Majors’ Manual
Your Map to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication
Your path to your Bachelor of Arts in Communication (not "communications"!) will be
clear and manageable if you inform yourself thoroughly and plan carefully. To build your
academic career, you’ll want to empower yourself by learning about the programs and policies
that might apply to you or benefit you. Please consider this manual as a valuable planning tool
so that you can learn about departmental requirements, policies, procedures, and opportunities.
Each year, the manual will be updated during the summer. While your requirements
won’t change over the years, some of the departmental policies and/or opportunities might
change.
Other Departmental Resources
If you check the manual and you need further clarification, please ask! The following
contacts stand ready to help you:
1. Your faculty advisor – Your advisor is your primary contact with the department.
Advisors are assigned and listed in Hokie Spa.
2. Department’s Advising Center (130A-C Shanks Hall).
• Continuing Students – Ms. Kimberly Higgs, Advising Coordinator
130A Shanks, kimberlyhiggs@vt.edu, 231-7942
• New Students – Ms. Susan Stinson, New Student Coordinator
130B Shanks, susans40@vt.edu, 231-5044
• Director of Undergraduate Programs, Dr. Marlene Preston
130C Shanks, mpreston@vt.edu, 231-9832
3. Majors’ Scholar Site -- As a supplement to the Majors’ Manual, you should also be
enrolled in a Scholar site for COMM majors. Routine announcements and deadlines will
be posted on and emailed from that site. At the minimum, you should receive a monthly
announcement.
Majors’ Manual -- Contents
1. Undergraduate Advising and Resources
• Departmental advising
• University and College Resources
2. Building Your Undergraduate Career
• University Requirements-- CLE
• COMM Requirements; Progress to Degree
• University Electives -Minors, Cognates, Double Major, Dual degree, Honors
• Foreign Language
• Double-counting Courses
• Hours NOT counting toward graduation
• Academic Eligibility
3. Tools for Planning and Documenting Progress
• 4-year Planner
• DARS
4. Course Enrollment
• Planning for Course Request
• Requesting Courses
• Reviewing and Adjusting Courses
• Withdrawing from Courses
• Transferring Credits from Other Institutions
5. Course Success
• Managing Schedules
• Behaving Ethically
• Meeting with Faculty
• Handling Responsibilities Outside of Class
• Addressing Classroom Conflict
• Securing Support
6. Opportunities
• Study Abroad
• Internships
• Independent Studies and Field Studies
•
Undergraduate Research
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Part 1 -- Advising and Resources
The Department of Communication makes every attempt to help undergraduates discover
possibilities and work to meet their goals. The department coordinates advising among advising
partners – faculty and students – by providing a departmental Advising Center, this Majors
Manual, the Scholar site for majors, and through a student listserv.
Of course, we can't have effective advising without students’ contributions. As a
Communication major, you should fully inform yourself by reading the information available to
you, and then double-check with your advising team whenever you have a question.
Advising -- Shared Responsibility
The departmental advisors have prepared for our undergraduates in countless ways.
We've informed ourselves about departmental, college, and university policies and programs;
we've learned from our former students as they have worked their way through the
undergraduate years and into their careers; and we've tried to anticipate and attend to the
academic needs of our current students.
We share this advising responsibility with our majors. You'll maximize your chances for
success if you develop good advising and course-management habits:
• Read and respond to email from your advisor and from the department.
• Study the information provided about requirements and policies (department, college,
university websites).
• Maintain a personal copy of your advising folder.
• Prepare yourself for meetings with your faculty advisor -- check requirements, list
questions, bring forms that need signatures.
• Meet with your faculty advisor at least once per semester before Course Request.
• Follow through by taking the courses you've been advised to take.
• Seek advice when you have questions or concerns by setting up a meeting with your
advisor, sending professional email, and/or stopping by the Advising Center.
Departmental Advising
To coordinate the department's advising efforts, advising records are maintained in files
in the main office of the department. Anyone in the department who assists a student with
advising may access that file. The core of our departmental advising includes the following:
1. Your Faculty Advisor –
A faculty member will be assigned to you as an advisor (as noted on Hokie Spa), and you
should meet with this person at least once a semester, usually just before Course Request. At
that point, you should come prepared with a tentative list of courses to request for the following
semester, and then you might discuss your interests beyond that semester plan, such as
internships, study abroad, and/or careers. Make an appointment by sending email to your
advisor or signing up on the door. Please get your advising folder from the main office before
meeting with your faculty advisor.
