Media Strategies, B.A.

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About the Media Strategies Bachelor’s Program

This program prepares students for the rapidly evolving media environment and emphasizes strategic knowledge related to media content and resources.

The program stresses integration across media and communication disciplines to drive media innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. By emphasizing critical thinking across media forms and industries, theoretical domains, cultural contexts, and historical periods, the program prepares students for a rapidly evolving media environment. Courses in media literacy and professional communication will enhance critical understanding of media and audiences and provide skills for pitching creative ideas to management and investors. Graduates will learn to think entrepreneurially, identify opportunities, work in teams, problem solve, and communicate persuasively and effectively.

Communication Literacy Requirement. Communication Literacy courses for the Media Strategies major are: MCOM 2310 , MCOM 2330 , MCOM 2350 , PCOM 4325 .

Recommended Sample Curriculum

First Year

Fall

MCOM 1300 - Foundations of Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1301 - Essentials of College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
MATH 1330 - Introductory Mathematical Analysis I 3 Semester Credit Hours
OR
MATH 1320 - College Algebra 3 Semester Credit Hours
POLS 1301 - American Government 3 Semester Credit Hours
Life and Physical Sciences Elective 4 Semester Credit Hours *
MCOM 1100 - Success in Media and Communication 1 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 17

Spring

MCOM 2310 - Business and Professional Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
ENGL 1302 - Advanced College Rhetoric 3 Semester Credit Hours
MATH 2300 - Statistical Methods 3 Semester Credit Hours
OR
MATH 2345 - Introduction to Statistics with Application to Business 3 Semester Credit Hours
OR
MATH 1331 - Introductory Mathematical Analysis II 3 Semester Credit Hours
(If MATH 1330 is chosen for the first math requirement, MATH 1331 will satisfy the second math requirement.)
POLS 2306 - Texas Politics and Topics 3 Semester Credit Hours
Life and Physical Sciences Elective 4 Semester Credit Hours *

Total: 16

Second Year

Fall

MCOM 3300 - Theories of Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2330 - Media Literacy 3 Semester Credit Hours
HIST 2300 - History of the United States to 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 1301 - Introduction to Digital and Social Media 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2350 - Communicating in a Global Society 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Spring

MCOM 3320 - Media and Communication Law 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM Global Communication Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
Group B Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2320 - Writing for Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
HIST 2301 - History of the United States since 1877 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Third Year

Fall

MCOM 3380 - Research Methods in Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
PR 2310 - Principles of Public Relations 3 Semester Credit Hours
ADV 3310 - Principles of Advertising 3 Semester Credit Hours
Group Elective 6 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Spring

Creative Arts Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours *
MCOM Global Communication Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours
CMI 2310 - Introduction to Creative Media Industries 3 Semester Credit Hours
JOUR 2300 - Principles of Journalism 3 Semester Credit Hours
Group Elective 3 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Fourth Year

Fall

Group Electives 3 Semester Credit Hours
Elective 12 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 15

Spring

PCOM 4325 - Media Entrepreneurship 3 Semester Credit Hours
Group Electives 9 Semester Credit Hours

Total: 12

Total Hours: 120

* Choose from core curriculum requirements

Students Majoring in Media Strategies

Students majoring in media strategies are required to complete 67 hours within the college, including the following core courses (43 hours):

MCOM 1100 - Success in Media and Communication 1 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 1300 - Foundations of Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 1301 - Introduction to Digital and Social Media 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2310 - Business and Professional Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2320 - Writing for Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2330 - Media Literacy 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 2350 - Communicating in a Global Society 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 3300 - Theories of Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 3320 - Media and Communication Law 3 Semester Credit Hours
MCOM 3380 - Research Methods in Media and Communication 3 Semester Credit Hours
PCOM 4325 - Media Entrepreneurship 3 Semester Credit Hours
ADV 3310 - Principles of Advertising 3 Semester Credit Hours
CMI 2310 - Introduction to Creative Media Industries 3 Semester Credit Hours
JOUR 2300 - Principles of Journalism 3 Semester Credit Hours
PR 2310 - Principles of Public Relations 3 Semester Credit Hours

Group A

Media and Communication Electives (15 hours):

Select from COMS, MCOM, ADV, CMI, JOUR, and PR courses, including electives, internships, practicums, and special projects. Media strategies majors are encouraged to develop a specialization or minor within another media and communication discipline.

Group B

Cognate (9 hours):

Students majoring in media strategies are encouraged to take 6 hours outside the college to develop a cognate, ideally focusing on a topic that will prepare them for a particular media and communication industry role, or that will help them develop media innovations or entrepreneurial endeavors. Media strategies majors have the option of selecting additional Group A courses to satisfy the Group B requirement.

MCOM Global Communication Courses

Choose from ADV 4313 ; COMS 3332 ; CMI 3355 , CMI 3358 ; JOUR 3370 ; any approved 4301 special topics course, approved Study Abroad course, and any foreign language taken at the college level in which a C or better was earned.