Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Pathway Guide

Preparation for Transfer as a Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Major or as a Public Relations and Strategic Communication Major

The following sequences are suggested courses to take in your semesters prior to transferring to SMU as a Corporate Communication and Public Affairs or as a Public Relations and Strategic Communication major. For students attending a Texas public community college or university, Texas Common Course Numbers (TCCNS) are listed.  If you are transferring from a college or university outside of Texas, click on the SMU course for a course description which may be used to select/compare courses at your current institution.

CC listings refer to SMU’s Common Curriculum, which all undergraduates are required to complete. Refer to the Common Curriculum Transfer Guide  for a list of courses satisfying CC components. Interactive equivalency guides organized by transfer institution are available on the Transfer and Transition Services’ website.

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Welcome to the Meadows School of the Arts! We’re excited you’re interested in transferring to SMU and majoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs , or in Public Relations and Strategic Communication . Established in 1969, the Meadows School is a nationally recognized arts education institution offering degrees in advertising, art, art history, arts entrepreneurship and arts management, corporate communication and public affairs, creative computation, dance, film and media arts, journalism, music, and theatre.

Meadows graduates are found in top performing, visual and communication arts positions around the globe, including managers and executives at The White House and Burson-Marsteller; reporters, executives and communicators at major television networks, Town & Country, Los Angeles Clippers, and Condé Nast; chair, National Endowment for the Arts; dance and theatre company founders and Oscar and Tony award winners; singers for the Met; musicians for major metropolitan symphonies; directors and curators of museums and galleries; artists whose work is shown in the U.S. and abroad; and more.

The Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs

The Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs (CCPA)  prepares majors to be leaders in business, government and civil society, providing internship, consulting and applied research opportunities with world-class corporate, nonprofit and political organizations in Dallas, Washington, D.C., London and points beyond. We prepare majors for the leadership path to chief communication officer, executive director, founder, entrepreneur and more.

The Meadows Advantage

Reputation, Connections, Dallas Location, Top-Five Media Market, Home to 20+ Fortune 500 Companies

Members of the CCPA faculty are nationally and internationally recognized scholars with extensive academic and professional experience. They are published authors and remain active in their respective fields. CCPA students also benefit from the expertise of an advisory board of executives from the nation’s leading businesses, nonprofit organizations and political institutions, and will graduate with a portfolio of materials designed for actual clients.

Alumni

CCPA graduates are working and learning across the nation and the globe with:

• Burson-Marsteller
• Porter Novelli
• Weber Shandwick
• Paramount Studios
• Dallas Cowboys
• Boston Ballet
• The White House
• Congress
• The Hague
• Southwest Airlines
• American Heart Association
• KPMG
• George W. Bush Presidential Library  and Museum

Internships and Experiential Learning

CCPA is proud of the hands-on learning opportunities that allow students to apply and hone their communication skills. Internships in local and national corporations, nonprofit organizations and government institutions are a significant part of the curriculum. Internships in London are also available. Experiential opportunities include:

• Hilltop on the Hill, a directed study of political communication held in Washington, D.C.
• Student-run Mustang Consulting Agency
• Competitive debate and speech
• Public Relations Student Society of America
• SMU-in-London, study abroad and internships

CCPA Majors

Two B.A.s are offered:

The B.A. in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs  offers three tracks:

• Organizational Communication for majors interested in leading the effective operation and internal workings of organizations, including leadership, change management, teamwork, power/ gender issues, human and social capital, and organizational behavior.
• Poltical Communication for majors interested in leading public policy initiatives for organizations, lobbying firms, think tanks, government agencies, NGOs, elected office, or political campaigns, including analysis, issues management, advocacy and public opinion monitoring.
• Social Innovation and Nonprofit Engagement for majors interested in leading or founding nonprofit or hybrid corporations that combine social welfare, branding, donor/volunteer relations, fundraising/ philanthropy and strategic communication in a variety of mission contexts.

The B.A. in Public Relations and Strategic Communication  is for majors interested in leading external corporate and public affairs initiatives with a variety of stakeholders, including investors, customers, communities, activists, and media, with an emphasis on engagement, business objectives and crisis response.

Things to Remember

• Admission to the majors is rigorous and based on core requirement performance.
• CCPA courses satisfying major requirements must be taken at SMU.  
• Students seeking to double major or minor in another communication-related field may need to complete more than the minimum 120 total hours required for SMU graduation.
• Students must earn a grade of C or better for coursework toward their major or minor CCPA degree requirements.

Minoring in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs

Undergraduate students planning to acheive a Minor in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs   must meet minimum GPA requirements, and meet the specific requirements for their area of study outlined above.

SMU Degree

A degree from SMU is typically comprised of a minimum of 120 hours, 60 of which must be completed through SMU.

• Courses in your major.
• Courses required for the Common Curriculum (CC) .  
• Elective courses.  These electives may be used to add a second major or minor.

The Common Curriculum (CC)

The Common Curriculum is required of all undergraduate students and consists of three main components: 

1. Foundations - 6 hours of Writing courses, 3 hours of Quantitative Reasoning courses, proficiency in a second language. 
2. Breadth -  7 Breadth courses which may double count with majors and minors.
3. Proficiencies and Experiences - 8 Proficiencies and Experiences requirements, met through Breadth coursework or approved, noncredit activities.

NOTE: If you transfer with 23 or fewer credit hours and/or transfer in your first year out of high school, transfer work earned prior to high school graduation (dual/concurrent credit) will not satisfy CC requirements.

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Click here for more information about transferring to SMU.