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Wednesday, September 13, 2006
About Academics Director's Welcome Majors Graduate School Minors Student Advising Lab Hours About People Faculty & Staff About Careers Faculty Openings @ UA About Alumni Let Us Know What You're Doing About Experience Internships ZTV WZIP-FM 88.1 The Buchtelite Online Association for Women in Communications
Advising in the School of Communication
Degree Planning Workbook
This page is to help students understand what is required of them as Communication majors, and how advising is done in the School of Communication.
contact Dr. Carolyn M. Anderson,Interim Director School of Communication.Common questions and answers are listed below. .
Initial advising
When a student transfers into the School of Communication from University College, from another unit, or from another institution, they will meet with the Interim Director, Dr. Carolyn M. Anderson.
This initial meeting is to:
General advising
- explain the core requirements in communication
- specify the major of the student and clarify the major requirements
- explain the language or tag degree requirements
- fill out an advising agreement form, including a tentative tag area if two years of a language will not be completed
- inform the student of their faculty adviser
After the initial meeting, the student will meet with their faculty adviser for information pertaining to
Specific notes should be kept in the student’s file concerning advice given that may alter the student’s advising agreement form or any major or School requirements (such as course substitutions).
- what courses to take beyond the required courses
- scheduling possibilities
- specific tag area courses
- career and career preparation information
- course equivalents (from other institutions)
- course substitutions (if necessary)
- any changes to their advising agreement form
Near the end of a student’s career, when the student applies for graduation, the School Director completes a Degree Clearance Form (DCF). If there are any questions concerning this, contact the Director.
Advising FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Courses needed
Q
What is required for a communication degree?
A
Specific courses for each communication major can be reviewed at (WWW?). But briefly, for a degree at The University of Akron a student will need to complete at least 128 semester credits including:
General Education Language
or Tag courses (substitute for the language)Communication Core Communication Major University electives Total For the 42 credits for the General Education requirements (see the General Education requirements for specific courses)
For the 48 credits in the School of Communication
This includes:
9 credits Communication core
- 7600:115 Survey of Communication Theory
- 7600:102 Survey of Mass Media
- 7600:384 Communication Research
39 credits of major requirements (see www specific classes required for each major)
Graduation
Q
How many credits do I need to graduate after this semester?
A
You must have a minimum of 128 credits to graduate. Here is how to calculate where you are:
First,make sure your Advising Agreement Form (AAF) is up to date and includes the courses you are registered for this semester.
Second,
count the number of credits you need to complete for the School of Communication by looking at your Advising Agreement Form (AAF). This will include requirements for the major and requirements for the language or tag.
Third,
refer to the Intercollege Transfer form, the DARS report, or the General Education Evaluation form (you were sent a copy of one of these when you transferred into the School of Communication or there is a copy in your file). Determine the remaining General Education credits that are still needed. Be sure you check off courses you have completed since the evaluation form was produced, and include courses you are taking this semester.
Fourth,
you must know how many credits you have completed. (Transfer students with coursework that has not been posted may not be able to calculate this.) You need to add the number of credits you are enrolled in now to the total credits you have already completed. If you are repeating any courses this semester that you passed before, do not count the repeated credits.
Remember to count the number of credits you are taking this term as already taken to determine how many you still need after this semester.
Fifth,
add the credits still needed from the School of Communication, language or tag, and General Education. This is the total required credits you have to take, but there may be more elective credits, "free electives," or "university electives," or " general electives" needed.
Finally,
add the total required credits to the number of credits completed (including the current term). If this is 128 or greater, you do not need any more university electives. If this total is less than 128, you need the difference in university electives in order to graduate.
Example:A Quick Reference: [NOTE: this is an estimate only; not an official count]
How long do I have before I graduate?
Step 1: total credits needed to graduate credits completed (from transcripts) credits enrolled this semester [term: ] = total credits needed to reach the 128 minimum Step 2: General Education credits needed Language / Tag credits needed Major requirement credits needed = total credits required Step 3: Step 1 total credits needed Step 2 total credits required = university electives needed NOTE: If “university electives needed" is “0” or a negative number, you do not need any university electives. You will graduate with 128 credit hours or more. University electives may be any course, whether from the School of Communication or elsewhere (see University Electives for more information).
Q
Do I have to get a ‘C’ or higher in my communication classes?
A
Not all of them. You need to get a grade of ‘C’ or better in the core classes:
You do NOT need to get a ‘C’ or better in other specific communication courses (However, see "Exit Requirement").
- Survey of Communication Theory
- Survey of Mass Media
- Communication Research
Are there restrictions on the courses I take for university electives (or "free electives" or "general electives")?
A
The following restrictions apply to university electives:
- A student in the College of Fine and Applied Arts (that includes Communication majors) cannot count more than two (2) credits of physical education activities toward a degree.
- A student in the School of Communication cannot count more than eight (8) credits of communication experience toward a degree (WZIP, Forensics, Buchtelite, Tel-Buch).
- A student cannot count more than eight (8) credits of Communication Internship (7600:480) or more than twelve (12) credits combined of internship and independent study (7600:439).
