- Is it possible to have a major in the Communication Department and a minor in the Media, Journalism & Film Department, or vice versa?
- Help! I'm encumbered because I haven't been admitted to my degree program! What do I do now?
- What's the difference between a "comprehensive" major and a "noncomprehensive" major? Is one preferable over the other?
- I need to drop a class. What do I do?
How do I get assigned an advisor?
The first step to getting an advisor to DECLARE Communication as your major. You can get an advisor one of three ways. If you have worked with an advisor through academic advisement’s office, they can assign you one from them once you declare. If you declared a major during SOAR, you will have been assigned one there. Finally, if you have switched majors or are moving from undecided, go to Craig Hall 375 and speak with the secretary. Tell her what major you want to declare and she will assign you an advisor at that time. top
This answer depends on what kind of relationship you want to have with your advisor. You can meet with him or her at any time during posted office hours or you can make an appointment. At a minimum, however, you need to meet with your advisor once a semester during pre-registration for the next semester. To do so, contact your advisor and set up an appointment for at least one week before your registration window opens. Other meetings may occur because of questions about dropping or adding a course or related to graduation requirements. You decide how often, but be sure to meet at least before registration every semester. And don't forget, your advisor can be a valuable resource for information on careers, internships, and other decisions you have to make. top
Not necessarily, but the process is the same as getting your advisor. Go to Craig Hall 375 and tell the secretary that you want to switch majors. No paperwork is required, however you will want to make sure and get your new audit as soon as possible so that you know what the requirements are for your new major. top
Absolutely. In fact, there are several excellent combinations of majors and minors across the two departments. For example, a minor in Journalism can be paired with a Public Relations major. Or a general Communication major might be combined with a minor in Film Studies or a major in Media Production. top
First and foremost, get in touch with your advisor as soon as you can. Your advisor is the person who knows you best and the two of you need to decide the best course of action for dealing with your encumbrance. You’ll likely have to make some tough choices about how to proceed. If the encumbrance is due to poor grades or unmet degree requirements, you may have to repeat a class. If it seems unlikely that you will be able to satisfy the department's admission requirements, you may be advised to find a new major. Talk with your advisor about the best course of action. If you have completed all the requirements then the process is easy. Your advisor will assist you in completing some simple paperwork. top
Yes, in addition to the core required courses (COM 115, MED 120, COM 209) there are a few classes you can take at the same time you are completing admission requirements. Most of these are either electives or requirements in all the majors, so they will count toward your degree. top
COM 120: Debate
Although you shouldn't feel an unreasonable amount of pressure about career plans as a freshman or sophomore, this is not too early to begin exploring options and preparing for your job search. The first thing you should do is register with the University's Career Center. The Career Center staff take a long-term approach to career planning, beginning with selecting a major that is consistent with your talents and career interests and continuing with education about the job search process so that you are prepared to begin looking for jobs well in advance of graduation. When you are a sophomore you should begin planning for at least one internship in junior or senior year. Throughout your college days you should take every opportunity to gather information about potential careers and employers. Some ways of doing this include: joining student organizations; attending workshops sponsored by student organizations or the department; utilizing the alumni mentoring program on the department's web site; conducting information interviews with professionals in fields of interest to you; and using the resources available in the Career Center. top
Choosing a comprehensive or noncomprehensive major all depends on what your goals and interests are for declaring this major. Comprehensive degrees are like all inclusive resorts—everything you’ll need to complete the major is included in its course and credit requirements (usually 50+ hours). In some cases this type of major will prepare you for a specific profession, for example, in public relations. It’s liking having a major and minor all wrapped into one. A minor is not required for this degree.
A noncomprehensive major is one with fewer credit hours required, usually around 33-37 hours. In this major, you are required to get a minor in a different department. The goal is to specialize in your major but also develop skills and competencies in another disciplinary field. Minors range from 15-21 hours depending on the department in which they are offered. Some of our students have enough elective hours to work towards a double minor. top
That depends on what time of the semester it is. If you want to drop a class during the first week of classes, you can do so by filling out a change of registration form and taking it to the department of your major, the department of the course being dropped, or to the Office of the Registrar in Carrington 320.
If you are past the first week of classes there is a drop form you can obtain from the department office and turn into the Registrar's office. Be sure to know the last possible date you can drop a class. The deadline to drop a class and receive an "N" automatically comes at about midterm. After that deadline your professor must assign a grade of either "N" or "F," depending on whether you are passing the class at the time you drop. The deadline to drop a class at all is the week before the last week of classes. top
That depends on what time of the semester it is. If you want to add a class during the first week of classes, you can do so by filling out a change of registration form and taking it to the department of your major, the department of the course being added, or to the Office of the Registrar in Carrington 320. Be sure to check whether the course requires specific permission from the department or the instructor.
