Planning Your Communication Electives

Because of a recent change in our accrediting agency's requirements, Communication majors may now take up to 18 hours of electives in communication. Majors must complete a minimum of 12 hours (4 courses) of communication electives. However, communication majors may take up to 18 hours (6 courses) of communication electives. This includes any communication elective courses brought to UTC as transfer credits from other schools.

All Communication majors must take 21 hours of required courses in the major: COMM101, COMM230, COMM231, COMM320, COMM420, COMM451 and COMM480 or COMM485. Remember: Majors are strongly urged to complete two upper division skills courses prior to enrolling in COMM485, Individual Internship. Skills courses include: COMM333,COMM335, COMM337, COMM340, COMM345, COMM350, COMM361, COMM363, COMM366, COMM410,COMM445, COMM470.

****Majors are encouraged to choose carefully the 12 to 18 hours of electives (five courses, typically) based on a career interests.***

If you are interested in a career in public relations, advertising or marketing:

* Consider the promotions minor in the Business Marketing Department
* COMM 271 - Introduction to Public Relations, 3 hours, offered fall and spring
* COMM 333 - Persuasive Writing (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, offered fall
* COMM 335 - Publication Editing and Design (prerequisite COMM 230), 3 hours, offered fall and spring
* COMM 337 - World-Wide-Web Production (prerequisite COMM 230), 3 hours, offered spring
* COMM 366 - Creative Editing (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, offered fall
* COMM 470 - The Public Relations Campaign (prerequisites COMM 271,
* COMM 333), 3 hours, offered spring

If you are interested in a career in print journalism, including newspapers and magazines:

* COMM 199 - Writing for The University Echo, 1 hour, offered fall and spring
* COMM 361 - Advanced Reporting (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, on demand
* COMM 363 - Feature Writing, 3 hours, offered spring
* COMM 410 - Public Communication and Environmental Issues (prerequisite completion of natural science/lab or approval of instructor, 3 hours, offered on demand
* COMM 335 - Publication Editing and Design (prerequisite COMM 230),
3 hours, offered fall and spring
* COMM 366 - Creative Editing (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, offered fall

If you are interested in a career in broadcasting, including television, radio, or video:

* COMM 340 - Audio Production and Presentation, 3 hours, offered fall
and spring
* COMM 345 - Video I (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, offered fall
* COMM 350 - Television News Production (prerequisite COMM 231), 3 hours, offered fall and spring
* COMM 445 - Video II, 3 hours, offered spring (prerequisite: COMM 345)

Other electives that fit with any of these areas:

* COMM 130 - Basic Computer Skills for Communication Majors, 1 hour, every semester
* COMM 324 - Race, Gender and the Media (prerequisite junior standing or approval of instructor), 3 hours, offered spring
* COMM 400 - Special Topics: Web Page Design, International Media, Media Management, 3 hours, offered on demand

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We also recommend that you work with the UTC University Echo no matter what your career goals. The experience of gathering and preparing information for publication coupled with the business experience available through the student management of the newspaper provides valuable experience for a person who seeks a career in any journalism-mass communication related profession.

In addition, your faculty recommends that you become involved in one of the several journalism-mass communication student organizations. The organizations here at UTC include the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), and Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The student organizations provide contacts as well as preparation for entry into the career fields associated with mass communication.

Back to the communication curriculum

Last updated:Friday, April 1, 2005
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