Getting Through
Advising & Registration
Major Requirements
Program Completion
Minor Requirements
UIC Class Schedule & Course Descriptions
Independent Study Form (PDF)
Advising & Registration
To register for COMM classes in Spring 2013, Communication majors and minors must (1) review the entire Approval Packet and (2) call 312-996-3187 to make an appointment to receive class approval(s) from the academic advisor, Christina Zimmerman. (Note: For details on Approval Appointments, please refer to the Advising Packet.)
Each semester, COMM classes at the 200 level and above require department or course of study approval before registration. Note: Approvals are subject to course prerequisites, department policies and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences polices.
For general advising or to declare the major, students should call 312-996-3187 to schedule an appointment with the academic advisor, Christina Zimmerman. There are no walk-in appointments at this time. Students should also seek LAS Advising once a year.
Each semester, Communication faculty post and hold regular office hours. They are also available for informal advising by appointment about:
- available resources and support
- student applications for scholarships
- outside learning opportunities
Email and the Internet allow students to communicate with faculty beyond class meetings and office hours.
Major Requirements
The Communication page of the UIC Undergraduate Catalog lists the most current major requirements. The major has two components, core courses and electives. The core includes courses that all majors must complete across the levels of the Communication curriculum. The electives are required courses that majors select.
The core courses introduce students to fundamental concepts, theories, issues, and research methods in communication. It emphasizes students' acquisition of a broad base of knowledge of the field and of a cognitive framework that will assist them in their selection of advanced courses and their career opportunities. Core courses address:
- underlying principles that govern communication in a variety of settings
- introduce students to general definitions, theory, and applications of communication
- and expose students to skills in library research, critical thinking, and argumentative writing and speaking
Students should acquire, ultimately, an understanding of the processes that govern communication in a world that is shaped by, and depends on, information.
Electives combine analysis and research. Two electives in the major must be at the 400 level (and students may take either 490 or 491, the required capstone experience, only once).
The Department also offers instruction at the fundamentals level, courses designed for early in the academic career that count for general education credit. Majors are encouraged to get this basic training, but no credit in fundamentals counts toward requirements for the major. See Declaring the Major.
Program Completion
All courses carry three semester hours of credit, and a full-time student can complete the program on the following schedule:
- Freshman and sophomore years include the three survey courses.
- Junior year includes the technology course (200) and the first methods course (201), along with the second methods course (301) and a 300-level analysis elective.
- Senior year includes the remaining electives and the senior seminar (490 or 491, not both).
The major requires a total of 36 hours to complete the program. By registering for the 100-level courses during their first two years of study and two courses during their junior and senior years, students can complete the major in five to six semesters.
Transfer students can complete the program in two years, but usually must take three courses in the program each term or extend their studies into the summer or an additional semester.
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences advisors have developed a standard form to guide students through the program in a timely manner.
Minor Requirements
The Communication page of the UIC Undergraduate Catalog lists the current minor requirements. The minor is open to students in other majors who want to add a broad understanding of communication to their college experience. Like the major, the minor includes required and elective courses, and minors have some flexibility in fulfilling prerequisites, with department approval.
Students can plan their schedule of classes each semester using the on-line Class Schedule and UIC Course Descriptions. Most Communication courses require department approval for registration, and so each semester students make an appointment with the department Advisor.
For the advising session, come prepared to discuss not only specific plans for the next semester's courses, but also planning for Internships, Study Abroad, and Careers.