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FAQ
(revised 11/13/2010)
Course Planner & Breadth Requirements
Communication Interest Majors
Communication Majors
Incoming Students
Transfer Students
What Can I Do with a Comm Degree?
View Power Point From 2010 Freshman Advising Information Session
Communication Interest Majors
I am receiving poor grades in the Communication Interest courses. Should I remain a Communication Interest major?
Any student who receives either a D or F in any of the four three-credit Communication Interest major would be advised to leave the Communication Interest major. Any student who receives two C’s would also be advised to leave the Communication Interest major. Sometimes students feel that they can “make up,” for example, two C’s in COMM256 and COMM245 with two A’s in COMM330 and COMM301. This is a very bad idea, because it almost never happens. Students who have received one C may or may not take the risk of continuing the Communication Interest major, but are well advised to make concrete contingency plans for other options that they can quickly implement in case they are unsuccessful. Such students should read and think about the answer to the next question.
I received a poor grade in a Communication Interest course. Can I re-take the course to improve my grade?
When determining a student’s GPA for the Communication Interest courses, the Department only includes the student’s first grade in that course. Therefore, a student can re-take a Communication Interest course, but that will not help the student’s chances of becoming a Communication major.
I am thinking about or have decided to leave the Communication Interest major, or I have completed the Communication Interest major but was unsuccessful in becoming a Communication major. What major should I switch to?
Students often have a particular interest within the Communication discipline, and there is often another major that can satisfy that interest as well as, and sometimes better than, Communication. Students with intrinsic interests on other areas or who have done well in courses in other departments would be smart to follow those interests. Some students would be best served by transferring to other universities. Students in this position should feel free to consult with a departmental or university advisor for help in thinking through their options.
I am receiving good grades in the Communication major. What should I think about now?
Although there is never a guarantee that they will be in the Top 100, students who are averaging B+ or better in their Communication Interest courses should begin planning their future as if they will become Communication majors. They first must decide on a concentration. There are two concentrations in Communication; Interpersonal Communication and Mass Communication. In addition to a concentration, students may also choose to take one of the elective sequences in the department; Broadcast Journalism, Public Relations, and Video Production. Elective sequences are taken along with a concentration but can never replace a concentration; in other words, a student cannot concentrate on Video Production or Public Relations. Students who have received good grades in the Communication Interest major should definitely, for the fall semester of their first year as a Communication major, enroll for a 300 level course in their chosen concentration (Interpersonal Communication, COMM341; Mass Communication, COMM370) and, if interested, begin one of the elective sequences.
I am receiving good grades in the Communication major, but I will be a senior next year. Can I graduate on time?
Yes, but students in this situation need to plan carefully. Although there is that risk that they will not be in the Top 100, students may consider taking a 300 level course in their chosen concentration (Interpersonal Communication, COMM341, if it is offered; Mass Communication, COMM345) in the spring semester of their junior year and, if interested, begin an elective sequence. Although it is better for students to delay 400-level Communication courses in their chosen concentration until after they have taken the concentration’s “first” course (COMM370 or COMM341), students who enter the major as seniors may need to take the “first” course simultaneously with some 400 levels. We suggest that students in this situation consult with their departmental advisor and make a concrete plan during the spring semester of their junior year if not earlier.
I will be completing the Communication Interest major after the fall semester or Winter Session. What should I do?
No matter how well they do, students can only enter the Communication major at the end of the spring semester of the academic year in which they have completed their Communication Interest courses. Therefore, you will not be able to become a full-fledged Communication major at this time. Assuming that you have received B+’s or better in your Communication Interest courses, you may consider taking 300-level Communication courses relevant to your chosen concentration (Mass Communication; COMM345; Interpersonal Communication, COMM341 if it is offered) or, if interested, begin an elective sequence. However, you must recognize that there is some risk in this, and that no matter how many courses you have taken in the Department, you will not become a major unless you are in the Top 100.
Can I take a 400-level course as a Communication Interest major?
No.
Communication Majors
I have decided to concentrate in Interpersonal Communication. What courses should I take?
