College of Arts and Sciences
Classical Civilization
See Foreign Languages and Literatures.
Communication
Professor Kittrell Rushing, Head
The Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC) accredits the UTC Department of Communication. The department offers a Bachelor of Arts degree requiring a combination of broad liberal learning and specialized study in communication. In addition to meeting the general education requirements, the communication major must complete an approved minor. Majors must complete an internship of no less than 150 hours of on-the-job training.
1170 - Communication (B.A.)
- General Education (see for list of approved courses)
- Rhetoric and Composition: English 121,122 (6 hours)
- Mathematics: One approved mathematics course (3 hours)
- Statistics: One approved statistics course (3 hours)
- Natural Sciences: Two approved natural science courses, at least one including a laboratory component (7-8 hours)
- Humanities and Fine Arts: Two approved humanities and fine arts courses, one from fine arts and one from either (6 hours)
- Cultures and Civilizations: Option A: Western Humanities I and II and Non-Western Cultures and Civilizations OR Option B: World Civilization I, II, III (9 hours total)
- Behavioral and Social Sciences: Two approved behavioral or social science courses in two different disciplines (6 hours) May include for communication majors, Communication 320, as one of the two courses.
- Foreign Language: Through second college year in one foreign
language
- Completion of a minor with a minimum 2.0 grade point average.
Major and Related Courses
Completion of 33 hours of communication courses including 101, 230, 231, 320, 420, 451 and 485 or 480, and other communication courses as electives for the total of 33 hours.
One approved computer literacy course.
Communication majors must take a minimum of 80 semester hours in courses outside the major, with no fewer than 65 semester hours from the liberal arts and sciences.
A communications major may complete a maximum of 30 credit hours in the College of Business Administration. This limit does not apply to students seeking the double major or degree in business and communication.
- 2.0 average in communication courses.
- Minimum of 39 hours of 300 and 400 level courses.
- Electives to complete 120 hours.
COMMUNICATION MINORS
The Department of Communication offers two minors: a professional minor for students wishing to focus on career skill development related to journalism and mass communication; and a media studies minor for students wishing to focus on the impact of media on American society and the cultural meaning of mass communication.
4536 - Professional Practice
A total of 18 hours, including Communication 101, 230, and 231. Nine hours must be at the 300 level or above and selected from the following professional courses: Communication 333, 335, 340, 345, 350, 361, 363, 400, 410, 445, 461, 465, 470.
Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
4537 - Media Studies
A total of 18 hours, including at least nine hours at the 300 level or higher. Courses from which hours may be selected include: Communication 101, 271, 320, 324, 400, 410, 420, 451 and 470.
Minimum 2.0 average in the minor.
COMMUNICATION COURSES (COMM)
101 Introduction to Mass Communication (3)
Structure and functions of the mass communication media and their adjuncts; creation, distribution, and exhibition of mass media content; legal and ethical considerations. Every semester. Lecture 3 hours.
130 Basic Computer Skills for Communication Majors (1)
Introduction to basic computer technology for mass communication. Basic elements of word processing, electronic mail, web page building and maintenance, and use of the World-Wide-Web for mass communication. Every semester. Laboratory 2 hours
199r Special Projects (1-3)
Individual or group studies. Every semester. Laboratory 1 to 3 hours
230 Media Writing I (3)
Introduction to language skills and factual writing style for the mass media. News writing, information gathering and interviewing. Every semester. Laboratory 4 hours. Prerequisites: English 121 with grade of C or better, keyboard proficiency of 30 wpm.
231 Media Writing II (3)
Researching, structuring, writing, and evaluating news stories, and practice in writing for public relations and advertising. Theoretical perspectives of news and other media information, comparisons among the media. Every semester. Laboratory 4 hours. Prerequisites: English 122 and Communication 230 with grades of C or better, keyboard proficiency of 36 wpm, or approval of the instructor.
271 Introduction to Public Relations (3)
Fundamentals of establishing and maintaining effective relations with organizational publics. Introduction to publicity methods and managing the public relations function. Case study approach. Every semester. Lecture 3 hours.
320 Mass Communication Perspectives (3)
History and development of mass media and mass media issues in American society. Cultural, technological, economic and societal consequences of the media. Every semester. Prerequisite: 101 Lecture 3 hours.
