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Communication Major Advising
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Plus upcoming deadline reminders!
We advertise courses, events, and opportunities of interest to COMM students
Plus upcoming deadline reminders!
Contact Us!
Students can contact a Communication Department advisor:
- Submit a question through Virtual Advising Center (VAC)
- Via scheduled virtual drop-in advising (see section below)
- Via a scheduled advising appointment (see section below)
- If you have a form that needs review / signature, please email to: commugrad@ucsd.edu
We look forward to helping you!
Drop-In Advising
Drop-in advising is intended for quick questions and to help students finalize their schedules.
We expect drop-in wait time to be approximately 5-20 minutes, with a longer wait time at the beginning of the session. An advisor will give you access from the waiting room when it is your turn.
Our next drop-in (Zoom) advising sessions will be held:
Join us for COMM drop in advising in Weeks 7 & 8, as you're enrolling in WI25 courses!
Monday / Wednesday - Zoom Link: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/
Tuesday / Thursday - Zoom Link: https://ucsd.zoom.us/j/
Scheduled Advising Appointments
Appointments are 30 minutes and are available to address more detailed and complex questions, such as:
- Long-term quarter-by-quarter plan
- Readmission Forms
- SAP Appeal Forms
- Academic Probation/Disqualification Concerns
- Questions and referrals to other campus resources
Advising appointments for long-term planning are available during week 3 - week 10 of each academic quarter, except during enrollment periods when we offer drop-in advising.
Please contact commugrad@ucsd.edu to schedule an appointment.
Prospective (non-UCSD) Students
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions advises all prospective UCSD undergraduate students.
What kind of advisor should I see?
Navigating Academic Advising and Records at UC San Diego
College Academic Advisor
- General Academic Support
- College General Education Requirements (IGETC, TAG, writing courses)
- Quarter by quarter planning for college general education & university requirements
- Petition course for general education requirements
- University Policies
- Graduation and Unit Requirements
- Assist with study abroad, financial aid, VA forms, International Center forms, student-athlete forms, and verifying
completion of college and university requirements for graduation
Major / Minor Advisor
- Advice on Major or Minor Requirements
- Petitioning a course for credit towards a major/minor requirement
- Double Major Petition
- Application for Special Studies Course (Independent Research 198/199)
Career Center Advisor
- Career exploration
- Online and in-person career assessments
- Employment search skills: resume and cover letter development, job applications, interviewing
- Graduate school information, including how to apply and general requirements
Forms & Petitions
COMM UG Petition Submission - Google Form
If you have a form/petition that requires review from the COMM Department, this Google Form is for you:
This includes:
- Undergraduate Student Petition (for course substitution and exception requests)
- Double Major Petition
- Academic Plan review
- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) / Financial Aid Appeal
- Max Unit/Quarter Limit Appeal*
- Readmission Petition*
- Other Petitions/forms not listed above
Please DO NOT submit:
- Petitions for GEs, College, and/or University requirements. These should be submitted to your College Advising Office.
- Petitions for non-COMM department requirements, such as for a non-COMM major or minor. These should be submitted to the department or program that administers the major or minor. (For example, if you wish to have a course reviewed for your Marketing minor, submit your petition to the Rady School of Business which administers the Business minor.)
Before submitting your form / petition:
- Ensure that you have completely filled out the form prior to uploading
- Combine all necessary components into one file (PDF preferred) prior to uploading. (See: How to Merge Documents into a Single PDF)
- If you are unsure of any part of the form, please contact the Department of Communication via the VAC.
We expect to receive many petitions as we launch the new Media Industries & Communication major. We thank you in advance for your patience! You will be notified via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) after your form is reviewed.
Undergraduate Student Petition
The Undergraduate Student Petition may be used for course substitution and exception requests.
Submit your completed petition via the COMM UG Petition Form. The department's Faculty Advisor will review it and you will be notified of the result via the VAC.
