Communications Interdepartmental Major

Interdepartmental Major
Donald L. Heller, Director
Annenberg Hall
(215) 204-6434
dheller@temple.edu
www.temple.edu/comm-major

The Communications Major is designed in the liberal arts tradition to provide students in the School of Communications and Theater a broad exposure to all communications disciplines, as well as allowing for an in-depth focus in more than one area of study. The major is offered at the Main Campus and at the Ambler Campus and also can be completed at the Tokyo campus, but some elective advanced courses in special areas of interest are offered only at the Main Campus. Students are encouraged to propose individual programs using the comprehensive list of SCAT course offerings that are compatible with the interdisciplinary objective of the major.

Positions in the communications industries are growing, and most SCAT graduates seek employment there. The Communications Major also develops a broad range of interpersonal and mass media skills -- practical writing, oral skills, media production, and computer use. These are valuable to many careers in business, public service, and education, and many employers are looking for informed employees who understand communication processes. Communications Majors can develop a suitable set of marketable skills for a broad range of such careers.

Program Requirements

The Bachelor of Arts degree requires completion of all University, including the University Core Curriculum, and School requirements with a minimum of 126 semester hours. The major requires completion of 14 courses with 43 s.h. minimum in the major. There is a maximum of 71 s.h. allowed in SCAT.

1. At least four other courses (minimum 12 s.h.) in the major must be taken from selected SCAT courses at the 200 level or higher. Internships, Independent Study, Special Projects and Senior Seminar may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
2. At least two courses (minimum 6 s.h.) in the Major must be taken from selected SCAT courses at the 300 level including one writing intensive course. (Permission of the instructor may be required for Main Campus upper-division production courses in BTMM and FMA because of space limitation. Prerequisites in all departments apply.) Internships, Independent Study, Special Projects and Senior Seminar may not be used to fulfill this requirement.
3. Students must take, beyond the eight (8) required courses, one course in each of three (3) different SCAT departments. This can be satisfied through SCAT prerequisites, SCAT distribution courses [Selected 200 and 300 level courses above] or SCAT electives.
4. At least 12 s.h. outside of SCAT must be taken at the 100 level or higher.
5. No more than 8 s.h. in Kinesiology (physical education activity) or dance courses may be credited toward the degree.
6. Students may participate in study abroad programs.
7. Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 24 s.h. of Major courses at Temple.
8. No more than 21 s.h. may be taken in any one department outside of SCAT and counted toward the major (This will allow for non-SCAT minors, if desired.)
9. A maximum of 4 s.h. of Internship credit may be counted toward the degree.
10. A maximum of 8 s.h. combined of Independent study and or Special Projects may be counted toward the degree.
11. Communications majors may minor in established SCAT minors subject to the policies of the individual department. The Communications student who declares a minor must complete the entire program requirements for both the major and the minor with only the Communications Major introductory required courses listed above fulfilling both the major and minor requirements. Courses in a minor department above the minimum minor requirement may be used to fulfill Communications Major degree requirements.

Students must select a minimum of 6 courses from the following list in accordance with program requirements.

Course List:
(All courses are 3 s.h. unless indicated)

Communications 390 Communications Internship
Communications 391 Communications Special Projects
Communications 392 Communications Independent Study
Communications 396 Senior Seminar

BTMM 0114 Mass Communication Research
BTMM 0123 The Broadcasting System
BTMM 0150 Introduction to Cybermedia – on line course
BTMM 0170 Introduction to Television Production (4 s.h.)*
BTMM 0171 Introduction to Radio (4 s.h.)*
BTMM 0172 Intro. to Performance Techniques
BTMM 0271 Broadcast Performance (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0272 Linear & Non-Linear Editing for the Media
BTMM W273 Writing Workshop
BTMM W312 Communications in Organizations – On line course
BTMM 0314 Advanced Communications Research (4 s.h.)
BTMM W321 History of Broadcasting
BTMM 0322 Regulation and Public Policy (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0331 Third World Mass Media (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0339 Advanced Topics In Institution Study
BTMM W343 Mass Media and Children (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0353 Media Criticism (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0364 Creating a Media Business - on line course (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0373 Making Corporate and Multimedia Production (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0375 Cybermedia Workshop – on line course (4 s.h.)
BTMM 0390 British Media and Telecommunications
BTMM 0397 Independent Study
BTMM 0398 Independent Projects

FMA 0102 The Production of Media Culture
FMA 0200 Videography (4 s.h.)
FMA 201 Writing for Media (4 s.h.)
FMA 0230 Audio Production (4 s.h.)
FMA 0241 Experimental Video and Multimedia (4 s.h.)
FMA 0292 Topics in Film Study
FMA 0366 International Cinema

JPRA 0216 Broadcast Performance (4 s.h.)
JPRA 0221 Introduction to Public Relations
JPRA 0223 Fundamentals of Public Relations Writing
JPRA 0226 Introduction to Advertising
JPRA 0234 Broadcast News Writing
JPRA W231 Magazine Article Writing
JPRA 0300 Contemporary Media Issues
JPRA 0316 Special Topics in Journalism (TBD)
JPRA 0319 Sexual Abuse and the Media
JPRA 0320 Race and Racism in the News
JPRA 0340 Editorial Writing (2 s.h)
JPRA 0352 Gender and American Mass Media
JPRA W382 Law and Ethics of Mass Communication**
JPRA 0385 Theories of Communication
JPRA 0390 Special Projects with Lab
JPRA 0391 Special Projects

Speech RO82 Campaigns and Movements in America (core XC)
Speech 0174 Argumentation
Speech 0180 Strategies and Tactics of Persuasion*
Speech 0221 Name will be provided
Speech 0274 Rhetorical Theory
Speech 0280 Political Communication
Speech 0302 Analysis of Public Discourse

Theater C025 Acting for non-majors
Theater 0120 Basic Acting II
Theater 0127 Speech for the Actor
Theater W303 Classical Tradition
Theater 0305 Modern Directions
Theater 0307 Seminar in Drama
Theater 0381 Playwriting

*These three courses will be considered as 200 level courses in fulfilling the requirements for the major.
** Students planning to take this course should take CO51 Political Science
as their American Culture Core course to fulfill the prerequisite requirement.
***The requirement for JPRA 51 will be waived.