For Students
Communication departments around the country are growing in size, as more and more people realize that employers value communication skills over everything else. Of course, with so many majors it can be difficult to get everyone the information you need. That's where this section of the site should help. Here you'll find information about departmental scholarships and student clubs. We've also created a page just for prospective students. Finally, look down on this page to find a list of Frequently Asked Questions (with answers, of course).
Better yet, stop by and visit with faculty and staff in the department! We're all for technology, but sometimes you can't beat face-to-face interaction. We pride ourselves on being here for our students, so if we aren't teaching you'll usually find us in the office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here you'll find answers to questions typically asked by students. Most of these questions relate to our department, but you'll find other common questions answered here as well. If you have a question you would like answered, submit it ! You can also check the Registrar Office's FAQs for more important info.
- What do I need to do to get an internship?
- What classes can be taken for the selected topics requirement for Applied and Advertising majors?
- How do I declare a minor in Communication?
- How can I make sure I graduate on time?
- What's a Graduation Audit?
- How do I apply for scholarships?
- How do I know who my advisor is?
- How can I change advisors?
- How do I sign up for advising?
- How do I know which checksheet to use?
| Q: What do I need to do to get an internship? |
A: You can do an internship with any company, but if you want to get academic credit for it, you need to go through the department. Dr. Monica Pombo is currently the departmental internship coordinator. For information beyond what is on the internship page of this website, or to discuss the process further, contact Dr. Pombo at pombomt@appstate.edu or by phone at 262-7287. Dr. Pope's office is 127 Walker Hall.
| Q: What classes can be taken for the selected topics requirement for Communication Studies and Advertising majors? |
A: Special topics courses for Communication Studies majors are usually numbered 3547 or 3548; for Advertising majors they are numbered 3549. However, quite often these courses are appropriate for multiple majors. In general, almost any special topics course (numbers 3530-3549) can be used for the requirement in the Communication Studies and Advertising majors. However, you should check with your advisor to make sure that the course you plan to take is appropriate, and have a substitution form filled out to go in your file. In extreme cases, alternate courses (study abroad, internships, and other non-standard courses) can be substituted for the special topics requirement.
| Q: How do I declare a minor in Communication? |
A: The minor of 18 hours in Communication is selected in consultation with the Assistant Chairperson, Dr. Carl Tyrie. Details about the minor contract can be found on the Concentrations page. For more information, see Dr. Tyrie, whose office is 343 Wey Hall.
| Q: How can I make sure I graduate on time? |
A: Many variables will affect this, including how often you change majors, and how motivated you are to take classes. But there are some basic things that you can do to increase you chances of finishing in 4 years (or less, even!).
- Meet with your advisor during advising times
- Familiarize yourself with your concentration checksheet
- Check the university's undergraduate catalog to make sure that you take your classes in order, fulfilling the prerequisites for higher-level courses
- Request a graduation audit.
- Be sure to apply for graduation! Check with the Registrar's office calendar for the deadline. It's generally the second month of the semester.
| Q: What's a Graduation Audit? |
A: A graduation audit is a document that compares your current academic record with the requirements for your major. You should request an audit from the Dean's office when you have completed at least 90 hours, normally the semester before you graduate, and before you meet with your advisor. They will go over your record with a fine-tooth comb and tell you what classes you still need to take to graduate. The sooner you get this audit done, the better. However, remember that you must have completed at least 90 hours before you request it. It's also a good idea to make sure that the paperwork has been completed for any substituted courses.
| Q: How do I apply for scholarships? |
A: The appropriate forms are located in the department office, in Walker Hall. You can find more info about scholarships, including deadlines, on the scholarship page.
| Q: How do I know who my advisor is? |
Advisors are assigned to new majors by the department. You should receive a letter from the department welcoming you to the department when you declare communication as your major. In this letter, you will be notified who your advisor is. If you lose this information, you can call either the department office (262-2221) or the Registrar (262-2050) to get the name of your advisor.
| Q: How can I change advisors? |
If you wish to have a different advisor than the one assigned to you by the department, you will need to do the following:
- Secure the consent of the faculty member that you want to be your advisor.
- Have that faculty member notify the Department Staff that they have agreed to be your advisor.
This will allow the staff to enter you into the system so that you will be able to schedule an appointment with your new advisor.
| Q: How do I sign up for advising? |
Advising sign-up is done online. When advising time approaches, a link will show up in AppalNET, usually in the left-hand column of the homepage, directing you to the advising sign-up page. Follow the directions to select a time-slot to meet with your advisor. This will ensure that your advisor will receive your file and have time to prepare for your appointment. Advising sign-up locks at noon each day, which means that after 12:00 noon, you can't sign up for an appointment the very next day; you'll have to chose a slot at least 2 days away.
| Q: How do I know which checksheet to use? |
You can use any checksheet equal to or more recent than the first year you attended ASU. So, for example, if you first attended ASU in the fall of 2003, you can use the checksheets for 2003-4, or 2004-5, but you cannot use the checksheet from 2002-3.
In general, it is in your best interest to use the most recent checksheet. We continually revise our curriculum with advice from professionals in the field, and the most current checksheet contains the courses that you need to succeed in the profession as it is today. In addition, sometimes classes on older checksheets are discontinued, and you will have to figure out a substitution course with your advisor.
