The Communication Field of Study (FOS) contains four sub-areas. The sub-areas are: General Communication (Communication Studies / Speech Communication / Speech and Rhetorical Studies / Organizational Communication); Advertising / Public Relations; Journalism / Mass Communication; Radio and Television Broadcasting / Broadcast Journalism. Upon completion of the Field of Study Curriculum, a certificate will be awarded to acknowledge completion and readiness to transition from an associate level to a baccalaureate (BA / BS) level, at any Texas public institution.
Career Options
The Associate of Arts – Communication Studies Field of Study provides students with a solid foundation for careers that involve a high degree of interaction with the public. Occupations involving marketing research, conference and special events planning, product / service demonstrations, and sales are possible careers. The emphasis also offers the academic foundation to successfully complete a bachelor’s degree at a college or university, and then to pursue a career in fields such as mass media, public relations, law, government, personnel, employee relations, and education.
Listed below are the requirements for each Communication Field of Study sub-area:
GENERAL COMMUNICATION (Sub-Area)
| GENERAL COMMUNICATION |
12 credit hours |
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| Required Core-Course 1 | 3 credit hours | |||||
| Competency Area 1 | 6-9 credit hours | |||||
| SPCH | 1311 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication 1 | ||||
| SPCH | 1318 | Interpersonal Communication | ||||
| COMM | 2301 | Intro to Technology and Human Communication | ||||
| Competency Area 2 | 3-6 credit hours | |||||
| SPCH | 1315 | Public Speaking I 1 | ||||
| SPCH | 1321 | Business and Professional Speaking I 1 | ||||
| SPCH | 2335 | Argumentation and Debate | ||||
1 One of these courses will meet the Communication - Speech Component area of Core
| Recommended Electives |
minimum of 9 credit hours |
| Remaining courses listed in Competency Areas 1 and / or 2 (above) | |||
| COMM | 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication | |
| COMM | 2331 | Radio and TV Announcing | |
| COMM | 2332 | Radio / Television News | |
ADVERTISING / PUBLIC RELATIONS (Sub-Area)
| ADVERTISING / PUBLIC RELATIONS |
12 credit hours |
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| Competency Area 1 | 6 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication | ||||
| COMM | 2300 | Media Literacy | ||||
| COMM | 2301 | Intro to Technology and Human Communication | ||||
| Competency Area 2 | 6 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 2332 | Radio / Television News | ||||
| COMM | 2339 | Writing for Radio, TV, and Film | ||||
| Recommended Electives |
minimum of 6 credit hours |
| COMM | 2332 | Radio / Television News | |
| SPCH | 1318 | Interpersonal Communication |
JOURNALISM / MASS COMMUNICATION (Sub-Area)
| JOURNALISM / MASS COMMUNICATION |
12 credit hours |
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| Competency Area 1 | 6 - 9 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication | ||||
| COMM | 1335 | Survey of Radio and Television | ||||
| COMM | 2300 | Media Literacy | ||||
| COMM | 2301 | Intro to Technology and Human Communication | ||||
| Competency Area 2 | 3 - 6 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 1316 | News Photography I | ||||
| COMM | 1317 | News Photography II | ||||
| COMM | 2332 | Radio / Television News | ||||
| COMM | 2339 | Writing for Radio, TV, and Film | ||||
| Recommended Electives | minimum of 6 credit hours |
| Remaining courses listed in Competency Areas 1 and / or 2 (above) | |||
| SPCH | 1318 | Interpersonal Communication | |
RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING / BROADCAST JOURNALISM (Sub-Area)
| RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING / BROADCAST JOURNALISM |
12 credit hours |
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| Competency Area 1 | 6 - 9 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 1307 | Introduction to Mass Communication | ||||
| COMM | 1335 | Survey of Radio and Television | ||||
| COMM | 2300 | Media Literacy | ||||
| COMM | 2301 | Intro to Technology and Human Communication | ||||
| Competency Area 2 | 3 - 6 credit hours | |||||
| COMM | 2331 | Radio and TV Announcing | ||||
| COMM | 2332 | Radio / Television News | ||||
| COMM | 2339 | Writing for Radio, TV, and Film | ||||
| Recommended Electives |
minimum of 6 credit hours |
| Remaining courses listed in Competency Areas 1 and / or 2 (above) | |||
| SPCH | 1318 | Interpersonal Communication | |
To earn the AA degree, in addition to the Field of Study Certificate, complete the following core requirements and recommended electives (listed above, under each sub-area).
