Declaration of Major or Minors

Declaration of pre-major

Students contemplating a major in communication are encouraged to register as pre-majors. To declare the pre-major and to learn more about the Communication major, visit the Peer Advisors in CF 203 to fill out a pre-major card. You may also subscribe to the departmental listserv where information is posted regarding departmental meetings, activities and announcements.

Major Declaration Requirements

Admission to the Department of Communication will, in part, be determined by the number of applicants and their qualifications. Cumulative grade point average (GPA) will be one of the major criteria for admission.

Download the Major Guide

First, complete the following with a B minus or better:

  • Either COMM 101 or 235
  • COMM 220

Second, assemble a declaration portfolio

Declaration Portfolio

The department has established the following policy for declaring a Communication major. On Monday of the fourth week of fall, winter and spring quarters applicants will submit a portfolio of their work. The portfolio will include the following items:

  1. Admission Application
  2. Transcript(s) (removed from their envelopes)
  3. Letter of Intent
  4. Resume
  5. Academic Work Samples
  6. Letters of Recommendation
  7. Proposed Program of Study (the 'grid')
  8. Transfer students should include a copy of their TER report. (See Registrar’s website.)

Peer advisors are available in CF 203 to assist with applications.

Refer to Declaration Portfolio Guidelines for detailed information, then assemble your portfolio.

You can download:

Portfolio Suggestions

  1. For ease of handling in the review process, your portfolio must be presented in a simple report binder with a transparent cover. We prefer that you use a clamp or slide style binder--nothing that requires use of a three-hole punch.

  2. Make sure that your application page is the first page and can be seen through the cover. Your grid will be the last page of your portfolio.
  3. Application page must be typed or computer-generated.
  4. Grid page should be filled in by hand with black ink.

 

Please Do NOT:
  1. Do not include a title (cover) page or table of contents.
  2. Do not commercially bind.
  3. Do not put your portfolio pages in plastic page protectors.
  4. Do not use dividers or other extraneous pages.
  5. Do not use a 3-ring binder or any type of binder that requires hole punching.

Your portfolio will be evaluated primarily on quality of content, but neatness counts.

Minors and other Declarations

General studies major with a Communication emphasis

General Studies Majors may be arranged by picking up a pamphlet and registration card in OM 380, Academic Advising Center, and working with advisors in two or more departments. These advisors will provide information about the best way to complete the total of 60 upper-division credits required for the General Studies Major. In the Communication Department, any faculty member who is willing to advise you will help create your plan of study. Plan to submit a copy of the plan of study to your Communication advisor. Allow some flexibility in the courses that you want to take in this department, because we are a small department with high student demand for our courses, leading to access issues in some courses. Most 400-level courses are majors only and will accept other students only if seats are available after all Comm majors have been seated.

Liberal studies faculty-student designed major

First, contact the Liberal Studies office in AH309 to pick up forms. Locate a committee of faculty from Communication and the other areas you plan to study; they will assist you in creating your plan of study. The Chair of Liberal Studies must give final approval of your plan before you take it before the College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee.

Communication majors have top priority in all courses marked majors only, and other students will only be seated if extra seats are available during drop-add period after all Communication majors have registered. In open enrollment courses, the priority for registration is based on your seniority, with graduating seniors registering first during phone registration.

Minoring in Communication

A minor in Communication is now officially declared. Visit the Communication Office in CF 295 to obtain the Plan of Study, sign a declaration card and ask for advisement as needed. At least two quarters prior to graduation, plan to see the Communication minor advisor for a minor evaluation. When you submit your Degree Application to the Registrar's Office, you will need to turn in your minor evaluation, along with your major evaluation.

Page Updated 04.01.2013