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Curriculum in Speech Communication
Speech communication is concerned with
one of the most distinctly human characteristics: the use of
spoken language to communicate information, maintain social contact,
and influence others. The Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication
provides instruction in both the principles of effective communication
and the application of those principles in a variety of communication
situations. Speech communication is an attractive major because
it provides students with a broad liberal arts education, while
at the same time focusing on vital communication skills which
are much in demand in the working world. Those communication
skills include oral presentation skills, such as public speaking,
argumentation, and technical communication, as well as other
communication skills, such as small group interaction, interviewing
and communication technology.
Degree requirements include the study
of rhetorical and communication theories, the study of communication
research methods, and the use of those theories and research
methods in a variety of communication contexts. Such contexts
include health communication, intercultural communication, interpersonal
communication, mass media and new communication technologies,
organizational communication, political rhetoric, religious communication,
and others.
The career interests of speech communication
majors vary. Some students pursue advanced degrees in communication,
law, business, or religion. Others take communication-related
positions in marketing and sales, training and human resources,
public relations, communication media, and related areas of business,
industry, government, and non-profit organizations. Still others
prepare for teaching careers.
Teaching Certification
Students desiring certification to
teach speech communication in secondary schools of Texas may
either major in speech communication (College of Liberal Arts)
or in another field, but in either case, they must include
the following courses in their degree plans: COMM 203, 210,
243, 290, 301, 305, 315, 330 or 435, JOUR 322, THAR 407. Additional
education courses are required. More complete information on
the requirements for teacher certification may be found in
the College of Education section of this catalog.
Degree Requirements
The courses listed below are those
required for a B.A. degree in Speech Communication. Included
in graduation requirements are the following stipulations:
(1) a minimum of 2.0 GPR; (2) minimum grade of C in each course
applied in the category "Major" (see below); and
(3) minimum of 12 hours of upper-level COMM course work at
Texas A&M University.
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Credit
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Category
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MAJOR: 33 credit hours of COMM course
work; minimum grade of C in each class; no more than
3 credit hours of COMM 484; no more than 3 credit
hours of COMM 485.
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3
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One of the following courses:
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COMM 203 Public Speaking
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COMM 205 Communication for the Technical
Professions
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COMM 243 Argumentation and Debate
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3
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One of the following courses:
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COMM 210 Group Communication and
Discussion
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COMM 215 Interviewing: Principles
and Practices
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COMM 230 Communication Technology
Skills
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COMM 240 Rhetorical Criticism
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3
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COMM 301 Rhetoric in Western Thought
(Should be completed by end of junior year)
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3
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COMM 305 Theories of Communication
(Should be completed by end of junior year)
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3
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COMM 308 Research Methods in Communication
(Should be completed by end of junior year)
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6
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COMM Electives at 300-level
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6
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COMM Electives at 400-level (The following
courses may not be used as 400-level COMM electives:
COMM 454, 456, and 458.)
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6
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COMM Electives at any level from 100-level
to 400-level (except COMM 454, 456, and 458). COMM
101 is required for in-coming freshmen in the Fall
Semester of the freshman year.
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6
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Communication: ENGL 104 (with minimum
grade of C), and a writing elective selected from:
ENGL 203, 210, 235, 236, 241 or 301.
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6
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Literature in English: Two courses
from ENGL 203, 212, 221, 222, 227, 228, 231, 232
or courses for which one of these listed courses
is a prerequisite. Note: ENGL 203 will count toward
the Communication requirement or the Literature in
English requirement, but not both.
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6
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Mathematics: At least 3 credit hours
must be in mathematics (excluding MATH 102, 103,
150, 365 and 366); 3 credit hours may be in logic
(PHIL 240, 341 or 342).
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6
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U.S. History: Two courses in U.S.
history of which one course may be in Texas history.
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6
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Political Science: POLS 206 and 207.
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8
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Natural Sciences: Minimum of 1 credit
hour of laboratory science. Select only courses approved
in the University Core Curriculum section of this
catalog.
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9
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Humanities and Visual and Performing
Arts: 3 credit hours in humanities; 3 credit hours
in visual and performing arts; and 3 credit hours
in either humanities or performing arts. Select only
courses approved in the University Core Curriculum
section of this catalog. A student in the Speech
Communication B.A. Degree Program may not use a COMM
course to fulfill this requirement.
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6
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Social and Behavioral Sciences: Two
courses to be selected from the list in the University
Core Curriculum section of this catalog. A student
in the Speech Communication B.A. Degree Program may
not use a COMM course to fulfill this requirement.
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(6)
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International and Cultural Diversity:
Two courses selected from the course list in the
University Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
These courses may also be used to satisfy any other
requirement.
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14
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Foreign Language: Most students will
take a four-course sequence totaling 14 credit hours.
Some students may take fewer hours, depending on
their prior proficiency in the language as demonstrated
on a placement test. Must be in the same language;
may not skip courses in the sequence. To be selected
from French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Latin,
Russian, Spanish, or another language if approved
by the department head.
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2
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Kinesiology: KINE 198 Health and Fitness
Activity and KINE 199 Required Physical Activity.
(KINE 199 must be taken S/U.)
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15-18
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Minor: Must be selected from sequences
approved by the College of Liberal Arts (except:
a student majoring in speech communication cannot
select a minor offered by the Department of Communication).
No more than 9 credit hours may be at the lower-division
(100 and 200) level. A minimum grade of C is required
in each course applied to the minor. A minor must
be declared before a student completes 75 credit
hours.
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8-11
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General Electives. COMM courses may
not be used. Maximum of 9 credit hours of any combination
of military science and physical activity courses.
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Total credit hours
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