Bachelor of Arts, Major in Media and Communication: Journalism Concentration
Journalism
The Journalism concentration empowers students to craft news content on a variety of media platforms with efficiency and expedience. Students develop traditional reporting and interviewing skills, writing and editing news copy proficiencies, and expertise with photography, audio recording, and video recording. Publication across platforms, including student-created websites and diverse social media, is also emphasized.
Requirements
Students choosing to major or minor in MCOM must receive a grade of C or better in MCFL, MCJR, MCOM, MCPA, and MCPD coursework.
All undergraduate students at SHSU are required to complete at least six hours of writing enhanced courses within the discipline, of which three hours must be advanced.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts, Major in Media and Communication: Journalism Concentration | ||
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Component Area I (Communication) | 6 | |
| Component Area II (Mathematics) 1 | 3 | |
| Component Area III (Life and Physical Science) 2 | 8 | |
| Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) 3 | 3 | |
| Component Area V (Creative Arts) | 3 | |
| Component Area VI (U.S. History) | 6 | |
| Component Area VII (Political Science/Government) | 6 | |
| Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) 4 | 3 | |
| Component Area IX (Component Area Option) 5 | 4 | |
| Degree Specific Requirements | ||
| Foreign Language: WOLC 1411, WOLC 1412, WOLC 2311, WOLC 2312 6 | 14 | |
| GEOG 1401 | Weather and Climate 2 | 4 |
| MATH 1342 | Elementary Statistics 1 | 3 |
| MCOM 1307 | Introduction to Digital Social Media 4 | 3 |
| PHIL 2306 | Contemporary Moral Issues 3 | 3 |
| Major: Foundation | ||
| MCOM 1130 | Media Literacy 5 | 1 |
| MCOM 1330 | Media, Culture and Society (Writing Enhanced) | 3 |
| MCOM 1332 | Writing For Mass Media (Writing Enhanced) | 3 |
| MCOM 2371 | TV & Film Production | 3 |
| MCOM 3026 | Media Practicum | 1 |
| MCOM 4371 | Mass Media Law And Ethics (Writing Enhanced) | 3 |
| Major: Required | ||
| MCJR 2362 | News Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 3301 | Podcasting | 3 |
| MCJR 3361 | Broadcast News Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 3364 | Copyediting for News | 3 |
| MCJR 3366 | Photojournalism | 3 |
| MCJR 3367 | Public Affairs Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 4361 | TV News Producing | 3 |
| MCJR 4364 | Investigative Reporting | 3 |
| MCOM 1371 | Audio Production & Performance 5 | 3 |
| MCOM 4395 | Careers in Film & Media | 3 |
| or MCOM 4398 | Professional Internship | |
| Major: Prescribed Electives (Concentration) | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Single Camera and Non-Linear Editing I | ||
| Specialized Reporting | ||
| Broadcast Performance | ||
| Designing and Producing Scholastic Media | ||
| Mobile & Social Reporting | ||
| Sports Reporting | ||
| Leadership in the Scholastic Media Newsroom | ||
| Special Topic (Limited to 3 SCH) | ||
| Multi-Cam Studio Production I | ||
| Audio for Field & Studio Prod | ||
| Multi-Cam Field Production I | ||
| Advanced Audio Production | ||
| Major: Prescribed Electives (Analytical) | ||
| Select one course from the following: | 3 | |
| Media Criticism | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Global Media | ||
| Audience Research & Analysis | ||
| Select Option A, Option B, or a Minor 7, 8 | 18 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
MATH 1342 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).
- 2
GEOG 1401 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Sciences).
- 3
PHIL 2306 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) as well as a Degree Specific Requirement.
- 4
MCOM 1307 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) as well as a Degree Specific Requirement.
- 5
MCOM 1130 and MCOM 1371 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option) as well as the Major.
- 6
Four courses in one foreign language are required.
- 7
Select from Option A, Option B, or a Minor. Option A consists of 18 credits in one Subject Area, and Option B consists of 18 credits in Business. Any Minor can be paired with this degree program.