2. Advising Center
Advising Coordinator for Continuing Students
Ms. Kimberly Higgs
kimberlyhiggs@vt.edu
130A Shanks
231-7942
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Ms. Higgs is in the Advising Office all week long, and she’s available to help you
with your questions and concerns. You may be able to drop in for a quick
question; otherwise, please send an email to make an appointment. Ms. Higgs
handles force-adds for the department and tracks your path to graduation.
New Student Coordinator – Transfers and Freshmen
Ms. Susan Stinson
susans40@vt.edu
130B Shanks
231-5044
Ms. Stinson is available to assist students who are transferring in or out of the
major. She also offers support to students who may be encountering academic
difficulties. If you would like to meet with Ms. Stinson, please send an email to
set up an appointment.
Director of Undergraduate Programs –
Dr. Marlene M. Preston
mpreston@vt.edu
130C Shanks
231-9832
You might be referred to Preston if you have needs or questions that seem to fall
outside the usual guidelines. Dr. Preston attends to undergraduate policies,
including progress toward degree. If you need to meet with her, please send email
to set up an appointment.
3. Majors’ Scholar site and Listserv -The COMM Majors’ Scholar site can be easily accessed along with your other course
materials. The listserv of all Comm majors is used to distribute important information
about upcoming events, opportunities, and academic information. Please read these
messages and follow up as appropriate.
University and College Resources
•
University Catalog and Academic Policies -http://www.undergradcatalog.registrar.vt.edu/
•
Curriculum for Liberal Education (CLE) –
Check this site for an explanation and list of the requirements in the Curriculum for
Liberal Education. Specific considerations related to the COMM major are noted in
another section about the CLE and the major.
http://www.provost.vt.edu
•
College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences –
Our college offers many resources! You may need to visit the Dean's Office in
Wallace Hall to document an absence from a class, to drop off a form, or to manage
some academic problem. (If you need to "see the dean," start in the office of the
CLAHS Associate Dean in Wallace Hall.)
Be sure to explore . . .
CLAHS site: www.clahs.vt.edu
CLAHS Office of Undergraduate Academic Affairs:
http://www.uaao.clahs.vt.edu/
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•
Undergraduate Advising –
Many of your questions about policies and procedures are addressed at this site:
http://www.advising.vt.edu/
The A-Z glossary is particularly helpful at that site.
We have not duplicated this information in this departmental handbook.
Part 2 -- Building Your Undergraduate Career
Your undergraduate career is a wonderful puzzle that will fit together to create a picture
of your strengths and interest -- one that you will be the basis for your lifetime learning, your
future graduate work, and/or your career(s). Choose well, plan well, and perform well! To earn
this degree, you will accumulate a minimum of 120 hours with the best GPA you can manage.
(You need a minimum 2.0 to stay on as a Comm major. See "Progress to Degree" at the end of
this section.)
All courses taken to fill university, major or minor requirements MUST be taken for a
letter grade -- not Pass/Fail.
The overall structure of your undergraduate work is represented on this chart.
1.
Requirements
Curriculum for Liberal Education (CLE)
2.
Communication courses
3.
University Electives
(including minor, cognate, electives)
Foreign Language --
4.
H.S. or college --3 yrs; 0-3 hours
Minimum to Graduate -- 120 credit hours
*Graduating in 4 years is certainly feasible – 40 courses in 8 semesters –
5 successful courses each semester!
1. University Requirements-- Curriculum for Liberal Education (CLE)
The Curriculum for Liberal Education is a University requirement, designed to ensure
your broad experience across varied disciplines. Take advantage of this opportunity to
experiment with other disciplines and widen your areas of expertise. Faculty in the Department
of Communication encourage students to take courses in other areas! See the Timetable or the
CLE course list (www.provost.vt.edu) for the many courses from which you can choose.
