Apr 18, 2024

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog

2021-2022 Undergraduate Catalog [Not Current Academic Year. Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Communication Studies, B.A.

College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences > Jack J. Valenti School of Communication > Communication Studies, B.A.

Students in this degree program will choose from two concentrations: Film & Media Studies and Interpersonal Communication.

In the Film & Media studies concentration, students will deal critically with media issues that create and affect public policy and will explore media management policy. Course materials will also cover content, technology, training, programming, marketing, and audiences in national and international contexts.

Additionally, students will have an opportunity to study film and its impact on media and society.

Students completing this concentration will gain background and understanding of communication that could lead to management, consulting or further study.

In the Interpersonal Communication concentration, students will gain knowledge of the interplay between communication and relationships on both micro and societal levels. At the micro level, students will develop analytic and communication skills needed to understand the process of relationship development, maintenance and deterioration. At the societal level, students will acquire critical reasoning skills needed to interpret images and messages about families and other small groups.

Students will be prepared for entry-level communication positions in organizations such as those allied with health care and human development or for advanced work in communication studies and other fields focusing on the analysis of human behavior.

Communication Major

Students in good academic standing may declare a degree program in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication at any time. Students interested in the school but uncertain about a degree program may declare themselves Communication Unspecified (COMM-UN) up to completion of 30 hours. Then they must choose a degree program.

To declare a major in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication a student must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.25 or higher on minimum of 12 semester hours at UH.

A transfer student or UH non-communication student with 15-60 semester hours of college credit who wants to declare a degree program in the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication must have a 2.25 or higher cumulative grade point average, including any attempted transfer courses.

Applicants who have completed more than 60 semester hours of college credit need a 2.25 or higher cumulative grade point average on the last 60 hours.

Transfer students who have earned fewer than 15 semester hours of college credit must meet freshman admission requirements.

To graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in any Valenti School degree program:

Students must achieve a 2.00 cumulative GPA in all courses that count toward the major with at least a C in each.
No COMM course for major (or minor) may be taken more than three times.

Hours Required For The B.A. Degree

UH Core = 42 hours
Jack J. Valenti School Requirements = 12 hours
Communication Studies = 27 hours
CLASS General Degree Requirements
- CLASS Block = 6 hours
- CLASS Diversity Course = 3 hours
- Minor = 15 hours
- Foreign Language = 6 hours at sophomore level
General Electives = 9 hours

TOTAL = 120 hours

UH Core Curriculum Hours Included In COMM Requirements

ENGL 1301 - First Year Writing I Credit Hours: 3
ENGL 1302 - First Year Writing II Credit Hours: 3
HIST 1376 - The United States To 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0 or
HIST 1377 - The U S To 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0
HIST 1378 - The U S Since 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0 or
HIST 1379 - The United States Since 1877 Credit Hours: 3.0
MATH 1314 - College Algebra Credit Hours: 3 or
MATH 1332 - Elementary Mathematical Modeling Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2306 - US and Texas Constitution and Politics Credit Hours: 3
GOVT 2305 - US Government: Congress, President, & Courts Credit Hours: 3

TOTAL - 21 Credit Hours

Jack J. Valenti School Requirements (12 hours)

COMM 1303 - Writing for Communicators Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 1307 - Media and Society Credit Hours: 3
COMM 2356 - Business & Professional Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4303 - Communication Law and Ethics Credit Hours: 3

Communication Studies Concentrations

Students will choose one of the following concentrations for the additional 27 hours required for the degree:

Communication Studies, B.A. - Film & Media Studies Concentration

Required Courses (12 hours)

COMM 1302 - Introduction To Communication Theory Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3370 - History of Cinema Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3376 - Media Effects Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4378 - The Social Impact of New Information Technology Credit Hours: 3.0

Elective Courses (15 hours - 5 courses from the following)

COMM 3349 - Nonverbal Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3372 - Gender and Media Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3373 - Television: History and Culture Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3381 - Short Film Practicum Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3384 - The Media Industry Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3385 - Communication Practicum Abroad Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4302 - Latinx Media Studies Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4314 - Social Issues in Journalism Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4337 - Television and the Familiy Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4338 - Family in Popular Culture Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4370 - Social Aspects of Film Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4371 - American Cinema: The Directors Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4372 - Media, Power, and Society Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4375 - Propaganda & Mass Comm Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4390 - Film Genres Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4392 - Professional Internship Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4397 - Selected Topics Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4398 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 3.0

Communication Studies, B.A. - Interpersonal Communication Concentration

Required Courses (18 hours)

SPCH 1318 - Interpersonal Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 2331 - Relational Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3331 - Communication in the Family Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4331 - Persuasion Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4335 - Crisis Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4357 - Intercultural Communication Credit Hours: 3

Elective Courses (9 hours - 3 courses from the following)

COMM 2383 - Food As Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3300 - Health Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3301 - Doctor-Patient Interaction Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3303 - Health Literacy Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3304 - Multicultural Health Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3306 - End of Life Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3332 - Effective Meeting Management Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3340 - Health Campaigns Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3349 - Nonverbal Communication Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3352 - Small Group Process Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 3368 - Principles of Public Relations Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3372 - Gender and Media Credit Hours: 3
COMM 3376 - Media Effects Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4314 - Social Issues in Journalism Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4337 - Television and the Familiy Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4338 - Family in Popular Culture Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4355 - Organizational Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4372 - Media, Power, and Society Credit Hours: 3
COMM 4392 - Professional Internship Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4397 - Selected Topics Communication Credit Hours: 3.0
COMM 4398 - Independent Study Credit Hours: 3.0

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