324 Race, Gender and the Media (3)
Examines the roles of ethnic minorities and women as members and consumers of the media. Spring semester. Lecture 3 hours. Prerequisite: junior standing or approval of instructor. May be registered as WSTU 324. Credit not allowed in both Communication and Women’s Studies 324.
333 Persuasive Writing (3)
Preparation of persuasive copy for print and electronic media. Creative and conceptual aspects emphasized. Fall semester. Prerequisite: 231. Laboratory 4 hours.
335 Publication Editing and Design (3)
Elements of publication design, with special attention to typography, graphics, and layout. Every semester. Prerequisite: 230. Laboratory 4 hours.
337 World-Wide Web Production (3)
Elementary World-Wide Web production techniques. The focus is on web page building and the use of the World-Wide-Web as a medium of mass communication. Spring semester. Laboratory 4 hours. Prerequisites: English 121, word processing proficiency, or approval of instructor.
340 Audio Production and Presentation (3)
Producing and presenting content in radio and non-broadcast audio media, using both studio and portable facilities. Studio, control room, and field production procedures, recording and editing, music and sound effects. Every semester. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours.
345 Video I (3)
Writing and producing news, commercials, and public service and promotional announcements. Fall semester. Prerequisite: 231. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
350 Television News Production (3)
Principles and skills of producing television newscasts. Includes the production of two half-hour newscasts. Fall semester. Prerequisites: 231. Laboratory 3 hours.
361 Advanced Reporting (3)
Reporting and writing news from city and county sources, with emphasis on researching public documents. Explorations and discussions of news and its relationship to society. On demand. Prerequisite: 231. Laboratory 4 hours.
363 Feature Writing (3)
Nonfiction writing for newspapers, magazines and specialized publications. Spring semester. Prerequisite: 231 or approval of the instructor. Laboratory 4 hours.
366 Creative Editing (3)
Principles and basic skills in newspaper , magazine, electronic and specialized publication copy editing. Fall semester. Laboratory 4 hours. Prerequisite: 231.
400r Special Topics (3)
Specialized study of mass media designed to meet interests of students and faculty. On demand. Approval of instructor or head of the department.
410 Public Communication and Environmental Issues (3)
Seminar concerning environmental policy, information, and education, environmental reporting, and environmental public relations. Also discusses risk communication and the multiracial environmental justice movement. On demand. Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing. Completion of natural science/lab requirements, or approval of instructor.
420 Senior Seminar (3)
Current issues in mass media and completion of a research project. Every semester. Prerequisite: 320.
445 Video II (3)
Television field production: scripting, shooting and editing. Spring semester. Prerequisite: 345. Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours.
451 Mass Communication Law and Ethics (3)
United States legal system, elements of constitutional law, the law of mass communication. Personal and professional ethics as they apply to communications disciplines. Every semester. Lecture 3 hours.
461 Newspaper and Newsletter Editing and Design (3)
Principles and practices of editing and evaluating news copy, writing headlines and captions, newspaper and newsletter layout and design practices, electronic editing, and newspaper and newsletter production processes. Every fourth semester. Prerequisite: 231. Laboratory 4 hours.
465 The Advertising Campaign (3)
Principles of campaign research, planning, implementation, and presentation applied to an account. On demand. Prerequisite: 333. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours.
470 The Public Relations Campaign (3)
Principles of campaign research, planning, implementation, and evaluation, and their application. Spring semester. Prerequisite: 271 and 333. Lecture 1 hour, laboratory 3 hours.
480 Directed Project (3)
Guided project designed to demonstrate proficiency at professional level in a specific area. Every semester. Prerequisites: senior standing and approval of the department in the semester preceding enrollment.
485 Individual Internship (3)
Working experience in a professional situation. Every semester. Prerequisites: senior standing and approval of the department in the semester preceding enrollment.
495r Departmental Honors (1- 3 hours per, 4 hours for the two).
Every semester. See Departmental Honors.
497r Research (1- 3 hours)
Every semester. Prerequisite: approval of the department head.
498r Individual Studies (1- 3 hours)
Every semester. Prerequisite: approval of the department head.
499r Group Studies (1- 3 hours)
On demand.