Area 1, Writing and Discourse -- Take two courses. Comm majors who enroll as
freshmen take COMM 1015 and 1016, Communication Skills I and II. Transfer students
take English 1105 and 1106 (or the equivalent).
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Area 2, Ideas, Cultural Traditions and Values -- Take any 2 courses. Note: Some
Comm majors take COMM 2064 Rhetorical Tradition, which also counts in a Comm
option or as a Comm elective.
Area 3, Society and Human Behavior -- Take 2 courses. All Comm majors take
COMM 1014, Introduction to Communication Studies; they may choose any other course
in Area 3.
Area 4, Scientific Reasoning and Discovery -- Take 2 science courses -- any two
shown on the list of options for Area IV. The courses can be from different disciplines,
and no labs are required.
Area 5, Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning -- Take 2 math courses -- any two
shown on the list of options for Area 5.
Area 6, Creative and Aesthetic Experience -- Take 1 3-credit course -- any one shown
on the list of options for Area 6
Area 7, Critical Issues in a Global Context -- Take 1 course -- any one shown on the
list of options for Area 7.
Courses taken to meet CLE requirements may ALSO count toward minor or major
requirements.
Some CLE courses count in either of two areas (for example, 2 o 6) -- not both. GEOS
1024, Resources Geology counts in both Areas 4 and 7.
2. COMM Requirements – See the checksheet for your graduation year
The requirements in COMM are designed to help prepare majors across four years of
undergraduate study and include emphasis in one of three majors: Public Relations,
Communication Studies, or Multimedia Journalism.
Progress to Degree
Majors must make satisfactory progress toward graduation. The criteria for that progress
are listed on the checksheet.
Students who do not meet these standards are not progressing satisfactorily toward the
degree. If they are unable to meet the requirements, they will not continue as COMM majors.
Students who are not progressing satisfactorily toward the degree must notify the department of
their intentions.
3. University electives-Beyond the CLE and departmental requirements, students can complete university
electives, minors, cognates and/or double majors in order to meet the 120-hour graduation
requirement. This work is another way in which students can broaden their expertise. Some
students choose to do course work in the University Honors Program.
Comm majors may complete a minor or cognate. Many students complete two
minors/cognates or a double major. (See a list of possibilities in Section VII.)
No COMM course used to fulfill the requirements for a minor may also count to fulfill
requirements for the major.
Minors -- Students choose a discipline, such as Psychology or Biology, and visit
that department's website to learn about the requirements for the minor -- usually 6
courses -- and the process for declaring a minor in that department. (Please note that the
6
number of requirements for the Business Minor is significantly greater than the number
of requirements for most minors.) A minor is listed on the transcript.
Minors are offered by many departments, and there are special programs in some
areas, such as the Business Leadership Minor, International Studies Minor, and the
Professional Writing Minor.
Cognates -- A cognate consists of 6 courses from more than one department, focused on
a theme, such as Sports Marketing or Children's Issues. Students choose the themes and
the courses that would support that focus; then they fill out a cognate form to be approved
by the faculty advisor. Ms. Higgs has a cognate notebook in her office; please consider
those models if you would like to plan one of your own. A cognate is not listed on the
transcript, but is listed on graduates' resumes to demonstrate their preparation in a
specific field. (Please see the end of this file for further discussion of cognates.)
Double Major/Dual Degree -- Students who complete requirements for majors in two
different departments should seek advising in both departments. Such work requires
especially careful planning so that the student can build a plan of study around courses
that may be offered at competing times.
Double major -- Students can choose to major in two different disciplines,
designating one as the primary and one as the secondary major (listed in that order
on the diploma). The department of the primary major maintains the student's
records as the student works toward the usual goal of 120 hours to graduate.
Dual degree -- Students may earn a 2nd degree (and separate diploma) by
fulfilling the requirements of 2 majors and earning a minimum of 150 hours.
Honors -- Students who meet requirements for University Honors may take courses
designated as "H" on the Timetable and may enroll in Honors Colloquia, all of which will
count toward graduation. Students may strive for a B.A. Degree "in Honors"—a program
that combines independent study and research in the student’s major field of interest with
a comprehensive program of study designed by the student and his/her department
advisor. Information on the Honors program is available at
http://www.univhonors.vt.edu/.