NOTE: A student can take 8 credits of communication experience and 8 credits of internship and all credits can count toward a degree.
What is the "exit requirement?" Is there something else needed after I have taken all these courses?
A
There is an "exit requirement" for Communication majors.
You need to have a grade point average (GPA) of 2.3 (a ‘C+’) or better in all courses you take in the School of Communication (7600).
The University requires that you have at least a 2.0 GPA overall in order to graduate.
Q
If I complete all these courses, and have a good GPA, do I automatically graduate?
A
No.
First, you must apply for graduation. The application form must be picked up from the Graduation Office (in Spicer Hall), completed.
Second, you must pay any necessary graduation fees or outstanding fines (parking, library, etc.).Application for graduation must be completed according to these general deadlines:
for December graduation (after Fall semester) on or before May 15 for May graduation (after Spring semester) on or before September 15 for August graduation (after Summer sessions) on or before February 15
Q
What is this "residency requirement"?
A
The last 32 credit hours a student takes must be completed at The University of Akron. This would be a concern for transfer students or for students planning to take "transient credit" (a course at another college or university that would take the place of a course here at Akron).
Q
If I have already taken 7600:105 Introduction to Public Speaking to fulfill my general education speech requirement, can I take 7600:106 Effective Oral Communication and count it as a School of Communication elective?
A
Yes. (or the other way around)
Q
What is the difference between a B.A. and a Tag Degree ( or BAT)?
A
At most colleges and universities, when a student takes a foreign language, they receive a Bachelor of Arts degree (B.A.) and when they do not take a foreign language they receive a Bachelor of Science degree (B.S.).
Here at The University of Akron, students receive a BA when they take a foreign language. When no foreign language is taken, students receive a tag degree, a BAT (such as a BA in Business and Organizational Communication). It is a BA in [Your Major]. It simply indicates that the student did not complete a foreign language.
Q
What are the tag degree (BAT) requirements?
A
If you are not going to take a foreign language, you may choose one of these options to fulfill your tag requirements (to substitute for the foreign language):
1. complete an Associate degree OR
2. complete any minor except a Communication minor (see the General Bulletin for minors) OR
3. a set of courses within these limits:
This set of courses should be approved by your adviser if they were not already discussed when you filled out your Advising Agreement Form.
- at least 14 credits total
- from one or two departments or units (no more than two)
- no School of Communication courses
- no language courses
- at least 9 credits must be at the 300/400 level
NOTE: sign language counts for the language requirement
Q
How many credits of 300/400 level classes are required in my tag area?
A
You need to have at least 9 credits of 300/400 level classes in your tag area classes.
Q
How will a "tag" look on my diploma or transcript?
A
The only place anyone will see your "tag" coursework is on your Advising Agreement Form.
Q
Can I use a minor for my tag requirements?
A
Yes, any minor approved by the University (found in he General Bulletin) can be used EXCEPT for a Communication minor.
Q
Can I use a minor from C&T (Community and Technical College) for my tag requirements even though it does not have any 300 or 400 level courses?
A
Yes. It is a minor approved by the University and found in the General Bulletin and can be used to complete the tag requirements (even though it does not have any 300/400 level courses).
Q
Can I use a minor in Communication for my tag requirements?
A
No. Minors in Communication are for students who are NOT Communication majors.
Q
Will any approved certificate program complete my tag requirements?
A
Not necessarily. Some certificate program requirements do not meet the guidelines established for tag course requirements (see tag degree information).
Q
Will any conferred associate degree complete my tag requirements?
A
Yes (see tag degree information).
Q
If I am counting a class as a General Education requirement, can I also count it in my tag area?
A
No. "Double dipping" is not allowed.
Q
What happens, for example, if I am only required to take 14 credits in my tag area but end up taking 15 credits? What happens to the extra credit?
A
The one "extra" credit comes out of the university elective (free elective/general elective) totals you need, if you have any remaining. If you already have more than 128 credits, it simply adds to your total number of credits.
Q
Do I have to take a foreign language for a communication major?
A
No. (also see information about the Tag degree (BAT) requirements)
Q
Is it better to take a language and get a BA or to get a BAT degree?
A
That depends upon what you are intending to do in your career or where you intend to live after your college career. Many careers may be best served by an understanding of some foreign language. In many areas of the country the population is primarily bilingual. More and more corporations are expanding into multinational markets and are cooperating with (or being bought by) foreign companies. Otherwise, completing a minor may help your career plans. It depends, and could be discussed with your adviser.
Whether or not to take a foreign language is a decision you must make based upon your future plans. One degree is not necessarily better than another.
Q
Can I use sign language instead of a foreign language to complete my B.A. degree?
A
Yes. There are certain courses required for this (see below).
What courses do I need to complete to use sign language for the language requirement?
A
A total of 14 credits consisting of the following:
7700:101 Introduction to American Sign Language 3 credits 7700:102 American Sign Language I 3 credits 7700:201 American Sign Language II 3 credits 7700:202 Conversational American Sign Language 3 credits 7700:222 Survey of Deaf Culture in America 2 credits
Wednesday, September 13, 2006