- 8
Courses counted toward minors may not be applied to concentrations.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
All Media and Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of "C" or better in each Media and Communication course.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| Component Area I | 3 | Component Area I | 3 |
| HSTY 13011 | 3 | Component Area III | 4 |
| MATH 13422 | 3 | HSTY 13021 | 3 |
| MCOM 1330 (Writing Enhanced) | 3 | MCOM 1332 (Writing Enhanced) | 3 |
| MCOM 13713 | 3 | MCOM 2371 | 3 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| GEOG 14014 | 4 | Component Area V | 3 |
| MCJR 2362 | 3 | MCJR 3361 | 3 |
| MCOM 11303 | 1 | MCOM 13077 | 3 |
| POLS 23055 | 3 | POLS 23065 | 3 |
| WOLC 14116 | 4 | WOLC 14126 | 4 |
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MCJR 3301 | 3 | MCJR 3367 | 3 |
| MCJR 3366 | 3 | MCOM 3026 | 1 |
| MCJR 3364 | 3 | PHIL 23069 | 3 |
| WOLC 23116 | 3 | WOLC 23126 | 3 |
| Option A, Option B, or a Minor8 | 3 | Option A, Option B, or Minor8 | 3 |
| Option A, Option B, or Minor8 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 16 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| MCJR 4361 | 3 | MCOM 4371 | 3 |
| MCJR 4364 | 3 | MCOM 4395 or 4398 | 3 |
| Option A, Option B, or a Minor8 | 3 | Option A, Option B, or a Minor8 | 3 |
| Option A, Option B, or a Minor8 | 3 | Prescribed Electives (Analytical)11 | 3 |
| Prescribed Electives (Concentration)10 | 3 | ||
| 15 | 12 | ||
| Total Hours: 120 | |||
- 1
Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VI (U.S. History).
- 2
Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area II (Mathematics).
- 3
MCOM 1371 and MCOM 1130 satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IX (Component Area Option) as well as the Major.
- 4
Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area III (Life and Physical Sciences).
- 5
Satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VII (Political Science/Government).
- 6
Four courses in one foreign language are required.
- 7
MCOM 1307 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area VIII (Social and Behavioral Sciences) as well as a Degree Specific Requirement.
- 8
Select from Option A, Option B, or a Minor. Option A consists of 18 credits in one Subject Area and Option B consists of 18 credits in Business. Any Minor may be paired with this degree. However, courses counted toward minors may not be applied to concentrations.
- 9
PHIL 2306 satisfies the Core Curriculum requirement for Component Area IV (Language, Philosophy, and Culture) as well as a Degree Specific requirement for Media and Communication.
- 10
See Prescribed Electives (Concentration) course list below.
- 11
See Prescribed Electives (Analytical) course list below.
Notes
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum overall GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum overall major GPA in all major coursework.
Students must earn a 2.0 minimum SHSU GPA in all coursework.
Students must meet a 2.0 minimum SHSU major GPA in all major coursework.
All Media and Communication majors and minors must earn a grade of "C" or better in each Media and Communication course.
A minor is required for this degree program; however, a student has the option to add a minor, but to do so, additional semester credit hours will be needed above the degree program's stated total semester credit hours.
All minors can be paired with this degree program.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Electives (Concentration) 10 | 3 | |
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| MCFL 3372 | Single Camera and Non-Linear Editing I | 3 |
| MCJR 3360 | Specialized Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 3365 | Broadcast Performance | 3 |
| MCJR 3369 | Designing and Producing Scholastic Media | 3 |
| MCJR 4365 | Mobile & Social Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 4367 | Sports Reporting | 3 |
| MCJR 4369 | Leadership in the Scholastic Media Newsroom | 3 |
| MCOM 4022 | Special Topic (Limited to 3 SCH) | 3 |
| MCPD 3373 | Multi-Cam Studio Production I | 3 |
| MCPD 3376 | Audio for Field & Studio Prod | 3 |
| MCPD 3379 | Multi-Cam Field Production I | 3 |
| MCPD 4376 | Advanced Audio Production | 3 |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Electives (Analytical) 11 | ||
| Select one course from the following: | ||
| MCJR 3362 | Media Criticism | 3 |
| MCOM 4099 | Independent Study | 1-3 |
| MCOM 4393 | Global Media | 3 |
| MCPA 4383 | Audience Research & Analysis | 3 |
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The BA in Media and Communication: Journalism is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
- Demonstrate strong oral, aural, and written communication skills.
- Utilize leadership, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
- Conduct the collection, analysis, and management of digital data.
- Conceptualize and produce original and creative media.
- Produce media for social and digital platforms.
