Communications, Associate of Arts

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Your Voice. Your Impact.

San Jac’s Communications program builds a strong foundation in how media and messaging shape our world. Students explore journalism, public relations, advertising, broadcasting, photography, and digital storytelling, all while developing skills to craft content that informs, inspires, and engages. San Jac’s transfer plans are aligned with four-year degrees, so graduates are well prepared for careers in media or to continue their education.

Career Opportunities and Income

Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.

Learning & Career Pathway

The Associate of Arts in Communications is primarily intended to support student transfer to a four-year bachelor’s degree program at a university.

San Jacinto College works with many Houston-area and Texas universities that offer bachelor’s degrees that are a great next step after earning the Associate of Arts in Communications. The Transfer Plans (MAPS) tab above shows transfer plans for some of these universities. If you know where you want to transfer and your intended major, use that plan to choose the right courses at San Jac.

Learning Outcomes and Career Skills

A student completing this transfer associate degree will be able to:

  • Make communication choices that address audience and purpose through creative output, group discussion, or personal reflection.
  • Apply evidence, data, or research to create a paper or presentation that uses discipline‑specific conventions and documented references.
  • Analyze the communication process using discipline‑specific conventions.
  • Work collaboratively to create a product or presentation and discuss discipline‑specific conventions.
  • Analyze the effects of the communication process or discipline‑specific conventions on the individual and apply one’s findings toward the development of responsible communication practices.
  • Analyze the effects of communication on society and apply one’s findings toward the development of responsible communication practices.

Locations

College Admission

San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.

Program Admission

There are no additional admission requirements for the Communications program; you only need to complete your application to the College, as noted in “College Admission” above, and follow the enrollment steps.

Plan of Study

1COMM

Students who know the university to which they want to transfer to pursue a related bachelor’s degree should use the appropriate transfer plan for the university listed on the Transfer Plans (MAPS) page from the tab above.

This plan of study is intended only for students who do not yet know the university to which they want to transfer or for students who do not currently plan to transfer after earning their associate degree.

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
First TermCredits
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
Mathematics 3
American History 3
EDUC 1100 Learning Framework 1
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits13
Second Term
ENGL 1302
Composition II
or Technical and Business Writing
3
Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
American History 3
Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits15
Second Year
First Term
Life and Physical Science (Natural Science) lecture & lab 4
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) 3
GOVT 2305 Federal Government (Federal Constitution and Topics) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits16
Second Term
Life and Physical Science (Natural Science) lecture & lab 4
GOVT 2306 Texas Government (Texas Constitution and Topics) 3
Component Area Option 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
Transfer Path Course (see list below) 3
 Credits16
 Total Credits60

Transfer Path Courses

Transfer Path
18 total semester credit hours (SCH) with at least 12 SCH in any combination of CHIN, COMM, ENGL, FREN, GERM, SGNL, SPAN, or SPCH. 12
Choose at least one of the following:
Beginning Chinese II
Beginning French II
Beginning German II
Beginning American Sign Language II
Beginning Spanish II
Introduction to Mass Communications
British Literature I
British Literature II
American Literature I
American Literature II
World Literature I
World Literature II
Forms of Literature: Literature and Film
Mexican American Literature
Interpersonal Communication
The remaining hours will be selected to meet the student's specific transfer institution requirements.6
Total Credits18

Core Curriculum

Core Curriculum: 42 SCH of Core courses including EDUC 1100 Learning Framework.

