Communication Studies

60 credit hours

The Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Speech Communication gives students a broad background in communication competencies. Speech communication courses improve interpersonal communication skills and teach presentation techniques. Students taking courses in speech communication gain enhanced awareness of the impact communication skills have both in the personal and professional arenas. Both the traditional rhetorical approach (oral presentation) and the behavioristic approach (communication theory and skill) are reflected in speech communication course offerings.

Students who desire practical experience in their career fields may enroll in an academic co-op course through Cooperative Work Experience.

Career Options:
The Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Speech Communication provides students with a solid foundation for careers that involve a high degree of interaction with the public. Occupations involving marketing research, conference, and special events planning, product/service demonstrations and sales are possible careers. The emphasis also offers the academic foundation to successfully complete a bachelor’s degree at a college or university, and then to pursue a career in fields such as mass media, public relations, law, government, personnel, employee relations, and education.

AA Core Curriculum			45 credit hours
Graduation Requirement			3 credit hours
Recommended Electives			12- 15 credit hours

SPCH	1311	Fundamentals of Speech Communication
SPCH	1315	Public Speaking I
SPCH	1321	Business and Professional Speaking
COMM	1307	Introduction to Mass Communication
COMM	2331	Radio and TV Announcing
COMM	2332	Radio/Television News

COMMUNICATION FIELD OF STUDY
60 credit hours

The Communication Field of Study (FOS) will lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree with special emphasis or concentration in General Communication / Communication Studies / Speech Communication / Speech and Rhetorical Studies / Organizational Communication.

The completed FOS will transfer to any Texas public college or university. The complete sub-area FOS curriculum will be applied toward the appropriate communication degree plan. Each college or university will accept at least 12 hours of course work with an institutional prerogative to accept 15 hours. Students must complete six hours in Competency Area 1 to gain historical, theoretical and/or analytical competency of the communication field. Students must also complete six hours in Competency Area 2 to demonstrate competency in writing / performance / production. Each course will only count toward one competency area. Students will be required to take additional courses at the receiving college or university to meet that institution’s degree plan requirements.

AA Core Curriculum		45 credit hours
Graduation Requirement		3 credit hours
Recommended Electives		12 - 15 credit hours

General Communication

Field of Study Competency Area 1			12 - 15 credit hours 6 credit hours

SPCH	1311	Fundamentals of Speech Communication¹
SPCH	1318	Interpersonal Communication
Competency Area 2			6 credit hours
SPCH	1315	Public Speaking I ¹
SPCH	1321	Business and Professional Speaking ¹

¹ Within the FOS, there are courses listed which will satisfy requirements for both the
AA/AS Core Curriculum and the FOS.

Mass Communication

The Field of Study (FOS) in a mass communication-related sub-area will lead to the Bachelor of Arts degree with special emphasis or concentration in Advertising / Public Relations, Journalism / Mass Communication, or Radio and Television Broadcasting / Broadcast Journalism. The completed FOS in a given sub-area will transfer to any Texas public college or university. The complete sub-area FOS curriculum will be applied toward the appropriate communication degree plan. Each college or university will accept at least 12 hours of course work with an institutional prerogative to accept 15 hours.

Students must complete six hours in Competency Area 1 to gain historical, theoretical, and/or analytical competency of the mass communication field. Students must also complete six hours in Competency Area 2 to demonstrate competency in writing / performance / production. Each course will only count toward one competency area. Students will be required to take additional courses at the receiving college or university to meet that institution’s degree plan requirements.

Field of Study 12 credit hours

Collin College offers more than the minimum number of courses required for the FOS in some of the sub-areas below. Students may choose six hours from each competency area to satisfy the FOS, or may take additional courses if the receiving institution agrees to accept them toward a 15-hour FOS. Check with a Collin College academic advisor for assistance in selecting your courses.

Advertising / Public Relations

Competency Area 1			6 credit hours
COMM	1307	Introduction to Mass Communication
COMM	2300	Media Literacy
Competency Area 2			6 credit hours
COMM	2332	Radio/Television News
COMM	2309	Writing for Radio, TV, and Film

Journalism / Mass Communication

Competency Area 1			6 credit hours
COMM	1307	Introduction to Mass Communication
COMM	2300	Media Literacy
Competency Area 2			select 6 credit hours
COMM	1316	News Photography I
COMM	1317	News Photography II
COMM	2332	Radio/Television News
COMM	2339	Writing for Radio, TV, and Film

Radio and Television Broadcasting / Broadcast Journalism

Competency Area 1			select 6 credit hours
COMM	1307	Introduction to Mass Communication
COMM	1335	Survey of Radio and Television
COMM	2300	Media Literacy
Competency Area 2			select 6 credit hours
COMM	2331	Radio and TV Announcing
COMM	2332	Radio/Television News
COMM	2339	Writing for Radio, TV, and Film

Note: The second digit in a course number indicates the number of credit hours
for that course.