Communication, B.A.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Communication, B.A. Degree Map

The undergraduate major in Communication leads to the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree and is designed to prepare students for careers in corporate or mass communication. Communication majors are instructed in both written and visual communication. The major exposes students to a broad range of communication skills to reflect today’s era of integrated media and includes credit-based internships to provide students with work experience in their desired fields.

A minimum of 120 semester hours of applicable college credits is required for the bachelor’s degree in Communication; of these, a minimum of 48 credit hours must be at the upper level. Because degree plans are subject to change, all students should meet with their faculty advisers during their first semester at UHCL to sign a Candidate Plan of Study in order to secure the degree plan in place at the time of their enrollment. Students majoring in Communication are strongly encouraged to complete WRIT 1302 in partial fulfillment of the “Communications” component area of UHCL’s core curriculum.

Entrance and Exit Requirements

Students in the Communication plan must take the Grammar-Spelling-Punctuation (GSP) test and score 70 or better before they may enroll in COMM 4061 or COMM 4379 . Some courses in the Communication major require successful completion of the GSP test as a prerequisite. Students may take the GSP test up to five times, after which they will be ineligible to enroll in those courses and thus ineligible to complete the major. Students are also required to build a professional portfolio using a collection of their best written and graphic work as an exit requirement for the major.

For additional information about the GSP tutorial/test dates as well as advice regarding course recommendations and lower-level transfer requirements, please visit the Communication program’s website. In addition, the student organization Communication and Digital Media Association (CDMA) serves as a great networking opportunity for communication students.

University Core Requirements (42 hours)

Communication (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Mathematics (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Life and Physical Sciences (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Language, Philosophy and Culture (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

COMM 1307 recommended for this requirement.

Creative Arts (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

U.S. History (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Government/Political Science (6 hours)

Choose TWO courses from the UHCL core approved list.

Social Behavioral Sciences (3 hours)

Choose ONE course from the UHCL core approved list.

Component Area Options (3 hours)

Choose THREE hours from the UHCL core approved list.

Two 1-hour Life and Physical Science Labs are required co-requisites for the chosen science courses.
COMM 1315 and PSYC 1100 recommended for this requirement.

College Core Requirements (3 hours)

To earn a degree in communication, students must graduate with a GPA of 2.500 or better. A few courses require a grade of “C” or better, as noted below; a “C-” is not acceptable for these courses. All prerequisites are strictly enforced.

Core Requirements

Advanced Writing must be passed with a grade of “C” or better. Choose ONE of the following courses.

WRIT 3305 - Advanced Writing for Humanities Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3307 - Advanced Writing Credit Hours: 3

Major Requirements (33 hours)

Courses

Choose ONE course from any 3300/4300 level ANTH, PHIL, PSYC, SOCI. Media Writing must be passed with a grade of “C” or better.

ARTS 2371 - Digital Photography 1 Credit Hours: 3
COMM 1307 - Introduction to Mass Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3320 - Principles of Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3321 - Media Writing Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3322 - Social Media Analytics Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3350 - Visual Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3352 - Media Law Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4354 - Video Production I Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4358 - Publication Design Credit Hours: 3

Capstone Requirement (senior year; GSP must first be passed)

COMM 4061 - Communication Portfolio Credit Hours: 0
COMM 4379 - Communication Internship Credit Hours: 3

Additional Information

Students will have the opportunity to integrate and demonstrate their mastery of communication skills as well as achieve key learning objectives by taking 3 hours of capstone credit. Passing the GSP test is a prerequisite to all capstone courses.

Communication Electives (18 hours)

Choose SIX courses from a designated list (3300/4300 level)

COMM 3323 - Social Media Content Production Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3340 - Environmental Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3341 - Storytelling and Oral Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3351 - Mass Media and Society Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3353 - Alternative Media Marketing and Case Studies Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3354 - Gathering Information Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3355 - Communication Ethics Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3356 - Advertising Procedure Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3357 - Crisis Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3360 - Web Design Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4301 - Global Issues in Film Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4322 - Public Relations Writing Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4323 - Public Relations Campaigns Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4324 - Strategic Social Media Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4334 - Adaptation and Text Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4350 - 3-D Computer Modeling Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4351 - 3-D Animation Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4352 - Photojournalism Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4354 - Video Production I Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4355 - Narrative Video Production Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4357 - Documentary Video Production Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4359 - Studio-Based Video Production Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4389 - Independent Study in Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4391 - Selected Topics in Communication Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 3360 - Graphic Design Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4348 - Information Design Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4350 - Advanced Darkroom Photography Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4351 - Advanced Digital Photography Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4352 - Video Arts Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4363 - Advertising Design Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4368 - Graphic Novel Design Credit Hours: 3
ARTS 4369 - Digital Illustration Credit Hours: 3
MKTG 3301 - Principles of Marketing Credit Hours: 3
MKTG 3331 - Integrated Marketing Communications Credit Hours: 3
MKTG 3360 - Social Media Marketing Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3312 - Written Communications in Business Credit Hours: 3
WRIT 3315 - Advanced Technical Writing Credit Hours: 3

Electives (24 hours)

Students may take any course as an elective, including communication courses not taken to meet major requirements.