Communication and Technology, BA

A degree in Communication and Technology gives students the knowledge and skills to succeed in human communication and the emerging field of digital communication. This exciting career is increasingly linked to corporate, entertainment, government, human resources, broadcasting, advertising, public relations, and nonprofit settings. This program is designed to produce career-ready graduates in digital production, sports and entertainment broadcasting and promotion, communication studies, and strategic communication. As a part of this major, students build their creative and team-building skills and develop useful professional networks. All Communication and Technology students are encouraged to complete a Dallas-area internship before they graduate.

Program Advisor: Sara Holmes at Sara.Holmes@untdallas.edu
 

Building Blocks for the Degree

1. Texas Core Curriculum: All students are required to complete 42 hours of the Texas Core Curriculum to earn a degree.

2. Major Requirements:  The communication and technology major requires 39 hours, including 18 hours in the major core requirements, 9 hours in a major concentration, and then 12 hours of prescribed electives. Students should complete 3000-level course before enrolling in 4000-level courses.

3. Major Concentrations: One of four concentrations is required in the major:

a) Digital Production is for individuals who intend to create, edit, and distribute digital media productions, especially audio and video for a broad range of applications.

b) Sports and Entertainment Communication is for individuals who want to report on and produce sports or entertainment communication, including broadcast production.

c) Strategic Communication is for those seeking experience in public relations and advertising, with a special focus on digital communication media.

d) Communication Studies provides the tools and techniques for improving communication in all areas of personal and professional interaction, including law, political organizing, public affairs, and consulting, among others.

4. Other Courses:   Students must have a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate with a degree from UNTD.  Students may complete a minor, certificate program or general elective courses to meet this requirement.

Core Curriculum Recommendations

UNTD adheres to the Texas Core Curriculum established in Texas Education Code Chapter 61, Subchapter S.  Courses designated on the transcript as a Core Foundation Area will be applied to the Texas Core Curriculum.  As a new Freshman student starting at UNTD (or transfer student looking ahead to attend UNTD), taking the recommended UNTD courses (or equivalent) can reduce hours to degree and provide more opportunities for elective courses.

Texas Core Curriculum (42 hours)

Designation	Core Foundation Area	UNTD Recommended Course	Course Name	Credit Hours
010	Communication	ENGL 1313	College Writing I (grade of C or better required)	3
010	Communication	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
020	Mathematics	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
030	Life & Physical Sciences	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
030	Life & Physical Sciences	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
040	Language, Philosophy & Culture	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
050	Creative Arts	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
060	American History	HIST 2610	US History to 1865	3
060	American History	HIST 2620	US History since 1865	3
070	Government & Political Science	PSCI 1040	American Government: Laws & Institutions	3
070	Government & Political Science	PSCI 1050	American Government: Process & Policy	3
080	Social & Behavioral Science	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3
090	Component Area Option	COMM 1010	Introduction to Communication	3
090	Component Area Option	Varies	Any course in the Core Foundation area	3

Major Core Requirements (18 hours)

UNTD #	Course Name	Co/Prerequisite	Credit Hours
TECM 2300	New Media Writing	PREQ: ENGL 1313	3
COMM 2311	Introduction to Social Media	PREQ: COMM1010 with a grade of C or better	3
COMM 2312	Visual Communication & New Media		3
COMM 3311	New Media Storytelling	PREQ: COMM 2312 with grade of C or better	3
COMM 3312	New Media Literacy	PREQ: COMM 2312 with grade of C or better	3
COMM 4510	Communication Capstone	PREQ: Senior standing and Communication & Technology major	3

Major Concentrations (9 hours)

Select from the following 4 possible concentrations and complete the courses listed.

Concentration 1: Digital Production	Concentration 2: Sports & Entertainment Communication	Concentration 3: Strategic Communication	Concentration 4: Communication Studies
COMM 2110- Screenwriting - 3 hrs COMM 3321 - Digital Production I - 3 hrs COMM 4320 - Digital Production II - 3 hrs	COMM 2240 - Sports & Ent. Writing - 3 hrs COMM 2220 - Sports & Ent. Public Relations - 3 hrs COMM 4352 - Sports & Ent. Broadcasting & Production	COMM 2310 - Intro to Strategic Comm - 3 hrs COMM 3330 - Creative Concepts - 3 hrs COMM 4335 - Strategic Comm Campaigns - 3 hrs	COMM 2352 - Professional Comm - 3 hrs COMM 2200 - Intro to Interpersonal Comm - 3 hrs COMM 3352 - Intercultural Comm - 3 hrs

UNTD #	Course Name	Co/Prerequisite	Credit Hours
	Required courses from selected concentration		3
	Required courses from selected concentration		3
	Required courses from selected concentration		3

Other Suggested Communication & Technology Electives

This list of communication and technology courses exhibits possible elective courses a student can take to deepen the level of learning in the selected concentration or sample from other concentrations to gain a breadth of learning across the major. Prerequisites vary.

Concentration 1: Digital Production	Concentration 2: Sports & Entertainment Communication	Concentration 3: Strategic Communication	Concentration 4: Communication Studies
COMM 2230 - Intro to Digital Photography COMM 2400 - Audio for New Media COMM 2410 - Web Design Principles COMM 2314 - Computer Graphics for Communication COMM 3324 - Podcasting	COMM 2410 - Web Design Principles COMM 2400 - Audio for New Media COMM 3341 - Sports Announcing COMM 3331 - Social Media Campaigns COMM 3324 - Podcasting	COMM 2410 - Web Design Principles COMM 3332 - Communication Law COMM 3331 - Social Media Campaigns COMM 3060 - PR Event Development & Design COMM 4330 - Crisis Communication	COMM 2310 - Intro to Strategic Comm COMM 3350 - Language, Thought & Behavior COMM 3120 - Nonverbal Comm COMM 4350 - Gender & Communication COMM 4355 Communication Theory

Major Electives (12 hours)

UNTD #	Course Name	Co/Prerequisite	Credit Hours
	Any COMM prefix or SOCI 2050		3
	Any COMM prefix or CSCI 3410		3
	Any COMM prefix		3
	Any COMM prefix		3

Other UNTD Degree Requirements

All students must meet the General University Requirements  as well as the major requirements.

Cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher

Communication and Technology major GPA of 2.0 or higher