Degree Requirements
- It is the student's responsibility to read the catalog and be familiar with and fulfill all the requirements for the BA degree.
- Complete at least 120 sch for the BA degree.
- At least 30 sch must be completed at U.T.P.B.
- At least 24 of the last 30 must be taken at U.T.P.B.
- At least 48 sch must be taken at the upper level.
- Complete at least 18 sch in a minor of which 9 sch must be upper level. Refer to the catalog for specific requirements.
- Obtain at least a C grade in ALL MAJOR courses. Maintain a GPA of 2.0 or C in all courses applicable toward the BA degree.
- Students who enrolled in a Texas public institution of higher education as first-time freshman in the Fall 2007 and thereafter are not permitted to drop more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career (Texas Administrative Code 4.10). This limit includes all transfer work taken at a Texas institution of higher education.
General Education Requirements
Communication
History (United States)
| HIST 1301 | History Of The Us To 1877 | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | History Of The Us Since 1877 | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Language, Philosophy, and Culture
| COMM 1301 | Introduction to the Study of Communication | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Mathematics
Life and Physical Science
Political Science
Creative Arts
Social and Behavioral Science
Component Area
| COMM 1315 | Introduction to Public Speaking | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Component Area Option
Students must take COMM 1115 and the appropriate science labs.
Total Credit Hours: 42
Computer Use
It is expected that all Communication majors and minors possess basic personal computer skills prior to enrollment in courses. Many classes in the Communication program require that assignments be completed using a personal computer. Regular use of email, browsers, spreadsheets, word processing, and graphic software on multiple platforms is incorporated into the fabric of the curriculum.
Major Requirements
All communication majors must complete at least 39 sch: a 24 sch required core plus 15 sch of elective communication courses chosen in consultation with their faculty advisor.
Total Credit Hours: 24
Communication Tracks
The remaining 15 semester credit hours of the major are COMM electives to be taken in one of the following four tracks. All elective hours must be at the upper level.
Communication Studies Track
Students must take 15 upper level semester credit hours in communication. Those may be any hours in the discipline and should be selected in consultation with your advisor.
Strategic Messaging Track
Students must take at least 15 upper level elective hours in communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses below:
Sports Media Track
Students must take at least 15 upper level elective hours in communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses below:
Professional Communication
Students must take at least 15 upper level elective hours in communication. Of those 15 hours, at least 12 must be selected from the courses below:
The following courses may be substituted for upper level elective hours in COMM
Total Credit Hours: 15
Minor
Communication majors are required to earn a minor of at least 18 hours. Most minors require 18 semester credit hours in the minor field, of which 9-12 must be upper level. Communication majors should consult with their faculty advisor to determine which minor courses to take and in what sequence. Courses that count toward major requirements cannot also be used to fulfill a requirement for the student's minor field, and prerequisites for such courses are not considered part of the minor.
Total Credit Hours: 18
Additional Electives
Upper level electives required to reach 48 upper level sch limit and 120 sch minimum.
Internships in Communication
Internships are a traditional component of communication programs and are strongly encouraged at UTPB. Students who are interested in earning course credit for an internship in Communication are encouraged to seek one out independently. Only unpaid internships at an organization that meets U.S. Department of Labor criteria may be used for course credit.
Students employed in the organization for which they arrange an internship may enroll in COMM 4381 only if their internship experience is removed from and in addition to their normal work activity. With the permission of a faculty supervisor, those students should register for COMM 4381 before the beginning of the term in which they intend to complete the internship. Before enrolling in the course, the student should submit to the supervising professor an internship proposal and an agreement between the student, the faculty supervisor, and the chosen organization. The students must work at the chosen organization for 100 or more clock hours during the semester in which they are enrolled in the course. Students must submit to the supervising professor regular status reports throughout the semester and a summary report or project at the end of the semester that demonstrates the results of their research and work experience.
TExES Requirements
Candidates for tests in Journalism or Speech must have completed the courses listed for each area below or equivalent courses in their teaching fields.
Journalism: 1307, 3300, COMM 3312, COMM 3331, 6 elective hours in COMM
Speech: 1307, COMM 2333, COMM 3332, 3300, COMM 4350, 6 elective hours in COMM.