4. Foreign language
Foreign language requirements must be met by the time students graduate although many
students have met these requirements before they entered Virginia Tech. Comm majors who are
transferring credits from high school or dual enrollment must have credit for 3 years of a single
foreign language or credit for 2 years each of 2 languages.
Students who completed 2 years of a language in high school will need to take the 1106
course in that language (or its equivalent) in college, hours that will count toward graduation.
Of course, these are minimum requirements; majors are encouraged to continue their
study of foreign languages and cultures while they work through their undergraduate curriculum.
5. Double-counting Courses
As noted above, several policies relate to the double-counting of courses to meet various
requirements. Those policies include the following:
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1. Work done in a major or minor may count toward meeting the CLE requirements. In
essence, such courses double-count for the major or minor and for the CLE.
2. Each course in the CLE counts toward the fulfillment of one area requirement in the
CLE. Some are listed as fulfilling requirements in one area or another area. Resources
Geology (GEOS 1024) counts in two areas -- 4 and 7.
3. No COMM course used to fulfill requirements in a minor may be used to fulfill
requirements in the COMM major.
6. Hours Which Do Not Count Toward Graduation
The number of “total credits” on the grade report is not necessarily the same as the total
hours passed that are effective toward graduation requirements.
Listed below are typical situations yielding “pass” hours that must be subtracted to
determine the total credits that count toward graduation requirements:
1. Transfer and/or advanced placement credits that have been subsequently duplicated by
courses at Virginia Tech.
2. Credits earned at Virginia Tech that have been duplicated by repeating courses or taking
courses ruled to have duplicated credit.
3. Transfer credits allowed from a two-year college that are more than one-half (60 hours)
of the total 120 credit hour requirement for graduation.
4. Credits for HNFE (Human, Nutrition, Food and Exercise) activities courses that exceed
a total of 3 semester hours, the maximum allowed toward a bachelor’s degree. Such
courses might include tennis, racquetball, etc.
5. More than 8 credit hours of independent study and/or undergraduate research combined,
whether taken on a pass/fail or A-F basis. (If taken P-F, these hours also count toward
the maximum number of P-F hours allowed.)
6. Pass-fail credits that exceed 10 percent of the credits completed at Virginia Tech toward
the requirements for graduation.
7. Credits received for passing English 1004 and/or EDCI 1004 (College Success
Strategies).
8. Transfer credits over 18 hours earned during the last 40 hours which count toward
graduation. (Once you have completed 80 hours which count toward the 120 required
for graduation, do not take more than 18 hours of your last 40 hours at another school;
18 hours are the maximum allowed to be transferred back to Tech for graduation credit
during this period.)
7. Academic Eligibility -- See http://www.advising.vt.edu/AtoZindex/glossary.html
Virginia Tech students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA overall.
With a GPA less than 2.0, a student faces academic probation. While on probation, a
student may take no more than 16 credits per semester and should meet with an advisor.
See the University Catalog for information about first, second, and final suspension.
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Part 3 --Tools for Planning and Documenting Progress
Four-year Plan
Example:
Year 1 Fall (15 hours)
Major course(Area 1)
CLE Area 2
CLE Area 4 (Science)
CLE Area 5 (Math)
CLE, Minor or Elective
Spring (15 hours)
Major course (Area 1)
Major course (Area 3)
CLE Area 4 (Science)
CLE Area 5 (Math)
Core, Minor or Elective
Year 2 Fall (15 hours)
Spring (15ours)
Major course
Major course
Major course
Major course
CLE Area
CLE Area
CLE Area
CLE Area
Minor or Elective
Minor or Elective
Year 3 Fall (15 hours)
Major course
Major course
Minor
Elective
Minor or Elective
Spring (15 hours)
Major course
Major course
Minor
Elective
Minor or Elective
Year 4 Fall (15 hours)
Major course
Major course
Minor
Elective
Minor or Elective
Semester 1
1. Comm 1015
2. Comm 1004
3.
4.
5.
Semester 3
1. Comm
2. Comm
3.
4.
5.
Semester 2
1. Comm 1016
2. Comm 1014
3.
4.
5.
Semester 4
1. Comm
2. Comm
3.
4.
5.
Semester 5
1. Comm
2. Comm
3.