The “first course” in Interpersonal Communication is COMM341. This course does help prepare Interpersonal Communication students for 400-level courses, but it is not an official prerequisite, and there are often good reasons for juniors and, in particular, seniors to take 400-level Interpersonal Communication courses at the same time as they take COMM341. In addition to COMM341, Interpersonal Communication students must take three courses among the following seven: COMM417, COMM421, COMM440, COMM442, COMM452, COMM456, and COMM485. COMM440 and COMM442 are both special topics courses and can each be taken up to three times for credit if the topics differ each time.
I have decided to concentrate in Mass Communication. What courses should I take?
The “first course” in Mass Communication is COMM370. This course does help prepare Mass Communication students for 400-level courses, but it is not an official prerequisite, and there are often good reasons for juniors and, in particular, seniors to take 400-level Mass Communication courses at the same time as they take COMM370. In addition to COMM370, the Mass Communication students must take COMM 345 and two courses among the following seven: COMM418, COMM423, COMM424, COMM425, COMM427, COMM450, COMM452, and COMM454. COMM418 is a “special topics” course and can be taken up to three times for credit if the topics differ each time.
How many credits in Communication do I need to complete the major?
A minimum of 33 with a grade of C- or better in every course. All Departmental majors must complete the Communication Interest courses, Public Speaking (COMM350), and their concentration; this totals 28 credits. To complete the major, all Communication students must take a minimum of six additional credits. These can come from courses in one or more of the elective sequences, from additional courses in the student’s concentration, from courses in the other concentration, from other courses in the Department (e.g., COMM200 when open to majors, COMM313, COMM356), and from internships, independent studies, or undergraduate research within the department. There are a few courses (COMM212, and on occasion COMM200) that are specifically designed for non-Communication majors and therefore NOT open to Communication majors; it is important that majors do not enroll in these courses.
What is the maximum number of credits that a Communication major can take?
All University majors have an “official” maximum of 45 credits. Students may take additional credits in their major, but these additional credits do not count for graduation. For example, if a Communication student were to take 16 three-credit Communication courses, then the student has a total of 48 Communication credits. Three of those credits cannot count for graduation. Therefore, given that the B.A. in the College of Arts and Sciences is 124 credits, this student must take 127 credits to graduate.
I received a D or F in one of my Communication courses. What do I do?
A student must earn a C- to receive credit for a communication course. If a student has less than a C- in any of the Communication Interest courses, Public Speaking, or the required courses in their concentration (COMM341 in Interpersonal Communication, COMM345 and COMM370 in Mass Communication), then the student must re-take the course. If a student has less than a C- in any other Communication course, the student must either re-take that course or make up the credit in another Communication course.
I am interested in the Public Relations elective sequence. What courses are included?
The Public Relations elective sequence consists of four courses; COMM309, COMM311, COMM409, and COMM413. COMM309 and COMM311 are open to all students without prerequisites, and COMM309 serves as a prerequisite for COMM409 and COMM413 but students with an interest in the entire sequence need to also take English 307 before enrolling in COMM311. Students with an interest in Public Relations should also join the University of Delaware chapter of PRSSA, the Public Relations Student Society of America, and become active in PRSSA activities.
I am interested in an internship. How can I obtain one, and how do I receive academic credit for it?
Students interested in internships should visit the Internship site, via the Undergraduates menu on the yellow banner at the Communication Department home page. Or, you can click here: http://www.udel.edu/communication/internship_db.html
I am interested in studying abroad. If I do so, can I receive credit for Communication courses taken abroad?
There are two ways in which students can study abroad. The first is through taking a University-run winter session program. Sometimes, Communication professors are involved in these programs, and participating students can earn Communication credits in this way. The second is through studying for an entire semester at a university overseas. Most overseas universities do not have Communication programs analogous to that at the University of Delaware, and it is usually best for a student to not take any Communication courses when studying at those universities. There are, however, exceptions, but students who do wish to receive Communication credit for a course taken overseas must ask the Department to determine whether that course meets Departmental requirements before taking the course. Students may need to supply the Department with a course description from that university’s catalog or a course syllabus.
I am interested in studying a topic in Communication which is not covered in any of the Department’s Communication courses. How can this be done?
