ADVISING

Advising for prospective communication majors is available at the Macomb University Center one day a month. To schedule an appointment call (248) 370-4120. Current OU communication majors are encouraged to call now, or to stop by OU's Communication office at MUC (suite 103 of the UC2 building) to reserve their appointment at the Macomb group advising session scheduled for mid-October. Space is limited and appointments are required.

USEFUL ADVISING LINKS FOR STUDENTS

Much of the information that prospective students and communication majors need is available on line. The links below will connect you quickly to the communication program checklist, transfer equivalencies for MCC, and a suggested course program for current MCC students who wish to transfer into OU's communication major.

1. To view a blank Communication checklist click here.

2. To view the suggest course program for current MCC students who wish to transfer into OU's communication major, click here.

3. To view transfer equivalencies from MCC to OU, click here.

ADVISING EXPECTATIONS FOR COMMUNICATION STUDENTS

Most Communication students find their academic studies engaging. Having a worthwhile experience completing a communication degree requires an understanding of what is expected.

Scheduling Appointments

1. Set up an advising appointment at least once an academic year. Advisers in both the Communication program and the Arts and Sciences department are qualified to provide academic advice. For an appointment with a Communication faculty adviser, call (248) 370-4120. For an appointment with an Arts and Sciences adviser call (248) 370-4567.

2. Once you are a senior (over 91 accumulated credits), make sure you have scheduled at least one appointment with a Communication adviser and one appointment with an Arts and Sciences adviser.

3. Make advising appointments before the Schedule of Classes is available online. Due to advising demand after this is available, students may not get an appointment before they enroll.

4. Brief advising questions may be handled on the phone by calling the communication advising office (248) 370-2507 or Arts and Sciences Advising (248) 370-4567.

Advising Session
1. Bring an OU catalog and your advising records to all advising appointments (past advising charts and Transfer Credit Evaluations [TCE's]).

2. Obtain a copy of an updated chart from each advising session. (If one is not offered, request one.)

3. Check your adviser's work (they are human and make mistakes), raise questions and point out anything that seems confusing or incorrect.

Class Schedule Selection
1. Understand how university requirements apply to your academic records. Carefully read the catalog parts that apply to you (especially those that apply to General Education, Arts and Sciences distribution requirements and the Communication major). Make sure classes you need to fulfill a requirement meet the catalog stipulations.

2. Don't sign up for a class for which you have already received credit for. This happens often to transfer students. Classes at another school often have different titles and usually have different numbers. Check you advising chart and TCE.

3. Select classes where possible with professors you find engaging. A course title never teaches a class, a teacher teaches a class. The right teacher makes the most unattractively titled class compelling. Talk to peers whose opinions you respect. Trust your own judgment as well--especially if you are a junior or senior. It is unprofessional for advisers to make teacher recommendations.

Graduating
1. Request a senior check from Arts and Science Advising after you accumulate 91 credits. This identifies the remaining requirements you need to graduate. (You should receive a letter in the mail. If not, contact (248) 370-4567 for an appointment.)

2. Process an Application for Degree in Academic Records, 102 O'Dowd. Specific dates for application deadlines are available at the registrar’s website. This must be done in order to graduate. A fee is required.

Requirements for the liberal arts major in communication, B.A. program
To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in communication, students must complete a minimum of 40 credits, of which 20 credits must be at the 300 level or above, plus corequisite courses including:

1. COM 201, 303 and 385

2. At least eight credits from the Interpersonal Discourse group: COM 202, 207, 302, 304, 305, 327, 360, 402, 405, 410, and some select COM 380 and 480 courses, such as, Health Communication.

3. At least eight credits from the Public Discourse group: COM 220, 280, 285, 287, 301, 307, 308, 311, 314, 318, 330, 371, 373, 376, 377, 378, 379, 381, 382, 401, 407, 411, 476, 485 , and some select COM 380 and 480 courses, such as, Political Campaigns, Social Movements, Cultural Studies, Studies in Performance Communication, and the Advanced TV Production courses.

