Communication old

Study the power that media wield in shaping public opinion, crossing boundaries between private and public life, and the role they play in national development. Learn about the social, cultural, economic, political and historical context within which media operate, through courses covering:

• Media history, theory and criticism
• Practical skills focused on print, video, or digital media
• The Internet
• Film
• Public relations

To allow you to focus on your areas of interest, the Communication major program offers both a professional track and a research track. You may choose electives from other School of IAS majors or undergraduate programs at UW Tacoma. Transfer students should plan on two years to complete all degree requirements. This degree is recommended for careers in print and broadcast writing, reporting and editing, web design and in the rapidly growing and interdisciplinary field of media research.

Communication Degree Requirements

For both the Professional and Research tracks, one of the following prerequisite classes will be necessary for declaring a Communication major. A minimum grade of 2.5 is required for the prerequisite course.

• TCOM 201 Media and Society
• TCOM 230 Media Globalization and Citizenship

A maximum of 15 credits is allowed to be transferred towards the Communication degree. For questions about this major, contact the Communication major coordinators, Professor Ellen Moore and Professor Ji-Hyun Ahn.

Communication Professional Track Degree Requirements

You need to complete 60 credits, which must include a minimum of 20 credits of upper-division courses. You must earn a total of 180 quarter credits, or 225 quarter credits for a double degree, in order to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in your chosen major.

Communication Foundation: 5 credits, one of the following theory and methods courses

• TCOM 444 Gender, Ethnicity, Class and Media
• TCOM 453 Critical Approaches to Mass Communication

Optional Communication Capstone: 5 credits

Professional Track students may choose to complete a Senior Project (as part of the List B credits). The Senior Project has two main components: students perform a 5-credit internship in the communication industry and write a 10-15 page academic paper. The project is designed to allow senior professional track students to gain needed professional experience while placing this professional experience in a broader theoretical framework. Senior project internships and academic paper topics will vary and must have faculty advisor approval.

• Communication Capstone Internship Form
• Communication Internship in Global Honors

Communication Research Track Degree Requirements

You need to complete 55 credits, which must include a minimum of 20 credits of upper-division courses. You must earn a total of 180 quarter credits, or 225 quarter credits for a double degree, to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in your chosen major.

Communication Foundation: 10 credits

• The following writing course:
  • TWRT 211 Argument and Research in Writing

• One of the following theory and methods courses:
  • TCOM 444 Gender, Ethnicity, Class and Media
  • TCOM 453 Critical Approaches to Mass Communication

Optional Communication Capstone: 5 credits

Communication - Research Track students may choose to complete a 5-credit, 25-35 page senior thesis (as part of the List A credits). Ideally, you would have completed all core and foundation courses before undertaking the thesis. The thesis may be supervised only by core Communication faculty. This means early planning is crucial, and you should develop a rapport with your supervisor by the time you reach the thesis stage.

• Communication Capstone Thesis Form