Core Component Areas 39 - 42 credit hours
(Below are component areas of the Texas Core not included in the FOS. Please be sure to complete one of the courses listed below to meet the Humanities component area, to fulfill the AA degree requirement. The full Texas Core can be found here.)
| COMMUNICATION |
9 CREDIT HOURS |
|
| Must take both: | ENGL 1301 and 1302 | 6 credit hours |
| Select one: 1 | SPCH 1311, 1315, or 1321 | 3 credit hours |
| HUMANITIES |
3 CREDIT HOURS |
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|
Select one of the following courses: |
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| English | ENGL 2322, 2323, 2327, 2328, 2332, 2333, 2342, 2343, 2351 | |
| MATHEMATICS |
3 CREDIT HOURS |
|
| Select one: | MATH 1314, 1316, 1324, 1325, 1332 2, 1342, 1350, 1351, 1414, 2305, 2312, 2318, 2320, 2413, 2414, 2415, 2417, 2419 | |
| NATURAL SCIENCES |
8 CREDIT HOURS |
|
|
Select two from the following areas |
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| Biology | BIOL 1406, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1411, 1414, 1415, 2401, 2402, 2404, 2406, 2416, 2421 | |
| Chemistry | CHEM 1405, 1411, 1412, 2401, 2423, 2425 | |
| Environmental Science |
ENVR 1401, 1402 | |
| Geology | GEOL 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1445, 1447 | |
| Physics | PHYS 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1405, 1410, 1415, 2425, 2426 | |
| SOCIAL / BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES |
3 CREDIT HOURS |
|
|
Select one from the following areas: |
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| Anthropology | ANTH 2346*, 2351 | |
| Economics | ECON 2301, 2302 | |
| Psychology | PSYC 2301 | |
| Sociology | SOCI 1301 | |
| SOCIAL SCIENCES |
12 CREDIT HOURS |
|
| Must take both: | GOVT 2301 and 2302 | 6 credit hours |
| Select two: | HIST 1301, 1302 or 2301 | 6 credit hours |
| VISUAL / PERFORMING ARTS |
3 CREDIT HOURS |
|
|
Select one of the following: |
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| Dance | DANC 2303 | |
| Humanities | HUMA 1311 | |
| Music | MUSI 1306, 1307 | |
| Theatre | DRAM 1310, 2361, 2362 | |
| Visual Arts | ARTS 1301, 1303, 1304, 1313 | |
| INSTITUTIONAL OPTION |
1 CREDIT HOUR |
|
|
Select one of the following: |
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| Dance | DANC 1101, 1110, 1111, 1141, 1142, 1145, 1146, 1147, 1148, 1151, 1152, 1222, 1223, 2141, 2142, 2145, 2146, 2147, 2148, 2151, 2152, 2301, 2325 | |
| Physical Education | PHED 1100, 1102. 1104, 1106, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1114, 1115, 1116, 1117, 1118, 1120, 1121, 1123, 1124, 1125, 1126, 1127, 1129, 1130, 1131, 1133, 1136, 1137, 1140, 1147, 1148, 1253, 1338 | |
1 If you are working toward the General Communication Sub-Area of the Communication Field of Study, you have met this requirement. All other component areas of the Core must be completed.
2 Before taking MATH 1332, check with an academic adviser regarding the transferability. Some majors or institutions may require a higher-level mathematics course.
* Please Note: You may take either ANTH 2346 as a core option under Social / Behavioral Sciences or HUMA 2323 as a core option under Humanities. HUMA 2323 is not listed above because it will not meet the AA degree requirement. Students may take either ANTH 2346 or HUMA 2323, but not both.
Note: The second digit in a course number indicates the number of credit hours
for that course.
