Newly Admitted Students

​​WELCOME TO THE COMMUNICATION MAJOR!

Communication offers a theoretically-oriented investigation of how discourses, communication systems, media institutions, built environments, and human activity together shape economic, political, and cultural life. Our interdisciplinary curriculum is rich in hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in designing and producing media, conducting fieldwork, and bridging social divides through participation at faculty directed, regional community sites.

Graduates complete the Communication major with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and many other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication- and media-related fields​.​ (Note the major is not designed as a training program in advertising, journalism, production, or public relations.​)

​Resources to Help You Visualize the ​C​OMM Major 

COMM Major Requirements
COMM Elective Courses by Area of Interest

 Advising at UCSD

Your College Advising Team will guide you on your College's GE courses, university requirements, and non-major questions. 

Your Major Advising Team (us!) help advise you on everything related to the major: requirements, courses, programs, and opportunities. 

Your First Year Course Plan​

Advising in your first-year involves working closely with your College Advising Team. Your College will advise you on your ​first year​ courses​, with a focus on General Education courses and College requirements. ​
 
​In your second (sophomore) year you can plan to enroll in ​C​OMM major courses, starting with COMM-010 (Introduction to Communication). In the meantime, we encourage you to check out the COMM Quarter by Quarter Plan for First Year Students. 

More Communication Department Information

We look forward to meeting you and supporting your studies! 

Questions? Please contact the COMM Advising Team via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC)​ or via email (commugrad@ucsd.edu)

​WELCOME TO THE COMMUNICATION MAJOR!

Communication offers a theoretically-oriented investigation of how discourses, communication systems, media institutions, built environments, and human activity together shape economic, political, and cultural life. Our interdisciplinary curriculum is rich in hands-on learning opportunities for students interested in designing and producing media, conducting fieldwork, and bridging social divides through participation at faculty directed, regional community sites.

​Graduates complete the Communication major with a solid liberal arts background necessary for graduate studies in communication and many other disciplines, and for professional work in a number of communication- and media-related fields​.​ (Note the major is not designed as a training program in advertising, journalism, production, or public relations.​)

Your College Advising Team will guide you on your College's GE courses, university requirements, and non-major questions. 

Your Major Advising Team (us!) help advise you on everything related to the major: requirements, courses, programs, and opportunities. 

​
Resources to Help You Visualize the ​C​OMM Major 

Resources ​for Fall Quarter 2026 Enrollment ​

More Communication Department Information

Follow us!

We look forward to meeting you and supporting your studies! 

Questions? Please contact the COMM Advising Team via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC)​ or via email (commugrad@ucsd.edu)

​WELCOME TO THE MEDIA INDUSTRIES & COMMUNICATION MAJOR!

 The Media Industries & Communication (MIC) major provides students with the historical and theoretical background and critical and practical skill sets to analyze an increasingly complex media and communication landscape. By focusing on media industries–as opposed to just media aesthetics, artistic forms, and cultural appreciation–we provide students with a relevant, professionally legible, and dynamic degree. 

We welcome aspiring media practitioners (filmmakers, performers, musicians, journalists, etc.) but also those who aspire to work in media and culture as marketers, managers, agents, lawyers, executives, policy analysts, HR professionals, and more. Our conception of media, culture, and communication is expansive, and includes not just traditional forms like film, television, news, and music, but also: digital culture like internet fads, streaming video, and message boards; promotional media like advertisements, product and destination marketing, and crisis communication; and the production of live media events and experiences like tourism, pop-up brand activations, and tabletop role-playing games. 

MIC requirements are similar to those for the general ​C​OMM Major, but add skills-oriented, practice-based courses, as well as courses focused on the critical and historical analysis of specific industries such as film, television, video streaming, internet, tourism, data & AI, journalism, and advertising. 

Resources to Help You Visualize the MIC Major 

​MIC Major Requirements
MIC What Can I Do With a Degree in MIC?
​What will I learn in the MIC program?
​​What ​topics am I likely to encounter?​
​MIC Elective Courses by Area of Interest

Your College Advising Team will guide you on your College's GE courses, university requirements, and non-major questions. 

Your Major Advising Team (us!) help advise you on everything related to the major: requirements, courses, programs, and opportunities. 

​
Your First Year Course Plan

Advising in your first-year involves working closely with your College Advising Team. Your College will advise you on your ​first year​ courses​, with a focus on General Education courses and College requirements. ​ 

​In your second (sophomore) year you can plan to enroll in ​MIC major courses, starting with COMM-010 (Introduction to Communication). ​In the meantime, we encourage you to check out the ​MIC Quarter by Quarter Plan for First Year Students.  

More Communication Department Information

Students are encouraged to consider all of the programmatic options that the ​C​OMM major supports, including:

Study Abroad
Internships
Speech and Debate Team
Department Honors Program
Undergraduate Communication Society - COMM's student-run professionalization organization

Follow us!

Website: communication.ucsd.edu
Instagram: @ucsdcommunication
YouTube: @ucsdcommunication​department
UG Advising Instagram: @ucsd​_comm_ug

We look forward to meeting you and supporting your studies! 

Questions? Please contact the COMM Advising Team via the Virtual Advising Center (VAC)​ or via email (commugrad@ucsd.edu)

WELCOME TO THE MEDIA INDUSTRIES & COMMUNICATION MAJOR!

 The Media Industries & Communication (MIC) major provides students with the historical and theoretical background and critical and practical skill sets to analyze an increasingly complex media and communication landscape. By focusing on media industries–as opposed to just media aesthetics, artistic forms, and cultural appreciation–we provide students with a relevant, professionally legible, and dynamic degree. 

We welcome aspiring media practitioners (filmmakers, performers, musicians, journalists, etc.) but also those who aspire to work in media and culture as marketers, managers, agents, lawyers, executives, policy analysts, HR professionals, and more. Our conception of media, culture, and communication is expansive, and includes not just traditional forms like film, television, news, and music, but also: digital culture like internet fads, streaming video, and message boards; promotional media like advertisements, product and destination marketing, and crisis communication; and the production of live media events and experiences like tourism, pop-up brand activations, and tabletop role-playing games. 

MIC requirements are similar to those for the general ​C​OMM Major, but add skills-oriented, practice-based courses, as well as courses focused on the critical and historical analysis of specific industries such as film, television, video streaming, internet, tourism, data & AI, journalism, and advertising. 

Resources to Help You Visualize the MIC Major 

​MIC Major Requirements
MIC What Can I Do With a Degree in MIC?
​What will I learn in the MIC program?
​​What ​topics am I likely to encounter?​
​MIC Elective Courses by Area of Interest

Your College Advising Team will guide you on your College's GE courses, university requirements, and non-major questions. 

Your Major Advising Team (us!) help advise you on everything related to the major: requirements, courses, programs, and opportunities.