Advising
You can reach your Communication advisor by phone, by email, or by making an appointment. Note that all phone numbers are preceded by 360-650 unless otherwise indicated.
| Advisors | Room | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Reynolds | CF 295 | 3870 | ann.reynolds@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Michael Karlberg | CF 289 | 7367 | michael.karlberg@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Ee Lin Lee | CF 291 | 4032 | eelin.lee@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Tara Perry | CF 285 | 2202 | tara.perry@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Rae Lynn Schwartz-DuPre | CF 283 | 4212 | raelynn.schwartz-dupre@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Karen Stout | CF 277 | 2563 | karen.stout@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Jianglong Wang | CF 279 | 3869 | jianglong.wang@wwu.edu |
| Dr. Steve Woods | CF 275 | 4879 | steven.woods@wwu.edu |
Applying for graduation
Schedule an appointment with the faculty advisor (assigned at declaration of major):
Registration policies
As of Winter Quarter 2011, the automatic waitlist system has been in effect for most Communication courses. Once a course is full, we advise students to select the waitlist option in Web4U as it is the only method of enrolling in a course once it is full.
The Department of Communication reserves the right to manage waitlists for the purpose of addressing specific issues such as graduating students who need to complete a major course requirement, or extenuating circumstances.
Mid-program checkpoint
A student seeking to complete a B.A. degree in communication within a four-year time span should have completed the following courses by the start of his/her junior year. Major omissions from this list will make it difficult or impossible to complete this degree within two additional years.
- Comm 101 or 235 or and Comm 220 (with a B minus or better)
- Lib 125 or Lib 201 (or Comm 235, 242, Hist 398, Psy 301)
- Two or more 200-level communication courses
- Substantial progress in GUR requirements
Special courses and opportunities
The department offers a variety of opportunities
for communication majors beyond the coverage of
class instruction.
Comm 450 — Communication Pedagogy I (3 credit)
Prereq: recommendation; written permission from instructor
Serve as undergraduate tutor for students taking communication courses. Learn instructional methods and gain further mastery of course content. Conduct supervised tutoring and feedback for students enrolled in communication courses. S/U grading.
Comm 451 — Communication Pedagogy II (3 credits)
Prereq: Comm 450: recommendation; written permission of instructor.
Help supervise teams of undergraduate
tutors. Develop leadership, organizational and
pedagogical skills. S/U grading.
Comm 459 — Field Internship in Communication (3, 6, 9, 12 credits)
Prereq: senior status; written permission or advisor; departmental majors only.
Supervised work in communication
with an educational institution, public agency,
private enterprise, broadcast station or other
appropriate business. Meetings, written reports
and a paper related to the internship are required.
For students applying for media internships,
plan to complete all academic course work before
the internship, as this is the usual career
pattern for those in that area. Repeatable to
12 credits. A maximum of 6 credits may be applied
to the communication major. S/U grading.
Comm 492 — Senior Thesis (5 credits)
Prereq: departmental majors only; admission to departmental honors; complete 24 credits in communication; permission of instructor.
Supervised independent research on
an advanced topic, leading to a substantial
research paper.
Instructor Assistants or IA Positions
What are the prerequisites for the IA position?
In order to assist with the Comm 101 course, you need to have taken the class successfully at Western, to have been recommended to the 101 director by your Instructor or Instructor Assistant, to complete an evaluative interview, and to receive an invitation to participate after these prerequisites are complete. Then you will be given permission and an override code to add Comm 450 (first quarter IAs) or Comm 451 (returning IAs).
What kinds of things do IAs do?
IAs serve as tutors for small sections (about 10-12) of students who are taking Comm 101. IAs listen to preliminary speeches, letting students know whether they need to retake a speech or move to the next speech. IAs provide feedback on speeches and written assignments, and they give coaching for improved performance on all course requirements. They explain assignments, readings and lectures. They facilitate activities and group projects. In addition, they keep records and document student progress through the course requirements. Occasionally, IAs participate in the large lectures.
How do I go about getting an IA position?
After you have completed the prerequisites described above and received an invitation to be an IA, let the Director of 101 know when you want to register for Comm 450, 451. You will attend an orientation session at the end of the quarter prior to serving as an IA, and at the beginning of your IA service quarters. You must be available to sign up for one of the 101 section times, as well as the weekly 450/451 meeting time.
Do undergraduates assist in any other Comm courses besides 101?
Occasionally Communication instructors request that outstanding students serve as Undergraduate Assistants in other courses. The student will typically have taken the course with the instructor in a prior quarter and shown strong ability and motivation. This experience provides good training for students who expect to go on to graduate school. All assistantships are unpaid and receive course credit as Comm 339, Practicum.