Current Students
Students who are currently enrolled at UC San Diego can take advantage of our academic advising and use these pages to find information and resources. We encourage prospective and newly admitted students to browse this information as part of the application process and as you prepare to register for classes.
Updates during COVID-19
During this time of COVID-19 Advising will take place remotely for the safety of our students and staff. Please use the following to address any academic concerns:
- Students send a VAC message to have quick questions answered.
- If you need to complete any type of form, please send an email to commugrad@ucsd.edu with a fillable attachment of the forms. You will be contacted via VAC when the form is completed. Please allow 2-3 business days.
- If you need an appointment, please refer to the allotted times on our google calendar. A zoom invite will be sent to your UCSD email the day of your appointment. If zoom is not a viable option, please notify the Advising Office and other accommodations will be arranged.
- The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) has also updated new resources during this time which can be accessed here: https://osd.ucsd.edu/
resources/covid-19.html
New Undergraduate Grading Policies during COVID-19
During the Spring 2020 quarter, the Academic Senate has approved letter grades as well as Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grades to be taken in undergraduate courses. In an effort to provide students with flexibility during this time, the Communication Department has agreed to comply with this policy for its majors and minors.
However we wish to bring to your attention, that not all students should choose this option.
What should I consider before taking a course Pass/No Pass instead of a letter grade?
- Students should carefully consider taking additional units under the assumption they will need to devote less time to each course if it is graded P/NP. The expectation is students will apply the same amount of time and energy towards each enrolled course regardless of how the course is graded. If adequate time is not planned for each course, a student could easily find themselves overwhelmed by the amount of work required for the quarter.
- Students who plan to retake a course to replace a previously earned grade, must retake the course using the same grading method. If the previously earned grade was a letter grade (“D”, “F”), the course must be retaken using the same grading format. For example, a student who took FA19 COMM 102C and earned an “F,” would have to retake SP20 COMM 102C as letter-graded (P/NP is not an option).
- Students who plan to apply for postgraduate study. Graduate, medical, and other professional schools may not accept a grading option of P/NP for some courses. Students will need to check with the specific graduate/professional school they are applying to and inquire what courses are required to apply and if those courses can be graded as P/NP.
- Students who are veterans and receive financial assistance need to check with their campus Veterans Affairs liaisons to determine how taking a course as P/NP will impact their financial support.
- Students trying to raise their GPA, especially in an effort to return to good academic standing. Students who need to raise their GPA above a 2.0 to be in good standing or for purposes of financial aid may be harmed in taking P/NP grades.
- Students maintaining satisfactory academic progress for financial aid. In addition to GPA, a student must maintain “Satisfactory Academic Progress” (SAP). Students should always check with the UCSD Financial Aid Office to verify how taking courses as P/NP would impact their aid.
- Students should consider the grading scale for Pass (“A”-”C-”) and No Pass (“D”-”F”) courses. The Communication Department accepts grades of “D” or better for our major and minor requirements. Therefore, a student who takes SP20 COMM 101 as letter-graded and earns a “D” will be able to use this course towards their COMM major or minor requirements. However, if the same student takes SP20 COMM 101 as P/NP, they will earn an “NP” and will not be able to use the course towards their major or minor requirements. S
Note: This is not an exhaustive list of potential unintended consequences. Students who are uncertain of the effects of this decision are encouraged to seek guidance from their academic advisors to understand the full implications of their choices.
COVID-19 Updates
Hear from our Department Chair Dr. Brian Goldfarb about how we are responding and adjusting to the ongoing changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as a list of useful resources provided by UC San Diego.
Do you think you might need Disability accomodations?
It is important to register with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) BEFORE beginning classes so that you receive accommodations in time.
Looking for courses?
Need to find current or upcoming courses?
If you are looking for Communication courses offered this academic year visit our Quarterly Descriptions for Seminars and Topics Courses page
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Need to find previous courses?
If you are looking for Communication courses previously offered in the last year, use this link:
Need to find future courses?
If you are looking for the proposed course schedule for the 2020-2021 academic year use this link:
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Our Undergraduate Academic Advisers are available to help you navigate our program. Academic Advising is available to all UC San Diego students who are registered and enrolled in classes.
Quarter by Quarter Plans
Our academic advisers have developed detailed quarter-by-quarter plans to help you successfully navigate your journey as a Communication scholar at UC San Diego
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