Students with an interest in a topic in Communication for which no course exists may ask a professor whether she or he is willing to oversee an independent study for the student. If a professor is willing, the student must fill put an application form that is available at the department main office. The relevant course number is either COMM366 or COMM466, for which a student can earn up to 3 credits each.
I am interested in gaining experience through working on a professor’s research project. How can this be done?
Professors are in most cases happy to include students as research assistants. Students with an interest in working on a professor’s research project should discuss their interest with various professors to see which research project the student finds most interesting. During the fall and spring semesters, it is usually best for everyone if students participating as research assistants receive academic credit for an independent study for their effort. There are also opportunities through the University Undergraduate Research Office’s Summer Scholar’s Program..
I would like to perform my own research project and get academic credit for it. How can this be done?
Students with an interest in performing a research project of their own choosing may ask a professor whether she or he is willing to oversee it. If a professor is willing, the student must fill put an application form that is available at the department main office. The relevant course number is COMM468, for which a student can earn up to 6 credits.
I am a first semester senior. Is there anything I need to do to prepare for graduation?
Not immediately. During the semester, you will be receiving an email from the Department Undergraduate Director detailing the courses still needed to complete the Communication major. A few weeks later, you should receive an email from the College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Academic Services Office that lists the number of credits and any remaining requirements that the student needs to finish before graduating. The email is very important and students need to follow its instructions in order to be sure to graduate on time. If students do not receive this email by a month before the end of their first senior semester, they should become proactive and contact the Communication Department Undergraduate Director.
Incoming Students
How do I become a Communication major?
All incoming students initially become Communication Interest majors. This includes first-year students, students already enrolled at U. D. who either had different majors or were undeclared, and students transferring from other universities; this latter group should also consult the section entitled “Transfer Students” below. The Communication Interest major consists of four three-credit courses (COMM245, COMM256, COMM330, and COMM301). At the end of the academic year in which a student completes the four three-credit courses, the Department will determine whether the student continues on to the Communication major. This determination is based solely on the grades received in those four courses by all of the Communication Interest majors who have completed these courses during that academic year. Students will be ranked by GPA in those four courses, and the top 100 of those students based on that ranking will be allowed to enter the Communication major. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE TOP 100 RULE.
What communication courses should I take?
First year students should plan to take COMM256 and COMM 350 during their first semester, COMM245 during their second semester, COMM330 during their third semester, and COMM301 during their fourth semester, completing the Communication Interest major at the end of their second year. In addition, students can consider taking one or more of these courses during winter or summer session. It is a very bad idea to try to complete all of these courses in the first year; students who have tried have tended to be unsuccessful. In particular, a student should never take COMM301 until at least winter session of their second year.
Transfer students should consult the section on this topic in the section entitled “Transfer Students” below. Students already enrolled at U.D. should also consult that section, because they should plan their communication courses the same way as transfer students.
What other courses should I take?
The University requires that all students take E110, a multicultural course, and (at some point) a Discovery Learning Experience; a First Year Experience is also required for all students entering U.D. as first semester freshmen. In addition, the College of Arts and Sciences, of which the Communication Department is part, requires students to take a set of breadth requirements totaling 49 credits, the equivalent to twelve credits of a foreign language (students with past foreign language experience may pass out of some or all of this second requirement), one of a set of mathematics courses, and (during either junior or senior year) a Second Writing Course. Unless a student is planning a second major or a minor in another department, all of the students’ non-Communication courses should meet one of these requirements.
I have been accepted into the Communication Interest major as an Honors student. How does the Communication Honors program differ from the “regular” Communication program?
The Communication Honors degree consists of 12 credits. All students entering the Communication Honors degree program should make an appointment to consult with the Department Chair.
Should I take a second major or minor?
Some students believe that it is necessary for them to have a double major or a minor. This is not true; but it is often a good idea. Sometimes students have career plans that call for a double major or minor. Just for two examples, students interested in journalism often take a Journalism Minor or a double major in Communication and English; students interested in interpersonal relations might take a double major on Communication and Psychology. Students often have intrinsic interests in other areas and take second majors or minors for that reason. For relevant examples, Foreign Languages and Literature is a popular second major for students interested in other cultures, and Music or Art (particularly Visual Communications) are popular minors. Some students wish to have second majors in departments in other Colleges. Although this is often a good idea, some colleges have requirements that differ so much from the requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences that students must take many additional courses to satisfy both Colleges. For example, a double major in Communication and Business takes five years to complete.I would like to study a very specific topic, and this topic is relevant to both Communication and to one or more other majors. Is there any way I can accomplish this without taking a double major?