Double Major Petition Forms
Be sure to completely review the University's Double Major Petition Instructions and Required Forms.
Submit your completed Double Major Petition via the COMM UG Petition Form for the COMM UG Advisor's review. Once approved and signed, you will be notified via the VAC.
A few things to remember:
- All courses taken for majors offered by the Communication Department (the Communication major and the Media Industries & Communication major) must be taken for a letter grade (and receive a C- or better final grade).
- A student with a double major must fulfill the separate requirements of each major, and the equivalent of at least ten upper-division courses (40 units) must be unique to each major.
- A maximum of 2 upper-division courses (8 units) may overlap between double majors. Both departments must approve the overlaps in the double major petition.
- A maximum of 2 upper-division courses (8 units) from outside the Communication Department may be petitioned to count towards the COMM / MIC major's Intermediate Elective requirement. Each course petitioned must be related to our department's curriculum. Students must separately submit an Undergraduate Student Petition for each course to be considered.
Your DMP and Academic Planning Worksheet must be signed/approved by the advising offices of both majors. You will then submit your signed DMP, Academic Planning Worksheet, and Statement of Purpose to your College Advising Office for final review.
Academic Planning Worksheet
Develop your very own Academic Planning Worksheet! (Link to copy a Google sheet). Here you can outline the courses you plan to take to complete the major and other requirements.
If you would like one of the COMM UG Advisors to review your plan, you can submit it via the COMM UG Petition Form.
Newly Admitted Students
Newly Admitted First-Year Students
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADMISSION TO UCSD AND WELCOME TO THE COMMUNICATION MAJOR!
Communication at UC San Diego is a field of study that emphasizes the role of technologies and institutions of communication, from language to television, to the Internet and beyond, in mediating human experience. It draws from such social science disciplines as anthropology, psychology, sociology, and political science, and from the humanities and fine arts, including theatre, literature, and visual arts. Communication students will develop a critical awareness of the communicative forces that affect their everyday lives.
The Communication major at UC San Diego is not designed as a training program in advertising, journalism, production, or public relations. It provides students with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication-related fields, including primary and secondary education.
Your Communication Major Advising Team
Undergraduate academic advising at UCSD is shared by two sets of advisors.
Your College Advising Office provides guidance and support on University and College requirements, including:
-- Quarter by quarter planning for College GE & University requirements
-- Petition course for general education requirements
-- University policies
-- Graduation and unit requirements
-- Review petitions and forms, including: study abroad, financial aid, VA forms, International Center forms, student athlete forms
-- Verify completion of college and university requirements for graduation
Your Communication Department Advising Team is available to assist you with questions specific to the COMM major / minor, including:
-- Major / minor requirements
-- Petitioning a course for credit towards a major/minor requirement
-- Review petitions and forms, including: study abroad, financial aid, VA forms, student athlete forms, double major petitions
-- Communication Department Honors Program
-- Verify completion of COMM major / minor requirements for graduation
Resources to Help You Visualize the Communication Major
What Will I Learn in the Communication Major?
COMM Elective Courses by Area of Interest
Common Careers for COMM Majors
Your First Year Course Plan
As a first-year student, most of your early planning as a newly admitted student will involve working closely with your College Advising Team. They will advise you on your courses in your first year, with a focus on General Education courses and College requirements.
You can plan to enroll in COMM courses in your second (Sophomore) year, starting with COMM 10 (Introduction to Communication). COMM 10 is required for the major, and is a prerequisite course for upper division Communication courses.
Quarter by Quarter Plan for New First Year Students (4 Year Plan)
More Communication Major Information
Students are encouraged to consider all of the programmatic options that the COMM major supports, including Study Abroad, Academic Internships, the Speech and Debate Team, and the Communication Department Honors Program. The Undergraduate Communication Society also welcomes you!
Bookmark our COMM UG Newsletter for announcements of interest to COMM majors, including events, internships and jobs, scholarship opportunities, and more!
