Mass Media, Communication & Theatre

The Department of Mass Media, Communication, and Theatre at Texas A&M University-Commerce is located in the magnificent Performing Arts Center on the shores of beautiful Gee Lake and in the Journalism Building, a well equipped facility with a striking mosaic mural on its front edifice. The department houses a modern 304-seat playhouse, an experimental “black box theatre,” KETV television studios, student radio (KKOM), the newsroom for the print and online editions of The East Texan, the student newspaper, offices of the online magazine, and instructional journalism labs with state-of-the-art computers and software for classes of the Journalism Division.

Speech Communication

Studies in speech communication are designed to provide scholarly training in communication for professionals in business, industry, social services, speech education, law, government, and religion. The program produces graduates who understand and can solve communication problems, making them uniquely able to contribute to the growth and betterment of society.

Journalism

The Journalism Division offers major sequences in news-editorial, public relations and the teaching of high school journalism. Students choose one sequence and complete a minor in the College of Humanities, Social Sciences and Arts. News and public relations majors take common core courses in mass communication, law of the media, ethics of the media and interactive media. News majors with an interest in newspapers, magazines and web/online writing careers complete skills courses in writing, editing, and design. Public relations students pursue upper-level classes in the principles of public relations, case studies, writing for public relations, and public relations campaigns. Both sequences require an approved internship during the junior and senior year. Students who wish to teach must complete a set of required courses in the Division and certification requirements within the College of Education to teach at the high school level. Further specifics may be obtained from the Department or the Journalism Division.

Radio & Television

The radio-television program prepares students for employment in production and management at broadcast stations, networks, cable-TV companies, independent production houses, school media centers, and corporate or industrial television operations. The radio-television department maintains a careful balance between in-class academic work and practical “hands-on” broadcast experience. All students begin actual production in audio immediately and most will do some form of on-air work by their second semester.

Theatre

With two modern theatres, a computerized lighting system, and a broad-based theatre curriculum, the major in theatre offers a comprehensive education in all aspects of theatre. State-of-the-art technical instruction, a proven teacher education program, and “hands on” training in acting, directing, designing, and stage management prepare the serious theatre student for a career in professional or academic theatre. Each year, both undergraduate and graduate students experience a full season of productions in the University Playhouse, ranging from Shakespeare to Sam Shepard. The Playhouse also stages and maintains a highly successful summer musical program. Theatre faculty are dedicated, serious professionals with degrees from top universities in the field. Class sizes are small, and offer the unique opportunity for the theatre majors to write, direct, acts or design for the theatre for their senior project. Much of the classroom and practical work is conducted on an individual basis.