4.
5.
Semester 6
1. Comm
2. Comm
3.
4.
5.
Semester 7
1. Comm
2. Comm
3.
4.
5.
Semester 8
1. Comm Capstone
2.
3.
4.
5.
Spring (15ours)
Major course
Major course
Minor
Elective
Minor or Elective
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Registering Your Graduation Date
Apply for graduation early! The application for degree is submitted to the Registrar's
Office. At that point a degree audit (DARS) is performed to see how the student is progressing
toward graduation. This graduation analysis helps students to plan for the final semesters at
Virginia Tech.
Even if students are uncertain as to exactly when they will graduate, they should still
apply for graduation at the beginning of the junior year and make a reasonable guess as to their
graduation date. The graduation analysis does not commit to graduation, but it serves as an
excellent tool by reviewing the requirements left to complete. Students should view it as a
planning guide for the senior year.
Completing the Application for Degree
• Log on to Hokie Spa
• Select Degree Menu
• Select Application for Degree
• Select Undergraduate
• Select the major you wish to register/update
• Select the correct anticipated graduation date
• Ensure all other information is correct
• Submit
DARS
The Degree Auditing Report is available through Hokie Spa and is an important tool!
You should use it to make a 4-year plan, track your progress, and check requirements. Discuss it
with your advisor.
Part 4--Course Enrollment
As you consider your courses for each semester, review your requirements (check sheet),
check your records in Hokie Spa, update your four-year plan, and meet with your advisor.
Planning for Course Request
Course Request occurs in the middle of each semester and allows students to plan for the
subsequent semester. The dates for Course Request are shown on the University calendar.
Timetable -- The listing of available courses for each semester is found on the
Timetable, which can be accessed through Hokie Spa or from the quicklinks at
www.vt.edu. The Timetable usually opens during the week before Course Request.
You can search the Timetable by department or by area of the CLE to find
courses that will be offered in the coming semester.
Click on the course number to read the course description; click on the CRN
(section number) to see any restrictions, prerequisites, or notes.
Prerequisites and restrictions -- Any prerequisites for a course must be completed
before Course Request. If a course requires sophomore standing (30 hours), a student
must have those hours completed before Course Request will accept the request -- even if
the requirement will be met before the beginning of the subsequent semester.
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See Academic level -- http://www.advising.vt.edu/AtoZindex/glossary.html
Grading options -- Required courses for the major, minor or the CLE must be taken for
a letter grade. Of courses taken as university electives, only 10% of classes taken at VT
may be taken pass-fail. (Transfer credits or credits earned through AP or IB are not
counted in this calculation.) Students who wish to take courses P-F must have earned at
least 30 credits and must have a minimum of a 2.0 GPA.
Pass-fail credits earned for an internship, independent study, undergraduate
research and field study are included in the total (10%) allowed towards graduation.
These will NOT count towards the minimum requirement in the major.
See Pass-Fail -- http://www.advising.vt.edu/AtoZindex/glossary.html
Course load per semester -- Official full-time enrollment for each semester must be 12
hours or more in regular A-F option, or P/F (not audit) to permit certification of full-time
student status for Veterans Administration or Social Security benefits, Guaranteed
Educational Loans, Basic Grants, College Scholarship Assistance Program, and most
other purposes.
Communication majors should plan to take no more than 2 COMM classes each
semester. This schedule will help you to focus on your in-major courses and to keep a
high in-major GPA. This will also allow you to build your skills and knowledge over
time so that you can benefit from one class when you take another class. In order to
complete the hours required in the major, you need no more than 2 COMM classes each
semester.
Overloads (more than 19 hours per semester) require permission by the Dean.
You and your advisor must fill out and sign a form that you will then take to the Dean’s
Office (Wallace Hall) for approval. Unless such permission has been obtained in
advance, the request for an overload will not be honored; you will be scheduled for the
first available hours you have listed on the on-line registration for which you are eligible.
The normal maximum number of hours that may be taken during the summer is 6
hours per session. If you want to take an overload during summer, discuss this with your
advisor during the registration period for summer registration.