Newly Admitted Transfer Students
CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ADMISSION TO UCSD AND WELCOME TO THE COMMUNICATION MAJOR!
Communication at UC San Diego is a field of study that emphasizes the role of technologies and institutions of communication, from language to television, to the Internet and beyond, in mediating human experience. It draws from such social science disciplines as anthropology, psychology, sociology, and political science, and from the humanities and fine arts, including theatre, literature, and visual arts. Communication students will develop a critical awareness of the communicative forces that affect their everyday lives.
The Communication major at UC San Diego is not designed as a training program in advertising, journalism, production, or public relations. It provides students with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication-related fields, including primary and secondary education.
Your Communication Major Advising Team
Undergraduate academic advising at UCSD is shared by two sets of advisors.
Your College Advising Office provides guidance and support on University and College requirements, including:
-- Quarter by quarter planning for College GE & University requirements
-- Petition course for general education requirements
-- University policies
-- Graduation and unit requirements
-- Review petitions and forms, including: study abroad, financial aid, VA forms, International Center forms, student athlete forms
-- Verify completion of college and university requirements for graduation
Your Communication Department Advising Team is available to assist you with questions specific to the COMM major / minor, including:
-- Major / minor requirements
-- Petitioning a course for credit towards a major/minor requirement
-- Review petitions and forms, including: study abroad, financial aid, VA forms, student athlete forms, double major petitions
-- Communication Department Honors Program
-- Verify completion of COMM major / minor requirements for graduation
We encourage you to review in advance of your College's orientation in August:
- COMM Major Requirements
- Quarter by Quarter Plan for COMM Transfer Students
- 2024-25 COMM Course Schedule (planned, subject to change)
- Fall 2024 COMM Course Descriptions
- The Communication major requires COMM 10 (Introduction to Communication). Our department does not allow introductory Communication courses completed at other institutions to count as equivalent. COMM 10 is a prerequisite for all other courses in the major. You therefore will need to enroll in COMM 10 in your first quarter at UCSD.
FALL QUARTER ENROLLMENT IN COMM COURSES
An Enrollment Guidance page with placement information and academic resources will be viewable to students on August 7, 2024.
FIRST ENROLLMENT PASS
Enroll in 2 Communication courses:
Course #1:
- On the first day of your first enrollment pass, enroll in COMM 10 (Introduction to Communication)
- Note: COMM 10 may look full if you look at the online Schedule of Classes before transfer orientation in August, but we are saving seats for transfer COMM majors to enroll.
- If you are not able to enroll during first pass, enroll in the course on the first day of your second pass.
Course #2:
- On the first day of your first enrollment pass, enroll in COMM 100A (Communication, the Person, and Everyday Life)
- Note: COMM 100A may look full if you look at the online Schedule of Classes before transfer orientation in August, but we are saving seats for transfer COMM majors to enroll.
- If you are not able to enroll during first pass, enroll in the course on the first day of your second pass.
Course #3:
- One Intermediate COMM Course (COMM 101 - 119)
- Once you are enrolled (not waitlisted) in COMM 10, submit an Enrollment Authorization System (EASy) request to enroll in a specific Intermediate Elective (COMM 101 - 119).
- Once your EASy request has been approved, return to WebReg and enroll in the Intermediate Elective course you requested.
and/or Course #4:
- Choose a remaining college requirement course (if any) or a course of interest from a different department.
The department recommends that transfer students enroll in no more than 3 Communication courses in their first quarter.
More Communication Major Information
Students are encouraged to consider all of the programmatic options that the COMM major supports, including Study Abroad, Academic Internships, the Speech and Debate Team, and the Communication Department Honors Program. The Undergraduate Communication Society also welcomes you!
Bookmark our COMM UG Newsletter for announcements of interest to COMM majors, including events, internships and jobs, scholarship opportunities, and more!