4. At least eight elective credits in COM courses

5. COM 399

6. Corequisites as follows:

a. Language (choose one from the following):

1. American Sign Language at the university level (COM 114- 115). COM 114-115 will also satisfy the elective requirement (see #4 above) for the major in communcation.
2. An introductory two-semester sequence in a modern foreign language will satisfy university general education and college distribution language requirements).
3. One semester of a modern foreign language at the 115 level or higher (will satisfy university general education and college distribution language requirements).

b. An advanced writing course: JRN 200; WRT 382; WRT 364.

(This four-credit writing course is in addition to the 40 credits required for the major.)

Communication majors interested in careers in public relations or advertising are encouraged to focus course work in the appropriate area. For a focus in public relations, students should take 12 credits from: JRN 350, 351, and either 352 or 353. For a focus in advertising, students should take 12 credits from: JRN 340, 341 and either 342 or 343. These courses do not count toward the major, but could count toward a minor in advertising or public relations. (See the Journalism Program section of the catalog.)

Requirements for the modified major in communication with a linguistics concentration, B.A. program
To earn a communication major with a concentration in linguistics, student must complete 24 credits in communication and 20 credits in linguistics including:

1. COM 201 or 202

2. COM 303

3. At least four credits from the Interpersonal Discourse group

4. At least four credits from the Public Discourse group

5. 20 credits in LIN or ALS courses, including 201, 303, 304 and either 403 or 404

6. LIN 305

Requirements for the liberal arts minor in communication
To earn a minor in communication, students must complete a minimum of 20 credits in communication including:

1. COM 201 or 202

2. COM 303

3. At least four credits from the Interpersonal Discourse group: COM 202, 207, 302, 304, 305, 327, 360, 402, 405, 410, and some select COM 380 and 480 courses, such as, Health Communication.

4. At least four credits from the Public Discourse group: COM 220, 280, 285, 287, 301, 307, 308, 311, 314, 318, 330, 371, 373, 376, 377, 378, 379, 381, 382, 401, 407, 411, 476, 485 , and some select COM 380 and 480 courses, such as, Political Campaigns, Social Movements, Cultural Studies, and the Advanced TV Production courses.

5. At least 12 credits in communication courses must be at the 300-400 level

No more than four credits in independent study, internship or apprentice college teaching may be counted toward the minor.

Undergraduate Degree Requirements

Oakland University has established general education undergraduate degree requirements applicable to all candidates for all undergraduate degrees. To earn a baccalaureate at Oakland University, students must satisfy the following requirements.

• Complete at least 124 credits (at the 050 level or above). No more than eight credits in physical education will count toward a degree in the College of Arts and Sciences.
• Complete the requirements for a major offered by the College of Arts and Sciences with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00.
• Complete at least 32 of these credits at Oakland University, of which at least 16 credits must be in the student's elected major.
• Complete at least 32 credits in courses at the 300 level or above.
• Complete the last eight credits at Oakland University.
• Earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in courses taken at Oakland University and in the major(s), any elective minor(s), and any elective concentration(s).
• Complete the university's general education requirements, one in each of the following areas :

General Education Requirements

1. Writing (WRT 160)
2. Formal Reasoning
3. Arts
4. Foreign Language and Culture
5. Global Perspective
6. Literature
7. Natural Science and Technology
8. Social Science
9. Western Civilization
10. Knowledge Applications

• Complete the university's capstone course requirement.
• Complete the university's general education writing intensive and writing intensive in the major requirements.
• Complete the university's U.S. diversity requirement.
• Complete the college distribution requirements described below.

College Distribution Requirements

In addition to completing the university general education requirements outlined above, all students in the College of Arts and Sciences must complete an additional 16 credits in distribution classes. Selections must be made from four distinct areas.

1. Foreign language
2. Arts and literature
3. Civilization
4. Social sciences
5. Mathematics
6. Science

AMS 300 or WGS 200 also may be used to satisfy one area of the distribution requirement.

Students within the College must select a major. Minors are encouraged but not required.

For questions regarding advising contact Beth Talbert at (248) 370-2507 or send an e-mail to talbert@oakland.edu.

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Page last updated on June 10, 2008, 12:13 PM.