 ; ENGL 1302 ; ENGL 1312 ; ENGL 2311 ; IDS 1071 (1-3 hours); MUSI 1053 (1-2 hours); PHIL 2303 ; or SES 1120
(Cannot receive credit for both CIDM 1301 and CIDM 1315 for Core 90.)
(ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102 cannot count for English B.A. requirement.)
(4th hours from 4-hour courses in Cores 20 and 30 may be used in this section.)

Communication Studies Major Requirements

Major-Specific University Core Requirements

**IMPORTANT: The following courses are required for their specific Core areas instead of the courses listed above in the general University Core Curriculum.**

Core 10 - Communication (3 of 6 hours)

COMM 1315 - Basic Speech Communication 3
or COMM 1321 - Business and Professional Communication 3
(required for all emphases)

Core 40 - Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

MCOM 1307 - Introduction to Media Communication 3
(required for Strategic Communication Emphasis only)

(other emphases - see Core 40 options above)

Core 80 - Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

COMM 2377 - Intercultural Communication 3
(required for all emphases)

Communication Studies Core Requirements (18 hours)

Courses required for the following emphasis options: Advocacy and Public Culture, Organizational Communication and Leadership, and Relational Dynamics and Engagement.

(Strategic Communication emphasis has its own section below.)

COMM 1318 - Interpersonal Communication 3
COMM 2376 - Communication Theory 3 (or MCOM 2376 - Media Theory 3)
COMM 2377 - Intercultural Communication 3 (0 - taken in Core 80)
COMM 3315 - Research Methods 3 (or MCOM 3314 - Public Relations and Advertising Research 3)
COMM 3341 - Persuasion 3
COMM 3342 - Rhetorical Theory and Criticism 3
COMM 4398 - Communication Internship 3

Emphases

Advocacy and Public Culture Emphasis (27 hours)

Complete the Communication Studies Core and 27 hours as listed below.

Required Courses (24 hours)

Choose from the following (3 hours)

COMM 2178 - Forensics 1 (may be repeated)
COMM 3370 - Critical Culture and Gender Communication 3
COMM 4278 - Advanced Forensics 2
COMM 4300 - Communication Study Abroad 3 (or cross-listed with MCOM 4300 3)
MCOM 4302 - Media Law & Ethics 3

Organizational Communication and Leadership Emphasis (18 hours)

Complete the Communication Studies Core and 18 hours as listed below.

Required Courses (6 hours)

Choose from the following (3 hours)

Choose from the following (9 hours)

COMM 2178 - Forensics 1 (may be repeated)
COMM 3332 - Strategic Communication 3
COMM 3333 - Crisis Communication 3
COMM 3345 - Group Dynamics 3
COMM 3399 - WT Leadership 3 (6) (Students accepted for this class must enroll for both fall and spring semesters.)
COMM 4278 - Advanced Forensics 2
COMM 4300 - Communication Study Abroad 3 (or cross-listed with MCOM 4300 3)
COMM 4302 - Event Planning 3

Relational Dynamics and Engagement Emphasis (18 hours)

Complete the Communication Studies Core and 18 hours as listed below.

Required Courses (12 hours)

Choose from the following (6 hours)

COMM 3360 - Health Communication 3
COMM 3331 - Organizational Communication & Leadership 3
COMM 4360 - Communication and Global Culture 3
COMM 2178 - Forensics 1 (may be repeated)
COMM 4278 - Advanced Forensics 2
COMM 4330 - Creative Narrative Communication 3
COMM 4300 - Communication Study Abroad 3 (or cross-listed with MCOM 4300 3)

Strategic Communication Emphasis (online degree option) (36 hours)

Students are advised to complete the University core requirements during their first two years of classes.

Choose from the following (36 hours)

COMM 1318 - Interpersonal Communication 3
COMM 2376 - Communication Theory 3 (or MCOM 2376 - Media Theory 3)
COMM 2377 - Intercultural Communication 3 (0 - taken in Core 80)
COMM 3331 - Organizational Communication & Leadership 3
COMM 3332 - Strategic Communication 3
or COMM 3333 - Crisis Communication 3
COMM 3341 - Persuasion 3
COMM 3360 - Health Communication 3
or COMM 4360 - Communication and Global Culture 3
MCOM 1307 - Introduction to Media Communication 3 (0 - taken in Core 40)
MCOM 2327 - Advertising Principles 3
MCOM 3305 - New Media 3
MCOM 3314 - Public Relations and Advertising Research 3 (or COMM 3315 - Research Methods 3)
MCOM 3350 - Public Relations and Publicity 3
MCOM 4302 - Media Law & Ethics 3
COMM 4398 - Communication Internship 3 (or MCOM 4398 - Media Internship 3)

Notes:

COMM 2178 /COMM 4278 is a repeatable course and may be repeated up to a maximum of four hours for the communication studies major.
COMM 3399 -WT Leadership is a course that is by application only.
Students are advised to complete the University core curriculum requirements during their first two years of classes.

e-Portfolio Requirement

All Department of Communication majors will compile an e-portfolio in COMM/MCOM 4398 that demonstrates the student’s communication and/or media communication competencies developed throughout their course of study at WTAMU. This portfolio must be submitted for review in COMM/MCOM 4398. The student must receive a score of 3 or higher on each section of the portfolio to be certified for graduation.

B.A./B.S. Requirements (6-12 hours)

Complete the requirements for your specific degree.

B.A. Degree

In addition to the core curriculum, a minimum of 12 hours as follows:

At least six hours of foreign language, and
Six hours chosen from art, communication studies, dance, English, history, media communications, modern languages, music, philosophy, religion, and theatre.

B.S. Degree

In addition to the core curriculum, a minimum of 6 hours as follows:

Six hours chosen from biology, chemistry, environmental science, geology, geosciences, mathematics, physics, and natural sciences.

Electives

Take additional electives as needed to total 36 hours of advanced work (3000- or 4000-level) from WTAMU and to total a minimum of 120 hours overall, or the minimum total hours required for your degree.

Total hours required to complete degree: 120 hours

Advising Services Degree Checklists and Curriculum Guides

Degree checklists and curriculum guides (suggested course sequences) are available by linking to the Advising Services Degree Checklists webpage.