The Bachelor of Science with a major in strategic communication requires 120 hours with 40 hours in strategic communication. Students must earn a C or higher in each strategic communication course used to satisfy the major degree requirements. All strategic communication majors must complete the two gateway courses course (Advertising) and course (Public Relations) with a C (2.0) or higher and have a combined 2.5 GPA and must have completed course or course (or equivalent) with a C- or higher before enrolling in other required courses for the major. Strategic communication majors also must complete course; course; course; course; course or course; course or ; course, course, course, or course; course; course; or course or course and 9 hours of STCO electives. No course applied to the student's major or associated requirement may be taken on a pass/no-credit basis. All skills courses must be taken sequentially.
A minor or second major in a discipline selected by the student and approved by a strategic communication adviser must be completed. Students must fulfill the requirements as prescribed by the department in which the minor or second major is taken. As an alternative, an area of emphasis consisting of 18 hours in a discipline selected by the student and approved by a strategic communication adviser may be completed. Students may double count up to three credit hours of courses between major/s and/or minor/s and/or area of emphasis with the approval of the Schieffer College academic dean.
Required Courses for Strategic Communication Majors
First Step Gateway Courses and Associated Course:
Advertising | 3 | |
Public Relations | 3 | |
Statistics | 3 | |
OR | ||
Statistical Analysis | 3 |
Second Step Core Competencies:
Writing and Editing | 3 | |
Diversity | 3 | |
Design | 3 | |
Research | 3 |
Third Step Extending Skills and Advancing Competencies:
One Class from Management Competency:
Channel Planning | 3 | |
| OR |
|
Case Studies | 3 |
One Class from Content Competency:
Strategic Writing | 3 | |
| OR |
|
Creative Strategy | 3 |
OR |
course Digital Storytelling 3 |
OR |
course Copywriting 3 |
OR |
course Feature Writing 3 |
One class from Law & Ethics Competency:
Law | 3 | |
OR | ||
Ethics | 3 |
Plus 9 hours of STCO electives
STCO electives | 9 |
Fourth Step Integrating Competencies:
Career Strategies & Purpose | 3 |
One Capstone Course:
Campaigns | 3 | |
OR | ||
Ad Competition | 3 | |
OR | ||
PR Competition | 3 |
Honors College
Candidates for departmental honors should take course their junior year and course their senior year.
Department of Strategic Communication Internships
Students are strongly encouraged to arrange internships with public relations or ad agencies or departments in corporations dedicated to external and internal communications. An intern director assists students in locating and qualifying for internships. With prior approval (of the instructor of record in class search), academic credit is available for successfully completed internships.
Additional information on internship policies and procedures is at https://schieffercollege.tcu.edu/stratcomm/.
Roxo, Student-run Strategic Communication Agency
In Roxo, students gain hands-on work experience and apply their classroom learning to real-life communication challenges. Located inside an agency space in Moudy South, “Roxstars” work as brand strategists, account executives, copywriters, social media strategists, public relations specialists, creative directors, and designers.
Roxo’s clients have included start-ups, US-based and international nonprofits, large businesses, and foundations. This social enterprise designed agency meets weekly to learn about agency operations, creative strategy, public relations, business strategy, pitching, and digital media. Students tour local advertising and public relation agencies and host many industry guest speakers throughout the semester.
Roxo is a three-credit, upper-level elective in the strategic communication major. Students must apply for admission. To be eligible, a student must be a junior or senior who has successfully completed the gateway courses and completed MATH 10043 Statistics or INSC 20153 (or equivalent) with a C- or higher plus four other courses in the major with a C or higher. Students may enroll in Roxo for up to three semesters, earning internship credit after the first semester of completed elective hours.
About Roxo
Roxo Agency is a student-run full-service advertising and public relations agency located within the Bob Schieffer College of
Communication at Texas Christian University. Since 2011, Roxo has served more than 100 organizations and businesses across North Texas, winning numerous awards for creative work and innovative strategies. Nearly 400 students have been employed by the agency as “Roxstars,” gaining hands-on industry experience, portfolio pieces, and experience that goes far beyond the classroom. Roxo is creativity for good @tcuroxo.