The combined Bachelor and Master is a 5-year program that provides a direct pathway for BA COMM majors to transition seamlessly into the MA COMM program thereby earning both degrees in five or fewer years.
The program begins each fall semester. Interested students will apply for the program in the spring of the junior year and must have two full undergraduate terms remaining at the time of application. Academic advisors at both the undergraduate and graduate levels will guide students through the process every step of the way. This program increases students’ opportunities to learn and grow while they are here at Texas A&M University. By allowing students additional time to pursue more advanced classes, they have increased opportunities to take advantage of the rich options our department has to offer.
This is a great choice for the many students who come to Texas A&M University with credit by examination, dual credit, and community college credit. The additional year for this program gives these particular students who would otherwise graduate in just two or three years, the time to become involved in student organizations, to take on leadership positions in the university, to pursue career path-altering internships, to participate in our study abroad programs, to collaborate with faculty and graduate students in their research projects, and to compete for fellowships and admission into other Texas A&M programs that can expand their horizons. A Master’s degree is value-added and this degree will offer both our students and our faculty opportunities to cultivate stronger mentoring relationships, which often broaden students’ horizons and expand their career interests.
Plan of Study Grid First Year |
Fall |
1,2 | 4 |
ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| 3 |
| Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | |
| Business Calculus | |
| Engineering Mathematics I | |
| Engineering Mathematics II | |
| Introduction to Logic | |
| Elementary Statistical Inference | |
3 | 4 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 |
Spring |
| 3 |
| Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition | |
| Writing about Literature | |
| Technical and Professional Writing | |
2 | 3 |
| Group Communication and Discussion | |
| Interviewing: Principles and Practice | |
| Communication Technology Skills | |
| Rhetorical Criticism | |
| Difficult Dialogues on Power, Privilege, and Difference | |
| New Media and the Independent Voice | |
| 3 |
| Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | |
| Business Calculus | |
| Engineering Mathematics I | |
| Engineering Mathematics II | |
| Introduction to Logic | |
| Elementary Statistical Inference | |
3 | 4 |
4 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 |
Second Year |
Fall |
2 | 3 |
| Public Speaking | |
| Communication for Technical Professions | |
| Argumentation and Debate | |
5 | 3 |
3 | 3 |
| 3 |
4 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 18 |
Spring |
2 | 3 |
3 | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
4 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 18 |
Third Year |
Fall |
COMM 301 | Rhetoric in Western Thought 2 | 3 |
COMM 308 | Research Methods in Communication 2 | 3 |
| 3 |
2, 6 | 3 |
2, 6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
COMM 305 | Theories of Communication 2 | 3 |
2 | 3 |
| 3 |
| 3 |
2,6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Fourth Year |
Fall |
2 | 2 |
2,9 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
5 | 3 |
2,6 | 3 |
| 1 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Spring |
2,9 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
| 3 |
2,6 | 3 |
2, 6 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 |
Fifth Year |
Fall |
7 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
7, 8 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 |
Spring |
7 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
7 | 3 |
7, 8 | 3 |
| Semester Credit Hours | 12 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 150 |
Graduation requirements include 3 hours of International and Cultural Diversity courses and 3 hours of Cultural Discourse courses. A course satisfying a Core category, a college/department requirement, or a free elective can be used to satisfy this requirement. The required 6 hours may be met by courses satisfying other areas of a degree program. See your academic advisor for further information.
Included in graduation requirements are the following stipulations:
- A minimum of 2.0 GPR
- Minimum grade of C in each course applied to the major
- Minimum of 12 hours of upper-level COMM coursework at Texas A&M
The program includes a total of 156 hours which up to 6 hours may be applied toward both the Bachelor of Arts in Communication and the Master of Arts in Communication.