Communications, AA

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Year 1 Semester 1
Fall
SPAN 1411 Beginning Spanish I

Basic Spanish language skills in listening speaking reading and writing within a cultural framework. Students will acquire the vocabulary and grammatical structures necessary to communicate and comprehend at the beginner level.

Credit hours
4 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lecture/guided drill and two hours of lab each week.
ENGL 1301 English Composition I

Intensive study of and practice in writing processes from invention and researching to drafting revising and editing both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices including audience purpose arrangement and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning communicating and critical analysis.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.

Note

English Composition I is a prerequisite for all 2000-level literature courses.

HIST 1301 United States History I

A survey of the social political economic cultural and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of the pre-Columbian colonial revolutionary early national slavery and sectionalism and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity American culture religion civil and human rights technological change economic change immigration and migration and creation of the federal government.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
COMM 2311 Media Writing

Fundamentals of writing news for the mass media. Includes instruction in methods and techniques for gathering processing and delivering news in a professional manner.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lecture each week.
Total Credit Hours
13

Year 1 Semester 2
Spring
ENGL 1302 English Composition II

Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal visual and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation synthesis and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
Prerequisites

ENGL 1301 or its equivalent.

HIST 1302 United States History II

A survey of the social political economic cultural and intellectual history of the United States from the Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization immigration world wars the Great Depression Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include: American culture religion civil and human rights technological change economic change immigration and migration urbanization and suburbanization the expansion of the federal government and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
SPCH 1315 Public Speaking

Application of communication theory and practice to the public speaking context with emphasis on audience analysis speaker delivery ethics of communication cultural diversity and speech organizational techniques to develop students' speaking abilities.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
Prerequisites

Eligibility to enroll in INRW 0302 

COMM 2315 News Reporting

Continuation of the aims and objectives of news gathering and writing with emphasis on advanced reporting techniques.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lecture each week.
Prerequisites

COMM 2311. Students must enroll in a practicum when taking this course.

Choose 1 Science Course

Choose one course from the following:

 

    If applicable, additional 2 credit hours applied to “Other Degree Requirements”

Total Credit Hours
15

Year 1 Semester 3
Summer
GOVT 2305 Federal Government

Origin and development of the U.S. Constitution structure and powers of the national government including the legislative executive and judicial branches federalism political participation the national election process public policy civil liberties and civil rights.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
GOVT 2306 Texas Government

Origin and development of the Texas Constitution structure and powers of state and local government federalism and inter-governmental relations political participation the election process public policy and the political culture of Texas.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
Choose 1 Physical Education Course

Choose one of the following:

Choose 1 Physical Education Course

Choose one of the following:

Total Credit Hours
8

Year 2 Semester 1
Fall
ARTS 1301 Art Appreciation

A general introduction to the visual arts designed to create an appreciation of the vocabulary media techniques and purposes of the creative process. Students will critically interpret and evaluate works of art within formal cultural and historical contexts.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
COMM 1307 Introduction to Mass Communications

This is a freshman course in the development of the mass media in America with emphasis on newspapers magazines radio and television; brief study of the historical development of the mass media; social economic and cultural responsibilities of the mass media.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of class each week.
COMM 2305 Editing & Layout

This course develops an understanding of the editing and layout processes with emphasis on accuracy and fairness. Students are exposed to the principles and techniques of design. Students must enroll in a practicum when taking this course.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lecture each week.

Note

Additional course fee(s) required.

Choose 1 Science Course

Choose one course from the following:

 

    If applicable, additional 2 credit hours applied to “Other Degree Requirements”

Total Credit Hours
12

Year 2 Semester 2
Spring
CAOB Elective

Choose one 3 hour course that is not already being used to satisfy another degree or certificate requirement:
 

Communication

 Mathematics

Life and Physical Sciences

Language Philosophy and Culture

Creative Arts

American History

Government/Political Science

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Component Area Option (CAO) A

 

MATH 1332 Contemporary Mathematics

Intended for Non-STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) majors. Topics include introductory treatments of sets and logic financial mathematics probability and statistics with appropriate applications. Number sense proportional reasoning estimation technology and communication should be embedded throughout the course. Additional topics may be covered. (Fall Spring Summer)

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lecture each week.
Prerequisites

TSI Complete

COMM 2389 Academic Cooperative - Communications

An instructional program designed to integrate on-campus study with practical hands-on work experience in conjunction with class seminars the individual student will set specific goals and objectives in the study of communication.

Credit hours
3 credit hours.
Lecture/Lab/Clinical
Three hours of lab each week.
Choose 1 LPC Course

Choose one course from the following:

Total Credit Hours
12


Total Program Hours
60



PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Students should consult a faculty advisor or an academic advisor early in their program of study. These are suggested courses for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university and major in journalism. Transferability and specific requirements can be determined only by the receiving institution.



Recommended High School Endorsement
Arts and Humanities

Division Chair
Smith, Amanda
Faculty Advisor
Smith, Amanda



Transfer Opportunities
Texas A&M University - Commerce
Stephen F. Austin University
University of Texas - Arlington