Texas A&M University Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2005 Edition

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 and Human Development 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.

Credit		Category
		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.
3		One of the following courses:
		COMM 203 Public Speaking
		COMM 205 Communication for the Technical Professions
		COMM 243 Argumentation and Debate
3		One of the following courses:
		COMM 210 Group Communication and Discussion
		COMM 215 Interviewing: Principles and Practices
		COMM 230 Communication Technology Skills
		COMM 240 Rhetorical Criticism
3		COMM 301 Rhetoric in Western Thought (Should be completed by end of junior year)
3		COMM 305 Theories of Communication (Should be completed by end of junior year)
3		COMM 308 Research Methods in Communication (Should be completed by end of junior year)
6		COMM Electives at 300-level
6		COMM Electives at 400-level (The following courses may not be used as 400-level COMM electives: COMM 454, 456, and 458.)
6		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.
6		Communication: ENGL 104 (with minimum grade of C), and a writing elective selected from: ENGL 203, 210, 235, 236, 241 or 301.
6		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.
6		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).
6		U.S. History: Two courses in U.S. history of which one course may be in Texas history.
6		Political Science: POLS 206 and 207.
8		Natural Sciences: Minimum of 1 credit hour of laboratory science. Select only courses approved in the University Core Curriculum section of this catalog.
9		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.
6		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.
(6)		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.
14		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.
2		Kinesiology: KINE 198 Health and Fitness Activity and KINE 199 Required Physical Activity. (KINE 199 must be taken S/U.)
15-18		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.
8-11		General Electives. COMM courses may not be used. Maximum of 9 credit hours of any combination of military science and physical activity courses.
128		Total credit hours