Communication Studies, Mass Media Concentration, B.A.
The Mass Media concentration is designed for students interested in the development and critical analysis of the media as a cultural force. Contemporary issues in media criticism are explored. Students may also receive limited exposure to media production.
Students matriculated at UNC Charlotte and planning to change to or declare Communication Studies as their major must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0, met the foreign language requirement for the major, and received no grade less than C in COMM 1101 , COMM 2100 , and either STAT 1220 or STAT 1222 . Students may attempt COMM 2100 a maximum of two times.
Transfer students from other institutions must meet all general requirements for admission to the University. Acceptance into the Communication Studies major requires that they have met the foreign language requirement for the major, and received no grade less than a C in COMM 1101 or its equivalent, COMM 2100 or its equivalent, and either STAT 1220 or STAT 1222 .
Matriculated and transfer students who do not meet requirements for admission to the program because of special circumstances may petition the Department of Communication Studies for acceptance into the program.
Pre-Communication Studies
Students who apply for the Communication Studies major are initially classified as Pre-Communication Studies majors until they meet the following requirements: cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above; successful completion of a foreign language course at the 2000-level or higher in a Latin alphabet language or American Sign Language or 1202 in a non-Latin alphabet language; and successful (grade C or above) completion of COMM 1101 , COMM 2100 , and either STAT 1220 or STAT 1222 . Students matriculated at UNC Charlotte and planning to change or declare Pre-Communication Studies as their major must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0.
The program leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies requires 120 credit hours.
In addition to the requirements for the Communication Studies major, students must also complete coursework in a specific concentration of study. Courses that are required within a particular concentration or used as electives within the concentration cannot simultaneously be used to fulfill Major Course requirements. The concentrations are designed to provide students with the opportunity to pursue more extensive study in the communication context most relevant to their professional and social goals.
General Education Courses (37-41 credit hours)
For details on required courses, refer to the General Education Program .
Foreign Language Course (3-4 credit hours)
Communication Studies majors must complete either a 2000-level course in a foreign language course that uses the Latin Alphabet (e.g., French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish) OR a 1202-level foreign language course in a language that is not written in the Latin Alphabet (e.g., Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Japanese, Russian). Intermediate American Sign Language is accepted. Non-native English speakers may complete the foreign language requirement by passing UWRT 1103 , UWRT 1104 , or the equivalent.
Major Courses (24 credit hours)
The Major Courses are designed to provide a thorough understanding of fundamental communication processes and are structured into four categories:
General Theory/Skills Courses (12 credit hours)
COMM 1101 - Public Speaking (3) (O)
COMM 2100 - Introduction to Communication Theory (3)
COMM 2101 - Introduction to Rhetorical Theory (3)
COMM 3101 - Persuasion (3)
Research Methodology Courses (6 credit hours)
COMM 3100 - Communication Research Methods (3) (W)
STAT 1222 - Introduction to Statistics (3)
Macro-Context Courses (3 credit hours)
COMM 3120 - Communication and Mass Media (3)
COMM 3130 - Communication and Public Advocacy (3)
COMM 3141 - Organizational Communication (3)
Micro-Context Courses (3 credit hours)
COMM 2103 - Argumentation and Debate (3)
COMM 2105 - Small Group Communication (3)
COMM 2107 - Interpersonal Communication (3)
Concentration Courses (12 credit hours)
Required Concentration Courses (6 credit hours)
COMM 4101 - Media and the Law (3)
Elective Concentration Courses (6 credit hours)
Select from the following:
ARTH 3393 - History of Photography (3)
COMM 2120 - Black Images in the Media in the U.S. (3)
COMM 3052 - Topics in Mass Media (3)
COMM 3121 - Mass Communication and Society (3)
COMM 3125 - New Media for Communications (3)
COMM 3126 - Globalization and Digital Media (3)
COMM 3127 - Global Media (3)
COMM 3880 - Independent Study (1 to 3) *
COMM 4102 - Federal Interpretation of the First Amendment (3)
COMM 4410 - Professional Internship (3 or 6) *
ENGL 2106 - Film Criticism (3)
FREN 4050 - Topics in French (1 to 3)
GERM 3660 - Survey of German Film (3) (O,W)
HIST 3010 - Non-Western History and Culture through Film (3)
JOUR 2160 - Introduction to Journalism (3) (W)
JOUR 3160 - Advanced News Reporting and Writing (3)
JOUR 3161 - News Editing (3)
LACS 3160 - European Cinema (3) (O,W)
POLS 3104 - Mass Media (3)
RELS 3212 - Religion and Film (3) (W)
SOCY 2112 - Popular Culture (3)
*Requires advisor approval.
Related Courses (18 credit hours)
Students in the Mass Media concentration must complete 18 credit hours of related coursework excluding any courses applied to the Major Course requirements or Concentration requirements. All related coursework must be approved by the student's advisor. An approved second major or a minor may be used to satisfy this requirement.
Unrestricted Electives
As needed.
Degree Total = 120 Credit Hours
For details about the Honors Program in Communication Studies, visit the program page .
Suggested Curriculum
For the suggested course sequence toward completing the major, please see the Academic Plan of Study available online at academics.uncc.edu. Consultation with an advisor is required each semester.