School of Communication

[1] Purposes

COMMUNICATION: Courses in the program teach students how to effectively gather, analyze, synthesize, and present information to audiences in meaningful and engaging ways. The program focuses on theories, concepts, and best practices in verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as using different forms of media to inform, educate, and persuade audiences across various contexts and cultures.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: As with the Communication major, students are taught how to gather, analyze, synthesize and present information to various audiences. The program emphasizes strategic research, planning, execution, and evaluation of communication programs for companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and public figures.

We offer Principles of Communication (COMM 1300), which supports the UCA Core program’s emphasis on critical inquiry and effective communication, and majors and minors in Communication and Public Relations. Communication and Public Relations focus on theories, concepts, and best practices in verbal and nonverbal communication, as well as using different forms of media to inform, educate, and persuade audiences across various contexts and cultures.

JOURNALISM: We offer professional training in the areas of journalism. We also seek to educate interested non-professionals who seek to become participating members of a knowledgeable audience. Additionally, through broadcast, print, and online productions, students and faculty of the department share their work with mass media audiences. MCOM 1300 Media and Society supports the UCA Core program’s emphasis on responsible living, and we offer a major (with broadcast, online, and print options) and minor in journalism.

WRITING: In addition to offering general education writing courses supporting the university’s emphasis on writing and thinking skills across the curriculum, we offer a variety of courses in rhetoric and composition, professional and technical writing, and the teaching of writing. We offer majors and minors in writing studies and professional writing. WRTG 1310 Introduction to College Writing and WRTG 1320 Academic Writing and Research support the UCA Core program’s emphasis on effective communication.

[2] Facilities and Resources

State-of-the-art facilities support our programs. Journalism is housed in a facility that includes a television production studio, news room, audio studios, Adobe Creative Suite, two computer labs, and production areas.

[3] Honors in the Majors

[Jump to Recognition of Academic Achievement for general information about Honors in the Majors.]

Students majoring in journalism may be invited by the faculty of the program to enter the Honors in the Majors program in the first semester of the senior year. To earn honors, students must major in this area and enroll in MCOM 3322. Students will submit a final honors project paper no later than February 1 for May graduation, October 1 for December graduation, or June 1 for August graduation.

[4] Baccalaureate Degrees

[4.1] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Communication

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in communication requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements (see the UCA Core requirements) and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) 40 upper-division hours; (3) special BA or BS degree requirements specified by the university; (4) a major as described below; and (5) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.1.1] Major in Communication (34 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Required Courses (9 hours):

Electives (21 hours, chosen from the following):

Required Capstone Courses (4 hours):

[4.1.2] Minor in Communication (21 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Required Courses (9 hours):

Electives (12 hours, chosen from the following, with at least 9 hours at the 3000-/4000-level):

[4.2] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Journalism

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in mass communication requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses; (2) specific degree requirements; (3) the core journalism courses; (4) required, elective, and application courses for one of the journalism emphasis areas as described below; (5) JOUR 3321 (internship); and (6) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.2.1] Major in Journalism (43 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Undergraduate Core courses are used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication and Journalism and Mass Communication courses are used to satisfy the upper-division UCA Core requirements in Diversity, Critical Inquiry, Responsible Living, and Effective Communication. Students will take JOUR 3321, Internship, as the required UCA Core capstone.

Journalism core (21 hours):

Electives (9 hours, chosen from the following):

Application courses (4 hours):

All students must complete 1 credit hour at each level for a total of 4 hours. (Each level many be repeated for a maximum 2 hours of credit). Broadcast Journalism students must take Electronic Media Applications. Online Journalism students must complete at least one hour of Print and one hour of Electronic Applications among the four hours. Print Journalism students must take Print Media Applications.

Internship (3 hours):

[4.2.2] Emphasis Areas

Required (6 hours): Must complete both courses in at least one of the three options:

Broadcast Journalism Emphasis:

Online Journalism Emphasis:

Print Journalism Emphasis:

[4.2.3] Minor in Journalism (26 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Journalism Minor Core (8 hours):

Electives (18 hours, chosen from the following courses):

Prerequisite courses for all other courses – except Media Applications, MCOM 1300, and JOUR 2300 – may be taken concurrently.

[4.3] Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Public Relations

The degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science with a major in public relations requires the successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: complete 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and complete upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) 40 upper-division hours; (3) special BA or BS degree requirements specified by the university; (4) a major as described below; and (5) a minor as arranged through the student’s minor advisor.

[4.3.1] Major in Public Relations (40 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Core Courses (15 hours):

Application Courses (22 hours):

Electives (3 hours, chosen from the following):

[4.3.2] Minor in Public Relations (19 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Required Courses at 2000 level (6 hours):

Required Courses at 3000/4000 level (10 hours):

Plus one course to be selected from the following (3 hours):

[4.4] Bachelor of Arts in Writing

The degree of Bachelor of Arts with a major in Writing requires successful completion of 120 hours, including (1) the UCA Core: completion of 38 hours to meet lower-division UCA Core requirements and completion of upper-division UCA Core requirements using designated courses (see the UCA Core requirements); (2) completion of a sophomore-level foreign language course; (3) completion of major requirements as described below; (4) 40 upper-division hours; and (5) completion of a minor.

[4.4.1] Major in Writing (36 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Writing courses may be used to satisfy the lower-division UCA Core requirement in Responsible Living (R) and the upper-division UCA Core requirement in Diversity (D), Critical Inquiry (I), Responsible Living (R), and Effective Communication (C). Students in the Professional Writing track may take WRTG 4308 Writing for Change as the required UCA Core capstone.

Writing Major Requirements (12 hours):

[4.4.1.1] Writing Studies Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (15 hours):

Choose Three (9 hours):

[4.4.1.2] Professional Writing Track (24 hours)

Required Courses (9 hours):

Choose Three (9 hours):

Choose Two (6 hours):

[4.4.2] Minors in Writing (24 hours)

[4.4.2.1] Minor in Writing Studies (24 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Required courses (18 hours):

Electives (6 hours, chosen from the following):

[4.4.2.2] Minor in Professional Writing (24 hours)

[Back to program-of-study links]
Required courses (18 hours):

Electives (6 hours) from the following:

[5] Resources

[5.1] The UCA Writing Center

The UCA Writing Center, located in Thompson Hall 109, http://www.uca.edu/writingcenter, offers individual assistance with all types of writing and oral presentations. Students may schedule time with a trained peer tutor and use the center’s computers, video cameras, and writing materials to develop essays or presentations for any course at the university. The center also provides handouts and free workshops on various oral and written communication topics. Call 450-5123 for appointments.

[6] Course Links

Follow this link to COMM course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to CRWR course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to JOUR course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to LING course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to MCOM course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to PRLS course descriptions: course link.

Follow this link to WRTG course descriptions: course link.