Requesting Courses
Course request -- Students may access Course Request through Hokie Spa. Course
Request is usually open for one week, and there is no advantage in submitting your
request early in the week. Schedules are filled according to priority with special needs
students first, then seniors, juniors, sophomores, and finally freshmen.
When requesting courses, enter the most important or hardest to get courses first,
and the scheduling system will try to place you in those classes and then fill in around
them. Put classes with the most seats (large lectures) at the end of your list because those
spots are easier to get.
The system will also try for alternate sections of a course if the requested section
is full.
In order to maximize the scheduling possibilities, request 6 classes.
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Reviewing and Adjusting Courses
Class schedule -- A first draft of your schedule will be available several weeks after
course request and will show up in Hokie Spa. You should review your class ticket as
early as possible so that you can make plans for any adjustments that might be necessary
through drop-add or force-add.
Drop-add -- Twice each semester, students can use drop-add (available through Hokie
Spa) to adjust their schedules: after class tickets are available (near the end of a semester)
and at the beginning of a semester (at least a week before and a week into the beginning
of the semester). The best time to find available seats in classes is at the opening of dropadd immediately prior to the start of a semester. (Check the University Calendar.)
You don't need your advisor's permission to drop or add classes, but you should
handle this process in accordance with the advising plan you've made with your advisor.
As soon as you're sure that you're going to drop a class, please do so in order to
free up that spot for someone else. However, if you're looking for classes in the CLE,
don't drop a class unless you have a class to replace it.
Force-add -- The force-add process allows students to try for a class that was unavailable
during Course Request, either because the class was full or because the student had not
met a prerequisite for the class at the time of course request. Departments handle forceadd requests in various ways.
For COMM classes, go to the departmental website—www.comm.vt.edu—to check
deadlines and to download the force-add form. All force-adds are handled centrally;
instructors in the Department of Communication will not add students individually to
classes.
Dropping/Withdrawing from Courses
Drop deadline -- Check the University Calendar for the last date to drop a class without
a penalty. You don't need your advisor's permission to drop a class; just be sure to
monitor your status as a full-time (12 hours) student if required for financial aid or any
other benefits.
Late withdrawal -- If you decide late in the semester that you need to drop a class, you
will need to fill out a request and have it signed by your advisor. You have the option of
taking this action twice in your undergraduate career.
See Course Withdrawal and Late Drop--advising.vt.edu
Repeating a Course
If you receive a grade of F in a required course, you must repeat the course. If you
receive a grade of D in a course and wish to retake it, you may do so, but you will not receive the
credit hours for the repeated course. However, both grades will be averaged into your GPA.
Students may repeat courses in which they received grades of C- or below, but this in not
recommended unless the course was failed. Both grades stay on the record and figure into the
cumulative GPA, but the course hours count only once toward graduation. A course that
partially or completely duplicates another that the student has taken (e.g., Math 1015 and 1525)
also does not count toward graduation. All repeated or duplicated credit hours should be
subtracted from your total to determine the number that count toward graduation.
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Transferring Courses from Other Institutions
For the most comprehensive transfer information, see the Transfer Guide at the
Registrar's website.
Students may decide to take courses at other colleges or universities. Please consider the
following transfer policies:
• If you are on academic suspension, you may not take courses for transfer.
• Hours transfer; grades do not.
• A limited number of courses may be transferred. Check the "Graduation" section of this
website for information about hours that don't count toward graduation.
• Major upper-level courses are more difficult to transfer than are lower-level, elective
courses because there are not equivalents. You should plan to take major courses, for the
most part, at Virginia Tech. (Of the last 45 hours before graduation, only 18 can be
transferred.)
If you decide to take courses elsewhere and want to transfer them to Virginia Tech, you
must first receive authorization. You should follow these steps:
1. Meet with your advisor to consider the decision to take courses elsewhere.
2. Investigate the course(s) that you want to take elsewhere. Gather information about their
academic level, hours equivalent, and content. You can usually find this data on the
school’s website.
3. Check to see how the course at the transfer school will be credited at Virginia Tech. See
the Transfer Equivalency Database (available with a search from the VT main page).
4. If the course that you want to transfer is not listed on either of these databases, check in
the Advising Office for approval.
5. Complete the form to authorize your taking courses elsewhere. The authorization form is
available at the CLAHS website.
