Newly Admitted 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:

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 Major Requirements 

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!

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:

  -- 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.
  
  

• 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!