If you are past the first week of classes you must get approval from the department whose course you are wanting to add. Go to that department's office and ask for an Add/Section Change form, which the department will sign and stamp for you if you are granted permission. Take this form to the Registrar's office. In general, only courses which have not yet begun (e.g., second block courses, short courses, workshops, independent study, etc.) may be added after the Change of Schedule Period has ended. top
Not necessarily. We prefer that you take COM 115 and MED 120 in your first year, and in your second year take COM 209 and at least one elective in your intended major. Doing so will allow you to take general education courses at the same time you take a few pre-major courses. In most cases, students entering into their junior year have two or three Gen Ed courses to complete and that is very common. Further, you might consider taking a pre-minor course as well (if you have declared a noncomprehensive major). top
At 59 hours completed, you must have a combined g.p.a. of 2.5 to be admitted to this major. However, if you declare your major late or have transferred, you can apply for a waiver to register pending completion of requirements within a semester. If, for example, you have 74 hours and a g.p.a. of 2.35, you would not be eligible to be admitted as communication major. However, if in your previous 30 credit hours (approx. 2 semesters) you have at least a 2.75 g.p.a., you may be admitted to the department. If not, you will be instructed to go to Academic Advisement in University Hall to declare a new major. At this point, you will not be permitted to take any upper level communication classes. top
You may choose to change your advisor by going to Craig 375 and requesting a change from the secretary. You may request a specific advisor only if that professor has agreed to be your advisor, otherwise one will be assigned to you at the department's discretion. However, we strongly advise that before you change advisors, you work diligently to resolve your difficulties with your current advisor. As communication majors, we expect you to be able to resolve conflicts you may have and negotiate a workable solution to meet both your and your advisor’s needs. top
According to our requirements, no you cannot be dropped from your major if your g.p.a. falls below a 2.5. Realize, though, that a dropping g.p.a. is a sign that all is not well, and a poor g.p.a. in your early major courses may be a sign that trouble awaits you in your advanced classes. See your advisor if you have difficulties in your courses so that you both might develop a plan to raise your grades. top
First, don't panic. Many of our students find themselves in this situation. Second, you can do something to resolve the situation. You'll need to repeat one or two of those courses and raise the grade you initially received at least one letter grade. Be sure that while you do this, you maintain a 2.5 overall g.p.a. at the same time. In order to repeat a course that you received a "C" in , you'll need to get a letter of permission signed by your advisor and Department Head. Form letters are available in Craig 375. You will not need such a letter if you received a "D" or "F." top
Your relationship with your advisor is key to your completing your degree requirement correctly and on time for your graduation. In order to be sure you’ll graduate on time, with all the necessary requirements, meet with your advisor at least once a semester after you’ve been admitted to the program. top
One likely reason that you are closed out of your classes as an upperclassman is that you did not register on time during your window. In that case, there is little you can do but find elective courses you need to take or look for an intersession or block course to fill your schedule. In some cases, however, you can request to get on a waiting list for the course you need to register for the most. Contact the professor of that course you need. In extreme cases, if that course is not offered again when you need it, your advisor can make suggestions for a course to take in place of the closed one. Any substitution requested must be approved by the Department of Communication. Please notify either your advisor, the course instructor, or the department office if you find classes you need closing quickly. The earlier we can gauge student demand the better able we will be to make last minute adjustments, such as adding sections or adjusting enrollment caps. top
Each student has different circumstances for why he/she may have substituted a course. Every substitution made must be approved by the Department of Communication. Sometimes substitutions are granted because of scheduling conflicts because a required course was cancelled due to low enrollment and in those cases a substitution may be granted. These are relatively rare cases, however. top
Yes, you can do all of those options, depending on your career goals and interests. Many of our majors minor in Psychology. Further, a good portion of Psychology majors have a minor in Communication. Before deciding on a double-major however, be sure to meet with an advisor in Psychology in order to be clear on their requirements. In the case of a double-major, you will not be required to have a minor even though you have a noncomprehensive major. There are many majors on campus that make excellent combinations with COM majors and minors, for example, finance & general business, computer information systems, management, agricultural business, gerontology, and religious studies, to name a few. top
First you need to have a pin number for your ZIP card. Having this is the only way to access personal information about yourself on the Missouri State website. Go to the Zip Card Office in Plaster Student Union 128 (836-8409) to request your PIN. With that PIN number, go to "Current Students" on the www.missouristate.edu web page and access “My Information.” From there you can get all sorts of information about your account, major, and grades. Once you view your audit, it is a good idea to print it and keep a copy of the current one, each semester. You should also know that department secretaries no longer will request and print out audits for students. It will be your responsibility to obtain one and bring it with you when you see your advisor. top
This is a good question. The 2.5 g.p.a. requirement isn’t intended to be punitive to those who don’t do well in Gen Ed courses. There are several reasons for this requirement. First, it is intended to communicate a message to prospective majors that we expect a certain level of achievement from our students. Second, requiring students to meet a minimum standard of 2.5 prior to entering the major helps to insure that they are more likely to succeed in their upper division courses. Finally, the entrance requirement makes it possible for us to maintain a certain level of expectations in our courses, knowing the caliber of students in those courses. The 2.5 g.p.a. isn’t the only requirement. You must also achieve a 2.5 g.p.a. in the core courses, and this is an additional indicator of your potential success in upper division COM courses. Regardless of your g.p.a. at graduation, your degree will have more value if you have been pushed and held to high standards. Your abilities are the final indicator of your education's value, and those abilities become stronger when they are challenged. top
The very first thing you need to do is to talk directly to the professor and try to negotiate an acceptable solution to your problem. Your professor may not even know you have this problem. Because you are communication majors, we expect that you would be able to arrive at an acceptable outcome given your skills in persuasion and interpersonal conflict resolution. Try them out.
If you cannot reach an acceptable outcome, you can make an appointment with the Department Head. Be prepared for your meeting by being able to describe in specific terms the issue you have with your professor and what workable solutions you offered. The two of you can likely reach some solution that is agreeable to you both. top
The department and its faculty take advisement very seriously. Unfortunately, sometimes mistakes are made. Ultimately it is the student's responsibility to make sure he or she has met all university degree requirements, so do not rely solely on your advisor for information. All requirements are stated clearly in the undergraduate catalog. Remember that your advisor's role is to advise, not to make decisions for you. In most cases, your advisor will try to help you find a way of satisfying your requirements, but this is not always possible. top