6. Take the completed form to 238 Wallace for Dean's Office approval prior to taking
courses.
Note -- Upon completion of the courses, request that an official transcript be sent to the VT
Registrar's Office.
Resigning from the Semester
Resignations without penalty are permitted up to the date shown on the Registrar's
website. After that point, students should visit the Dean's Office.
Students should clarify (1) implications for financial aid and (2) subsequent return to
classes. Unless indicated otherwise, students are eligible to return to classes the following
semester.
Part 5 -- Course Success
Managing Schedules
Your social life is important, but your academic life is central. At the end of four years,
your transcript will tell the story of your work ethic and your time management. (No prospective
employer will ask for your "social transcript"!) Challenge yourself to take the most useful
classes -- even if they meet on Fridays or at 8am. If you treat your academic life in the same way
you should treat a 9-5 job, you'll find great success AND lots of time for your social life.
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You should plan to work 2 hours outside class for every hour you're in class; if you're in
the classroom 15 hours a week, you should be working outside class 30 hours a week. Of
course, some weeks seem to require less work, and others are more hectic. If you schedule your
class time and work time with some regularity, then you'll avoid the roller coaster of erratic
studying (and performance) that some students sink into.
Some college students are managing their study schedules for the first time. If that's true
for you, please consider some of the time management seminars available on campus. Check the
Student Success Center and the Cook Counseling Center.
Behaving Ethically -- University Honor System
The Virginia Tech Honor System, one of the University’s proudest traditions, provides
students with an opportunity to be responsible for their personal conduct. The Virginia Tech
Honor Pledge -- “I have neither given nor received unauthorized assistance on this
assignment” -- applies to all work submitted at Virginia Tech.
As stated on its website, the Virginia Tech Honor Code embodies a spirit of mutual trust
and intellectual honesty that is central to the very nature of the university, and represents the
highest possible expression of shared values among the members of the university community.
For more information about the Honor System, consult the university catalog, the
university Student Handbook, or at http://www.honorsystem.vt.edu/.
Meeting with Faculty
Your advisor and your instructors want to meet with you if you have questions. The
office locations for Communication Faculty are posted outside Shanks 119.
Office hours are designed so that you can drop in; each faculty member will also have
office hours posted on his/her office door.
If you need to set up a meeting at a time other than posted office hours, ask (in a polite
email or before or after a class) if your instructor can meet with you at some other time.
Handling Course Responsibilities Outside of Class
Submitting late work -- If your instructor is willing to accept a late assignment, please
label that work with your name and the instructor's name, and then leave it with one of
the secretaries in the main office, 1st floor of Shanks.
Making up tests -- If are eligible to take a make-up test, your instructor will leave that
test for you in the main office. Take the test as soon as possible or within the time frame
specified by your instructor. Plan to arrive at Shanks before 3:00 so that you can finish
your test before the staff leaves for the day.
Addressing Classroom Conflict
Students and instructors often see situations from different vantage points, and problems
can arise. As a Communication major, you've studied about perception, interpersonal
communication, and meeting audience needs. If you're struggling academically in a class, meet
with the instructor to talk through the problem. Keep in mind that your perception of the
problem might be different from the instructor's perception, and your goals for a class might also
be different.
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Given that, try to address any conflict by (1) expressing your interest in and expectation
of a good teaching-learning relationship, (2) providing a careful description of a specific
problem, (3) sharing perceptions of the problem, (4) asking for suggestions that could help you
to resolve the problem, (5) and planning a follow-up meeting to see if the anticipated benefit has
occurred.
Securing Support -- Writing Center, CommLab, Center for Academic Excellence
Having difficulty with an academic or personal issue? Take early action to resolve minor
problems before they become major ones.
If you need suggestions about resources, please see your academic advisor. Everyone
wants you to succeed, but your faculty and advisors can't help unless you let them know about
your questions or struggles. Asking for support is a sign of strength and maturity, not weakness.
CommLab is of special use to Comm majors. This resource for student speakers is
available to help you with development and presentation of your speeches. Peer coaches will
work with you one-on-one to build a good project. For more information or to make an
appointment, please see www.commlab.vt.edu
Part 6 -- Opportunities
The Department of Communication provides opportunities for students to extend their
studies, work in jobs related to their course work, and build expertise and understanding beyond
required courses. Specific opportunities and openings are posted on the department website as
they become available.
