Communication Studies Advising Guidelines

All Communication Studies degrees are designed to be the major component of a four-year degree plan. Students are encouraged to begin the required Communication Studies courses in their first year of study in conjunction with the Liberal Education Plan (LEP) component of the four-year degree. Communication Studies courses are structured and scheduled to facilitate a student’s progress throughout their first, second, third and additional years at SMSU. To clarify the advising process the following guidelines have been established by the program:

1. If a student commits to a Communication Studies degree, but does not enroll in the required courses as soon as suggested by their academic advisor, and chooses to focus entirely on the LEP courses until completed, it may delay the completion of the Communication Studies degree and the student may not necessarily complete the degree in four years. It may be necessary to return for additional semesters in order to enroll in the courses that are offered every other year or only one semester per academic year.
2. If a student declares a Communication Studies degree during their junior year or later, it may delay the completion of the Communication Studies degree and the student may not necessarily complete the degree in four years. It may be necessary to return for additional semesters in order to enroll in the courses that are offered every other year or only one semester per academic year.
3. Generally 100 and 200 level communication courses are to be taken during freshman and sophomore years and 300 and 400 level communication courses are to be taken during junior and senior years.
4. If a student transfers into a Communication Studies degree it may take longer than four years to complete the degree (see items one and two above). Any transfer course petitions within the major should be completed within the student’s first semester at SMSU.
5. Overrides into closed Communication Studies courses:
   1. Students should not expect automatic overrides into closed courses.
   2. Students who delay enrollment in 100 and 200 level courses until their senior year will not be guaranteed enrollment in closed courses.
   3. Students failing to register during their assigned time will not be guaranteed enrollment in closed courses.
6. The student is strongly encouraged to discuss and design an academic course plan with their advisor. Students should meet with their advisor on a regular basis. Failure to do so could result in not getting courses when needed, in proper sequence or finishing in four years. It is the student’s responsibility to know and understand the graduation requirements for their major as presented in the SMSU catalog effective the semester they began their enrollment.
7. A grade of “C-” or better is required for major/minor coursework applied toward a degree in the Communication Studies Program.
8. All Speech majors, with the exception of Communication Arts and Literature Secondary Education, are required to collect and maintain a portfolio of selected work from major courses. Each course syllabus will identify what is to be placed in the portfolio. Completed portfolios will be presented in COMM 488 Senior Seminar as a required assignment. Failure to present a complete portfolio in the Senior Seminar course will result in failure of the course and subsequent failure to meet the SMSU Graduation Requirements. Students who transfer courses into the major through approved substitutions must include approved substitute components in their portfolio. A list of approved substitute portfolio items is available from the Program Coordinator and posted on the program webpage.