Telecommunication Media Studies - BA
The Department of Communication offers two degrees in Telecommunication Media Studies (TCMS). The Bachelor of Arts in Telecommunication Media Studies is similar in structure to the Bachelor of Arts in Communication. The BA in TCMS features a broad, liberal arts approach to media topics supported by classwork from across the College of Liberal Arts and beyond. The BA in TCMS requires study in Communication Technology skills, Technology and Communication, Media History and Media Theory and then branches out to permit choices among a number of TCMS electives. The BS in TCMS, however, takes a quantitative focus to the study of media and requires study in Communication Technology skills, Technology and Communication, Media Theory, Media Law or Money Power and Communication, Media Audiences and Media Industries. With this many specified courses, the student has a more structured approach to studying media and thereby slightly fewer options for selection among TCMS electives. Both BA and BS students seem to find the path they take to lead to satisfying outcomes!
The Telecommunication Media Studies major provides students with tools for understanding the media and their roles in social life theoretically, historically and critically. The degree allows students to choose a broadly based communication and media studies major or a more specialized study of telecommunication and quantitative systems. Students can choose Communication courses that address media industries, law and policy, technology and society, media audiences, processes, and effects, and the theory, history, and criticism of media, culture, and communication.
A degree in Telecommunication Media Studies is useful in a broad variety of careers, including media and telecommunication industries, as well as media-related positions in business, government, non-profit organizations, and higher education. The curriculum is designed to educate citizens for a productive future in a changing world. Our students may become broadcasters, producers, film makers, digital media specialists, industry leaders, government regulators, spokespeople, politicians, writers, artists, activists, and informed citizens.
Both the BA students and the BS students will select a minor. They have the option to select a certificate in Global Media, Health Communication, Leadership & Conflict Management, Social Media, Strategic Communication or our new certificate in Communication, Diversity and Social Justice.
The BA and BS are both available. The BA is a more flexible, liberal arts media-oriented degree.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Semester Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 104 | Composition and Rhetoric | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | ||
| Business Calculus | ||
| Engineering Mathematics I | ||
| Engineering Mathematics II | ||
| Introduction to Logic | ||
| Elementary Statistical Inference | ||
| Foreign language 1 | 4 | |
| Telecommunication elective 2,3 | 4 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 14 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 230/JOUR 230 | Communication Technology Skills | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Public Speaking | ||
| Communication for Technical Professions | ||
| Argumentation and Debate | ||
| Introduction to Rhetoric and Composition | ||
| Writing about Literature 4 | ||
| Technical and Business Writing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences | ||
| Business Calculus | ||
| Engineering Mathematics I | ||
| Engineering Mathematics II | ||
| Introduction to Logic | ||
| Elementary Statistical Inference | ||
| Foreign language 1 | 4 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture 5 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 330 | Technology and Human Communication | 3 |
| ECON 202 | Principles of Economics | 3 |
| Creative arts 5 | 3 | |
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective 4 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Foreign language 1 | 3 | |
| Government/Political science | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Literature directed elective 4 | 3 | |
| Telecommunication elective 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 308 | Research Methods in Communication | 3 |
| COMM 360 | Cultural History of the Media | 3 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 350 | Theories of Mediated Communication | 3 |
| American history | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Telecommunication elective 3 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COMM 401 to 480 | 3 | |
| Language, philosophy and culture or creative arts 5 | 3 | |
| Social and behavioral sciences 5 | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Telecommunication elective 3 | 2 | |
| General elective | 1 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| COMM 401 to 480 | 3 | |
| Government/Political science | 3 | |
| Life and physical sciences | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Minor 6 | 3 | |
| Semester Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 120 | |
| 1 | Complete 14 hours of a foreign language through the intermediate level. If you choose to enroll in a language you have studied previously without receiving college credit, you must first take a placement test. See academic advisor. |
| 2 | First semester, first time in college students must take COMM 101 and COMM 291. |
| 3 | Select four of the following: COMM 101 to 499; CSCE 110, CSCE 206; ENGL 251/FILM 251; FILM 251/ENGL 251; ISTM 250, ISTM 310, ISTM 315, ISTM 325, ISTM 425;JOUR 102, JOUR 301/COMM 307; POLS 302/COMM 302, POLS 313; TCMG 274; WGST 407/COMM 407. |
| 4 | ENGL 203 will count toward the Communication requirement or the Literature directed elective requirement, but not both. |
| 5 | COMM course may not be used to fulfill this requirement. |
| 6 | Minor to be selected from among approved university minors. Consult with advisor regarding how to declare desired minor. Courses fulfilling core curriculum requirements may apply to the minor and therefore some of these courses may become electives. Minors will range between 15 and 18 hours. |
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.
Students take 21 credit hours of the required program core courses and 12 credit hours of telecommunication elective courses for a total of 33 credit hours. At least 12 credits must be at the upper-division level. At least 12 credits must be taken in residence at Texas A&M University. Minimum grade of C in each course. No more than 3 credit hours of COMM 484; no more than 6 credit hours of COMM 485.
Teaching Certification
Students desiring certification to teach communication in secondary schools of Texas may either major in communication (College of Liberal Arts) or in another field, but in either case, they must include the following courses in their degree plans:
| Code | Title | Semester Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| COMM 203 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| COMM 210 | Group Communication and Discussion | 3 |
| COMM 243 | Argumentation and Debate | 3 |
| COMM 301 | Rhetoric in Western Thought | 3 |
| COMM 305 | Theories of Communication | 3 |
| COMM 315 | Interpersonal Communication | 3 |
| COMM 350 | Theories of Mediated Communication | 3 |
| COMM 330 | Technology and Human Communication | 3 |
| or COMM 340 | or Communication and Popular Culture | |
| or COMM 435/FILM 445 | or Rhetoric of Television and Film | |
| THAR 407 | Performing Literature. | 3 |
| Total Semester Credit Hours | 27 | |
Additional education courses are required. More complete information on the requirements for teacher certification may be found in the College of Education and Human Development section under secondary teacher certification.