Once admitted to the major, students will be assigned an adviser to meet with at least once each semester to review degree plans and course schedules for the coming semester. Students must be advised to register for the upcoming semester.
To find your advisor: Log in to my.tcu.edu. Select Student Homepage from the drop-down menu, then click or tap on the Academic Progress tile. Click or tap “Advisors” on the left-hand menu to see your advisor’s name and contact information. Log in with your TCU Single Sign On to schedule.
In addition to the FAQs below, Schieffer students can access program information, resources and degree planning tools through the:
- Schieffer College Advising Modules on TCU Online/D2L. Contact your advisor if you need access.
- Schieffer Advising Toolkit is a resource to answer questions, help Schieffer students plan for their program and navigate enrollment.
- Department of Strategic Communication Curriculum Guide was designed specifically to help strategic communication students understand which courses are required, what course options are available and how the courses fit together across semesters.
Below are a few frequently asked questions about the advising process.
We encourage you to read about the major, its faculty and graduates by reading about the program requirements and course descriptions in our section of TCU’s Undergraduate Catalog.
The Center for Career and Professional Development offers many resources for exploring majors and related careers, including a Career Counselor assigned to Schieffer College students.
Students majoring in strategic communication learn the theories and methods of advertising, public relations and new media to meet the strategic goals of organizations. Students learn to conduct research; write and create content for print, broadcast, online and mobile platforms; design; choose channels to place the message; and evaluate effectiveness.
Marketing revolves around the study of finding out what satisfies the consumer. Marketers plan and execute the conception, pricing, promotion and distribution of ideas, goods and services.
The department does not offer a minor.
However, non-majors should watch for course offerings that are open to non-majors, listed in both Class Search and in program requirements and course descriptions in our section of TCU’s Undergraduate Catalog.
Anyone who wants to study public relations or advertising through strategic communication and who meets the requirements outlined in the undergraduate catalog.
Applications are open no later than six weeks into the semester. Email stratcomm@tcu.edu or visit the application and admission page to determine dates for upcoming semesters.
Contact the department at stratcomm@tcu.edu or stop by Moudy South 211 and register to attend an application essay writing session once the session dates are set.
You cannot take any courses for the major until you are an admitted and declared major. Until then, take classes that apply to the TCU Core and your minor. Take Statistics (MATH 10043), if you haven’t yet taken math.
Classes that require specific software will be taught in classrooms with Mac computers.
Most faculty and many students use Macs computers. But TCU’s servers are Microsoft based, and some people report problems with online university forms using Macs.
Visit TCU’s Information Technology website and/or speak with someone in that department to determine what might be best for you.
Each student will take four gateway courses:
- STCO 11103 Writing and Editing
- STCO 16103 Diversity
- STCO 23113 Advertising
- STCO 23123 Public Relations
Students will need a “C” or higher in each gateway course and a combined 2.5 GPA or better in these four courses before continuing in the major coursework.
A bachelor’s degree at TCU requires 42 upper-division (30000- and 40000-level) hours.
Course numbers in the 30000s and 40000s are upper-division level, generally taken during junior and senior years.
However, upper-division courses transferred to TCU from another university do not count toward the 42-hour requirement.
All requests go through the Department of Strategic Communication office; email stratcomm@tcu.edu. Faculty do not allow students into classes.
Departmental policy does not allow extra students in classes except in extremely extenuating circumstances. Example: last class needed to graduate.
Email stratcomm@tcu.edu with your current advisor’s name, your preferred advisor and a very brief statement about why you want to change.
Advising signup sheets are posted on faculty doors or will be sent to you via email with a link to schedule online, typically one to two weeks before advising starts. Please see this list as soon as possible during advising week (advisors will usually send out an email) and sign up. You CANNOT schedule classes without first being advised. You need to take care of this during the two-week advising period – not after.
No. Faculty post the schedules on doors or use online scheduling systems so that students can see the whole range of times that are open and choose what is convenient for them.
You need to bring a printout of your transcript as well as completed versions of the advising forms available in the Strategic Communication office. When completed, these forms should include a list of possible classes for you to take the following semester as well as some alternate choices.
It is in your best interest. Your degree plan can be confusing, and advising keeps you on track for graduation.
Click on the catalog number on class search.
We cannot guarantee that you will graduate on time or in eight semesters. However, if you are successful in all your classes and take full loads each semester you should be able to graduate on time. All TCU students need at least 120 hours to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. TCU students need a minimum of 15 hours per semester for 8 semesters.
A minor is a secondary area of study, that requires 18 hours. The required or optional courses are designated by the department that offers the minor.
Strategic Communication majors are welcome to take any minor. However, depending on your interests and major, one may be more appropriate than others for you. This is something you should discuss with your advisor in person.
A portfolio is a collection of work you have done. It can include class work and internship work. If your degree plan requires Senior Seminar, you must have a portfolio for that class and will receive instructions on how to put it together.
Yes! However, you must have 80 hours outside strategic communication. Many FTDM classes count as skills classes. Therefore, you would have to stay at TCU a minimum of an extra semester (probably more) to major or minor in these.
A double major within the Department of Strategic Communication, for instance would probably mean you would take at least one extra year to graduate. You would graduate with well over the 120-hour minimum.