Students can earn credit for work on academic projects or activities with specific faculty.
These experiences might be initiated by faculty members or students. If students have a project
or special interest they'd like to pursue, they should contact faculty directly to ask if an
independent study or field study might be possible.
Many of the opportunities listed below may be taken for pass-fail credit. Please note that
only 10% of the hours taken for graduation may be taken for pass-fail credit--no more than 12
hours. Students should choose carefully so that the transcript fully reflects the effort required for
undergraduate credit.
To add field study, independent study or research credits, students must submit
completed and signed paperwork to the Advising Office by Friday at 4pm the first week of the
semester (the last day to add courses).
Field Studies – Grading option: Pass-Fail
Maximum hours: 6
According to the University Catalog, “Field Study courses are work experiences
approved by some departments and are selected to augment traditional classroom activities. The
student is evaluated on the knowledge and skills acquired as a result of the experience. Emphasis
is placed on the academic and practical value of the work.”
Field study projects might include data collection procedures, working as an assistant to a
faculty member on his or her research project, or an activity involving several students working
under the direction of a faculty member of members. Field studies are less formal than
independent studies, and they are offered on a pass-fail basis.
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Field studies are not used to support participation in student organizations. Students
participating in such organizations should list those experiences on their resumes since those
experiences will not be designated by credit on the transcript.
Students participating in field studies must work with the faculty member to complete a
form allowing the student to enroll for the field study. Forms must be submitted to the Advising
Office by the end of the first week of the semester.
Independent Studies – Grading option: A-F or Pass-Fail
Maximum hours: 6
According to the University Catalog, “Independent Study courses generally involve
extensive reading and tutorial sessions with the faculty supervisor and also may involve written
papers. The subject of Independent Study usually is a continuation in greater depth of a topic
covered in a regular course, allowing students to study topics of particular individual interest.”
Independent studies are offered for course credit and are graded (A-F) or pass-fail.
(Check criteria for taking classes pass-fail.) A student and faculty member make a plan-including goals, processes and evaluation--and submit forms to the department advising office.
Usually students would submit a report of some kind at the end of the experience.
To be eligible for independent studies, students must. . .
1. Have junior or senior standing in the University.
2. Meet the following GPA requirements: a minimum of 2.5 GPA.
Research
The Department also offers various types of research experiences to complement the
research that is conducted within courses.
Research participation involves limited hours spent as a participant in a research study.
Students will usually learn about this opportunity from faculty who teach courses in which they
are enrolled, and students will often receive some credit in that course for their participation in a
study.
Undergraduate Research – Grading option: A-F or Pass-Fail
Maximum hours: 6
According to the University Catalog, “Undergraduate Research courses are individual research
projects carried out by students under faculty supervision. The student defines the research
topic, proposes a methodology, carries out the research, and writes a report.” This experience
would involve some activity beyond research participation; rather it might involve a student's
collection or processing of data under the supervision of a faculty member. Undergraduate
research may be taken P-F or A-F.
To be eligible for undergraduate research credit, you must meet the following criteria;
1. Have junior or senior standing in the University.
2. Meet the following GPA requirements: a minimum of 2.5 GPA.
Internships – Grading option: Pass-Fail
Maximum hours: 6 (3 at one organization)
Students often participate in internships as they sample various work environments. The
Internship Handbook (at www.comm.vt.edu) includes the eligibility requirements for students
wishing to do internships and contact information for further follow-up.
Since internships are graded P-F, the credit can count toward graduation, but not as a
COMM elective or requirement.
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In some cases, faculty are willing to oversee an internship, assign a project (such as a
written report), and assign a grade. In these cases, the student needs to secure permission of the
faculty member, complete standard internship requirements, and enroll for independent study.
Education Abroad – Grading option for Study Abroad credits: A-F or Pass-Fail
Students are encouraged to expand their learning opportunities by participating in a
program outside the country. For opportunities, check the COMM Department website or the
Office of Education Abroad. Many traditional courses can be taken for A-F credit and used as
requirements or electives.
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