Communications

To be eligible for an Associate in  Arts (AA), an Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), or an Associate in Science (AS) degree from HCC, a student must successfully:

Complete at least 60 semester hours of credit as follows: (a) for the AA degree, 43 hours of required core courses and 17 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major (b) for the AAT degree, 44 hours of required core courses plus 16-18 hours of required pre-teaching courses (c) for the AS degree, 43 hours of required core courses plus six additional hours of mathematics, four additional hours of natural science, and 7 hours of transferable electives, usually focusing on the student's transfer major.

A student who has received an associate degree or higher from an accredited institution must meet specific requirements to earn an additional degree from HCC.

• The student must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours at HCC for each additional degree. These hours may not repeat credit applied from a previous HCC degree.  These hours may not be satisfied through credit by exam.
• All additional hours must be applicable toward the additional degree. If the student has prior credit in required courses, appropriate substitutions may be arranged.
• All courses required by the specific HCC program of the additional degree must be completed.
• A grade point average of at least 2.0 must be earned on all hours since the previous degree.
• Academic courses from previous degrees may be applied to an additional AAS degree required academic core where equivalent and appropriate, which waives the need for approval, except where program restrictions prevail.
• If the first degree was an Associate in Arts, an Associate of Arts in Teaching, Associate in Science, a bachelor degree, or higher degree from an accredited educational institution in the United States, the student will be considered to be “Core Complete”, thus needing to complete only the requirement of 18 additional semester hours at HCC toward a new associate degree.
• Each additional academic associate degree obtained from HCC must be of a different type.  Thus, a student may only obtain one Associate in Arts, one Associate of Arts in Teaching, and/or one Associate in Science from HCC. For example, if one degree from HCC was an AA, then any additional degrees must be an AAT, AS, or AAS.
• Multiple Associate of Applied Science degrees may be earned from HCC if all AAS program requirements are met including earning at least 18 additional semester hours at HCC, 12 of which must be earned in the major program of the additional degree. In most cases, however, there is only one AAS degree allowable per workforce program. See counselor or program chair for clarification.
• Multiple workforce Certificates of Completion may be earned from HCC if all program requirements are met for each certificate including earning at least 9 additional unique semester hours at HCC toward the major program of the additional certificate.
• All other state and institutional graduation requirements, including TSI policies and financial obligations, must be met.

There are 4,386 Public Relations Specialists employed in the Greater Houston Area. This number is expected to increase by 6.7% over the next four years.

• The estimated annual job openings is 160 jobs a year.
• Median Wages - $23.81 hourly, $50,000 annually

Some online programs may require up to 15% of their curriculum be taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some online programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some online programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Some online programs may require students to participate in one or more campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.  

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

Hybrid programs allow students to take a mix of online and face-to-face courses. Hybrid programs offer 50% to 85% of their courses online and the remainder of the curriculum is taken in-person on one of HCC’s campuses. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Language Option Restrictions

Some hybrid programs require students to participate in foreign language courses as part of the program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements and available language options. If you would like to take courses in a language that is not offered online, you would have to do so on campus.

Elective Course Restrictions

Some hybrid programs may have a limited number of elective options available, based on which of the designated electives are currently offered online.  Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements.

Required Course Restrictions

Hybrid programs require students to participate in campus-based courses as part of a given program’s required curriculum. Please contact your advisor for more information about specific program requirements. 

Potential Course Restrictions

Some online courses may have face-to-face requirements for exams, laboratory sessions, and other activities. Please review your course syllabus to determine if your online course has an on-campus laboratory or examination requirement.

Communications Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum

Field of Study Coursework:

• SPCH 1311        Introduction to Speech Communication
• SPCH 1315        Public Speaking
• SPCH 1318        Interpersonal Communication
• SPCH 1321        Business & Professional Communication

Communications Field of Study: Journalism Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: General Track

Field of Study Coursework:

• COMM 1307        Introduction to Mass Communication
• COMM 2311        Media Writing
• COMM 1336        Video Production I
• COMM 2305        Editing & Layout

     Choose one of the following courses:

• COMM 1335        Introduction to Electronic Media
• COMM 2300        Media Literacy
• COMM 2302        Principles of Journalism

Communications Field of Study: Journalism Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum: Teacher Certification Track

Field of Study Coursework:

• EDUC 1301        Introduction to the Teaching Profession
• COMM 1307        Introduction to Mass Communication
• COMM 2311        Media Writing

     Choose one of the following courses:

• COMM 1335        Introduction to Electronic Media
• COMM 2300        Media Literacy
• COMM 2302        Principles of Journalism

     Choose two of the following courses:

• COMM 1336        Video Production I
• COMM 2305        Editing & Layout
• COMM 2315        News Reporting

Communications Field of Study: Radio & Television Field of Study (FOS) Curriculum:

Field of Study Coursework:  

• COMM 1307        Introduction to Mass Communication
• COMM 1335        Introduction to Electronic Media
• COMM 2311        Media Writing
• COMM 1336        Video Production I

Fully Transferable: 

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has designated the Field of Study Curriculum courses as “fully transferable” to other public colleges and universities in Texas. Students planning on transferring to either private or out-of-state institutions should direct transfer questions to that college or university.  

For more information, refer to the HCC Catalog (https://www.hccs.edu/programs/catalog/ ) and Field of Study Curricula Approved by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board thecb.state.tx.us/institutional-resources-programs/public-universities-health-related-institutions/transfer-resources/field-of-study-curricula/