Communication (010)
Select two of the following courses for 6 SCH:6
Composition I
Composition II
Technical and Business Writing
Mathematics (020)
If you select a 4 SCH MATH course, the overflow hour may be accounted for in the Component Area Option of the Core or in the Transfer Path.
Select one of the following courses for 3 SCH:3
College Algebra
Plane Trigonometry
Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences 1
Calculus for Business and Social Sciences 1
Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) 1
Elementary Statistical Methods (Statistics)
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Pre-Calculus Math
Calculus I
Calculus II
Life and Physical Science (030)
Labs for the sciences courses may be accounted for in the Component Area Option.
Select two of the following courses for 6 SCH: 26
Stars and Galaxies (lecture)
The Solar System (lecture)
Biology for Science Majors I (lecture)
Biology for Science Majors II (lecture)
Biology for Non-Science Majors I (lecture) 3
Biology for Non-Science Majors II (lecture) 3
Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) 4
Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) 4
Introductory Chemistry I (lecture) 3
General Chemistry I (lecture)
General Chemistry II (lecture)
Earth Sciences for Non-Science Majors I (lecture) 3
Physical Geology (lecture)
Historical Geology (lecture)
College Physics I (lecture)
College Physics II (lecture)
University Physics I (lecture)
University Physics II (lecture)
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) (040)
Select one of the following courses for 3 SCH:3
British Literature I
British Literature II
American Literature I
American Literature II
World Literature I
World Literature II
Forms of Literature: Literature and Film
Mexican American Literature
Human Geography
World Civilization I
World Civilization II
Introduction to the Humanities I
Introduction to Philosophy
Introduction to Ethics
Creative Arts (Fine Arts) (050)
Select one of the following courses for 3 SCH:3
Art Appreciation
Art History I (Prehistoric to the 14th century)
Art History II (14th century to the present)
World Dance
Dance Appreciation
Theater Appreciation
Film Appreciation
Music Appreciation
Music Literature
American Music
American History (060)
Select two of the following courses for 6 SCH:6
United States History I
United States History II
Texas History
Mexican American History I
Mexican American History II
African American History I
African American History II
Government/Political Science (070)
Select two of the following courses for 6 SCH:6
Federal Government (Federal Constitution and Topics) 5
Texas Government (Texas Constitution and Topics) 5
Social and Behavioral Sciences (080)
Select one of the following courses for 3 SCH:3
Introduction to Archaeology
General Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology
Introduction to Criminal Justice
Principles of Macroeconomics
Principles of Microeconomics
World Regional Geography
Introduction to Political Science
Western Civilization I
Western Civilization II
General Psychology
Introduction to Sociology
Minority Studies
Child Growth and Development
Component Area Option (090)
The following courses as well as courses not previously used from the other eight areas of the Core may be used to fulfill the Component Area Option requirement.
Select from the following courses for 6 SCH:6
Stars and Galaxies (lab)
The Solar System (lab)
Biology for Science Majors I (lab)
Biology for Science Majors II (lab)
Biology for Non-Science Majors I (lab)
Biology for Non-Science Majors II (lab)
Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab)
Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab)
Introductory Chemistry I (lab)
General Chemistry I (lab)
General Chemistry II (lab)
Beginning Chinese I
Beginning Chinese II
Learning Framework
Beginning French I
Beginning French II
Earth Sciences for Non-Science Majors I (lab)
Physical Geology (lab)
Historical Geology (lab)
Beginning German I
Beginning German II
Federal and Texas Constitutions
Introduction to Physical Fitness and Wellness
College Physics I (lab)
College Physics II (lab)
University Physics I (lab)
University Physics II (lab)
Beginning American Sign Language I
Beginning American Sign Language II
Beginning Spanish I
Beginning Spanish II
Introduction to Speech Communication
Public Speaking
Interpersonal Communication
Business and Professional Communication
Total Credits42
1

MATH 1324 Mathematics for Business and Social Sciences, MATH 1325 Calculus for Business and Social Sciences, and MATH 1332 Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning) do not meet the requirements for students pursuing mathematics or science.

2

Students must be simultaneously co-enrolled in the co-requisite science lab.

3

BIOL 1308 Biology for Non-Science Majors I (lecture), BIOL 1309 Biology for Non-Science Majors II (lecture) and CHEM 1305 Introductory Chemistry I (lecture), and GEOL 1301 Earth Sciences for Non-Science Majors I (lecture) do not meet the requirements for science majors.

4

BIOL 2301 Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) and BIOL 2302 Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) are designed for allied health majors and not for academic transfer as science majors.

5

Students who have taken GOVT 2301 or GOVT 2302, but not both, should check with a Program Advisor on how to complete the 6 SCH.

If a student successfully completes San Jacinto College’s 42-hour Core Curriculum, that block of courses must be substituted for the receiving institution’s Core Curriculum. The receiving institution may not require a student to take additional Core Curriculum courses to meet the requirements of the Core. Students who transfer without completing the Core Curriculum shall receive academic credit in the Core Curriculum of the receiving institution for each of the courses the student has successfully completed in the San Jacinto College Core Curriculum. Students should plan Core Curriculum courses that would meet baccalaureate degree requirements at the four-year institution.

If you do not see your transfer school, please follow the Plan of Study. For more information, contact an Admissions Advisor. Please speak to an advisor at San Jacinto College and the transfer institution to ensure this Transfer Plan is accurate and complete. For a list of all MAPs, students may go to Transfer Plans A-Z. Students may filter for specific universities, disciplines, or degrees, and print individual MAPs.

English

SHSU, English, BA Part-time

SFASU, English Literature, BA Full-time

SFASU, English Literature, BA Part-time

UH Main, English, BA Full-time

UH Main, English, BA Part-time

UH Downtown, English, BA Full-time

UH Downtown, English, BA Part-time

UT - Austin, English, BA Full-time

UT - Austin, English, BA Part-time

UT - San Antonio, English, BA Full-time

UT - San Antonio, English, BA Part-time

Texas A&M, English, BA Part-time

Texas State, English, BA Full-time

Texas State, English, BA Part-time

Literature

UHCL, Literature, BA Full-time

UHCL, Literature, BA Part-time

Spanish

UH Main, Spanish, BA Full-time

UH Main, Spanish, BA Part-time

UH Downtown, Spanish, BA Full-time

UH Downtown, Spanish BA, Part-time

Speech

Lamar, Communication Studies, BS Full-time

Lamar, Communication Studies, BS Part-time

SHSU, Communication Studies, BA Full-time

SHSU, Communication Studies, BA Part-time

SHSU, Communication Studies, BS Full-time

SHSU, Communication Studies, BS Part-time

Texas A&M, Communications, BA Full-time

Texas A&M, Communications, BA Part-time

Texas State, Communication Studies, BA Full-time

Texas State, Communication Studies, BA Part-time

UH Downtown, Speech, Communication Studies, BA Full-time

UH Downtown, Speech, Communication Studies, BA Part-time

UH Main, Speech, Communication Studies, BA Full-time

UH Main, Speech, Communication Studies, BA Part-time

UH Victoria, Communication, BS Full-time

UH Victoria, Communication, BS Part-time