There are two ways to accomplish this. The first is through an interdepartmental major. An interdepartmental major consists of a set of courses, some in Communication and the others in one other major, which the student agrees to take. This agreement is in the form of a written contract, and once signed the student can only make revisions to the agreed-upon set of courses with the approval of the Departments involved. Students electing an interdepartmental major will, as part of the agreed-upon set, take at least some of the Communication Interest courses, and their grades in those courses will determine whether the student ranks in the Top 100 and qualifies as a Communication major. If the student does not qualify, then the interdepartmental major is not possible and the student is advised to major in the other department involved in the agreement. Students interested in pursuing an interdepartmental major should schedule an appointment with the Department chair.
The second way to accomplish this goal is relevant if the student’s interest would suggest courses in a large number of majors. The student can then begin the process of obtaining a B.A. in Liberal Studies (B.A.L.S). In this program, the student, working with a set of three advisors from different departments, proposes a program including courses from those three departments and any others deemed relevant. As with the interdepartmental major, this program, if approved, serves as a contractual agreement which can not be revised without permission from the College of Arts and Sciences. The process of becoming a B.A.L.S. student is rigorous and time-consuming, and proposals are often rejected, so this option is only for the unusual case. Students interested in the B.A.L.S. program should schedule an appointment with the College of Arts and Sciences.
Is there a Communication minor?
In a word, no. However, students interested in taking a few Communication courses can enroll in COMM245, COMM256, COMM330, COMM341, COMM345, COMM370, and many other (although not all) 300-level Communication courses.
Transfer Students
I have been accepted at the University of Delaware as a transfer student. What communication courses should I take?
The answer depends on two factors. First, the student may have already taken one or more of the other Communication Interest courses (COMM245, COMM256, COMM301, or COMM330), and there is usually no reason to repeat them. It would be to the student’s advantage to contact the department soon after you are accepted at U. D. and find out whether any already-taken courses will receive transfer credit as one of these courses (see below). Second, the answer also depends on when the student begins at the University of Delaware. If you begin during the fall semester, assuming the student has not taken any of these, the student should take COMM256 and COMM330 at that time. Assuming adequate (B or better) performance in these courses, the student would then take COMM245 and COMM301 in the spring. At the beginning of the summer, the Department will determine whether the student will enter the Communication major. If the student begins during the spring semester, it will be a year and a half until the Department can determine whether the student will enter the major. The student should only take COMM245 that semester; and if the student will be receiving transfer credit for COMM245, she or he should not take any Communication courses that semester. Again assuming adequate (B or better) performance, and again assuming the student has not received relevant transfer credit, she or he would then take COMM256 and COMM330 during the next fall semester and COMM301 during the next spring semester. The only exceptions to the latter schedule would be for those rare students who will be receiving transfer credit for both COMM256 and COMM330. In this case, the student should consult with a communication advisor.
How do I receive credit for the communication courses I took at my previous university?
Students should receive credit for all of their communication courses. However, many of them will initially transfer as COMM166. Courses with that number serve only as free electives, and will not meet any departmental requirements. It is possible, however, that some of these courses actually do meet departmental requirements. We recommend that the student ask the department to examine these courses. In order to do so, the student needs to present to the department a course description from the previous university’s catalog, along with a course syllabus if one is available. We might add that courses in other departments for which the student receives 166 credit may also meet requirements for those departments, and suggest that the student submits descriptions and a syllabus to those departments (NOT to the Communication Department).
I received transfer credit for one of the Communication Interest major courses (COMM245, COMM256, COMM301, or COMM330). How does that impact on my chances of becoming a Communication major.
In this circumstance, the student’s Communication Interest major standing will be determined by performance in the courses taken at U. D. only. So, for example, if the student receives transfer credit for COMM245, then her or his Communication Interest GPA will be based on performance in the other three Communication Interest courses.
What Can I Do with a Comm Degree?
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