Declaration in or before Summer 2009

Klein College of Media and Communication (previously known as School of Media and Communications)

The major in communications gives students broad exposure to all of the communications disciplines: broadcasting, telecommunications, mass media, film and media arts, journalism, speech, and theater. Embracing a variety of disciplines from Temple's nationally ranked Klein College of Media and Communication, this major prepares students to meet the demands of a constantly evolving and sophisticated technology- and media-oriented society. The major provides students with a critical approach to film, broadcasting, journalism, advertising, theater, and the art of persuasion. Communications is an excellent program for students planning a professional career in the media, including journalism.

Communications Major Requirements

The degree of Bachelor of Arts in Communications may be conferred upon the satisfactory completion of a minimum of 124 (126 if matriculated prior to Fall 2008) semester hours of credit with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 overall and in the major. A minimum of 124 credit hours (126 if matriculated prior to Fall 2008) will be earned in the following three requirement categories.

  • University Core Curriculum
  • Major Requirements
  • Electives

Communications students declaring this major from summer 2003 and thereafter must complete the following required courses. 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 Klein College of Media and Communications.

Students must take eight required major foundation courses.

  • Broadcasting, Telecommunications, and Mass Media (BTMM) 1011 (formerly 0011), Mass Communication Theory
  • BTMM 1655 (formerly 0055), Media Management and Organization
  • Film and Media Arts (FMA) 1172 (formerly 155), Introduction to Film and Video Analysis
  • Journalism 1111 (formerly C055), Journalism and Society
  • Journalism 1196 (formerly 0150/1112), Writing for Journalism
  • Strategic Organizational Communications (STOC) 1111 (formerly 0065), Public Speaking
  • Theater 1002 (formerly C110), The Collaborative Art
  • Communications Major Senior Seminar 4111 (formerly 0396)

Students also must take six additional courses that meet the distribution requirements of the communications major.

Of the six courses, at least four courses (minimum 12 semester hours) in the major must be taken from SCT courses at the 2000 (formerly 200) level or higher. Internships, Independent Study, Special Projects, and Senior Seminar may not be used to fulfill this requirement.

In addition to the four courses, at least two courses (minimum six semester hours) in the Major must be taken from SCT courses at the 3000 (formerly 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.

Students must take, beyond the eight (8) required courses, one course in each of three (3) different SCT departments. This can be satisfied through SCT prerequisites, SCT distribution courses [Selected 2000 and 3000 level courses above] or SCT electives.

At least 12 semester hours outside of SCT must be taken at the 2000 (formerly 100) level or higher.

One internship (three to four credit) is required, but a maximum of four semester hours of Internship credit may be counted toward the degree.

No more than eight semester hours in Kinesiology (physical education activity) or dance courses may be credited toward the degree.

Students may participate in study abroad programs.

Transfer students are required to complete a minimum of 24 semester hours of Major courses at Temple.

No more than 21 s.h. may be taken in any one department outside of SCAT and counted toward the major. Students whose credits in non-SCAT department exceed 21-credit maximum due to double- major or minors must obtain an approval from the Communications major chair. Contact the Academic Advising Center for the detailed procedure. (Students who declared the Communications major effective Fall 2010 or after may go beyond the 21-credit maximum in non-SCAT department credits without obeying this policy.)

A maximum of 27 semester hours in any one SCT department may be counted toward the degree.

A maximum of eight semester hours combined of Independent study and or Special Projects may be counted toward the degree.

Communications majors may minor in established SCAT minors subject to the policies of the individual department. Only the communications major introductory courses listed above may be used to fulfill both major and minor requirements.