Communication - Journalism, B.A.

4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

Texas A And M University Kingsville

Program Overview

The Communication–Journalism, B.A. at Texas A&M University–Kingsville is designed for students who want to build strong skills in journalism, digital media, reporting, communication, and multimedia storytelling. Students combine writing and media theory with practical experience in digital reporting, publication, storytelling, broadcasting, public relations, and media production, preparing them for a wide range of careers across today's communication industries.

Curriculum Structure

Freshman Year: Students begin with a broad academic foundation while developing essential communication and writing skills. Courses such as COMM 2311 – Media Writing introduce newswriting and relationships with sources, while ENGL 1301 – Composition I and ENGL 1302 – Composition II strengthen the writing skills needed for professional journalism.

Sophomore Year: Students move into more specialized media training through COMM 2310 – Media Design and COMM 3301 – Social Media & Digital Reporting. They learn about media design, editing and layout while gaining practical experience in news gathering and reporting for print, electronic and digital platforms.

Junior Year: The program becomes more hands-on through COMM 2129 – Publication Laboratory and COMM 3311 – Digital Storytelling, allowing students to develop publication and feature-story skills. COMM 4324 – Public Relations & Crisis Communication also broadens their understanding of communication strategies, crisis management, journalism and digital media.

Senior Year: Students deepen their understanding of the media industry through COMM 3317 – History of Media, advanced Communication courses and COMM 4317 – Mass Media Public & Law (WI). These studies help students understand the historical, legal and ethical responsibilities of journalism while preparing them to apply their communication skills professionally.

Focus Areas

Journalism, media writing, media design, social media, digital reporting, digital storytelling, publication, multimedia communication, mass media law and ethics, media history, public relations, crisis communication, broadcasting, online journalism.

Learning Outcomes

Newswriting, source development, media design, editing and layout, digital reporting, multimedia storytelling, publication skills, critical thinking, effective communication, media ethics, legal awareness, research, teamwork, personal responsibility.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The official TAMUK program information does not identify a separate professional journalism accreditation for the Communication–Journalism B.A. The program instead emphasizes professional preparation through journalism coursework, student media participation, competitions and hands-on communication experiences.

Reputation & Employability

TAMUK’s School of Arts, Communication, and Literature highlights the professional preparation of its communication and journalism students through student media, multimedia storytelling, broadcasting, advertising, public relations and digital content creation. The university also identifies effective communication, critical thinking and personal responsibility as marketable skills developed within Communication programs.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

The program gives students opportunities to move beyond classroom theory and work directly with journalism and media platforms. Students can contribute to the university's student newspaper, radio and television operations while developing reporting, digital storytelling, publication, broadcasting and multimedia skills; the curriculum also includes dedicated publication, production and internship courses. These opportunities allow students to build practical experience and a portfolio while still completing their degree:

• The South Texan: Journalism students are expected to work with TAMUK's student print and online newspaper, gaining experience in reporting, publishing and live web streaming.

• COMM 2129 – Publication Laboratory: Provides practical experience in publications and can be taken for credit, giving students a direct opportunity to apply journalism and publication skills.

• KTAI FM 91.1: Students can gain hands-on radio experience through the university's student radio station, including audio production and live remote productions.

• Javelina Broadcast Network: The student television operation provides experience in video production, editing and broadcasting.

• COMM 3301 – Social Media & Digital Reporting: Includes lab assignments covering university departments and activities, municipal and county government, schools and courts across print, electronic and digital media.

• COMM 3311 – Digital Storytelling: Students develop and produce feature-story ideas for print, electronic and digital media.

• COMM 3316 – Media Production II: Provides training in producing video and digital short-format content for film, television, radio, web and other media platforms.

• COMM 4392 – Internship in Mass Communication: Students can gain professional experience through a supervised internship with communications media or organizations, with guidance from both faculty and professionals.

• Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) and South Texas Press Association (STPA): Journalism students can compete in professional journalism competitions, giving them an opportunity to test their work against peers.

• National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC): Students can participate in the American Advertising Federation's national competition, connecting communication and media skills with professional advertising work.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates can take their journalism and communication skills into newsrooms, digital media, broadcasting, publishing, public relations and corporate communication. The combination of media writing, digital reporting, storytelling, publication and professional communication creates a flexible foundation for both traditional journalism careers and newer digital-media roles.

Typical job roles: Journalist, Digital Reporter, Multimedia Journalist, Digital Content Producer.

Students can strengthen their transition into employment through TAMUK's career resources and practical experiences:

• Career Engagement: TAMUK provides career planning and job-search assistance, career education, employment decision-making support and career advising.

• Javelina Careers powered by Handshake: Students can search for internships, part-time positions and full-time jobs, while employers can view student profiles and resumes.

• Resume & Interview Support: Career Engagement offers resume reviews, interview practice, job-skills workshops and career fairs to help students prepare for employment.

• Student Media Experience: The South Texan, KTAI FM 91.1 and Javelina Broadcast Network give students opportunities to develop professional portfolios in journalism, radio, television, digital content and multimedia.

• Professional Competitions: Participation in TIPA, STPA and NSAC provides students with opportunities to benchmark their work against other student professionals and gain recognition outside the classroom.

• Internship Experience: COMM 4392 provides a structured route into professional communications media or organizations through an internship supervised by faculty and industry professionals.

• Graduate Outcomes: TAMUK reported a median salary of $57,400 for alumni with bachelor's degrees and 0–5 years of experience in its AY 2022 strategic-plan data, compared with $50,917 for its Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board peer group.

• Long-Term Career Value: The program develops transferable skills in effective communication, critical thinking and personal responsibility that can support careers across journalism, media, public relations, digital communication and related fields.

Further Academic Progression: Graduates can continue into master's-level study in areas such as Communication, Journalism, Mass Communication, Media Studies, Digital Media, Public Relations, Strategic Communication, or related fields, depending on their academic and career goals.