Resources for Current Students

Frequently Asked Questions

• What can I do with a communication studies degree?

  Learn about what you can do with communication studies on our Why Study Communication page.

• How do I declare a major in communication studies?
  1. Fill out the Application to Declare or Change Major/Minor Form (download from the Registrar's site).
  2. E-mail a copy of your completed form to ugradcomn@du.edu. The director of undergraduate studies will review and sign your form and forward it to the registrar. This typically takes three business days.
  3. Once your major form is processed, you'll receive an email from the assistant to the department chair, welcoming you to the program and informing you of your assigned advisor for your communication studies major.
• What are the requirements for the communication studies major?

  The requirements for the major are outlined in the Communication Studies Major Progress Review Form. 

• What are the communication studies advising requirements?
  • Prior to each registration period all communication studies majors must attend a communication studies advising session. These sessions are designed to review students’ progress toward their communication studies major and to release student registration pins.
  • Each communication studies major is required to bring a completed Communication Studies Major Progress Review Form (PDF), filled out using their Degree Audit.
  • Please note, if you are a double major you can have your pin released by your second major. However, we do encourage attendance for double majors in need of assistance with their communication studies major.
• I am majoring in communication studies. Will I have an advisor?
  • All majors will be assigned a communication studies faculty member as their major advisor. Once major forms are processed, all majors receive an email from the assistant to the department chair, welcoming you to the major and informing you of your assigned advisor for your communication studies major.
  • Majors should consult with their assigned faculty advisor as needed throughout the academic year. Additionally, prior to each registration period all communication studies majors must attend the communication studies advising sessions. Please see the FAQ entitled "What are the communication studies advising requirements?" for more information on these advising sessions.
• How do I declare a minor in communication studies?
  1. Fill out the Application to Declare or Change Major/Minor Form (download from the Registrar's site). 
  2. Return the form to the Registrar's office.
• What are the requirements for the communication studies minor?

  Please read the current minor requirements. 

• I am minoring in communication studies. Will I have an advisor?

  Minors will be advised by the Director of Undergraduate Advising who can be contacted at ugradcomn@du.edu.

• Do I qualify for communication studies credit for an internship and, if I do qualify, what are the processes for approval?

  Learn more about internships. 

• What is the communication studies study abroad and transfer approval process?

  If you are interested in having a course taken abroad or at another institution evaluated for possible communication studies credit, visit the study abroad course approval site. First, check to see if your course has been approved previously. If it has not been previously approved, submit an approval request.

  There are several guidelines that the Department of Communication Studies considers when evaluating study abroad and transfer courses for possible communication studies credit:

  • Communication studies will reject all requests for transfer study abroad approval from unaccredited institutions or institutions for whom the transfer acceptance practice is unknown by the Registrar and/or study abroad office.
  • Students will need to upload a description and course syllabus when filling out the online approval request form. If the syllabus is in a language other than English, the syllabus must be translated prior to submission. Transfer approval requests submitted without a syllabus will not evaluated for possible approval.
  • Students will need to specify the exact DU communications studies course (e.g., COMN 1700) for which they are attempting to gain credit approval. Courses must be very closely allied to existing communication studies courses. In other words, the course should be a very close equivalent to an existing communication studies course.
  • It is the communication studies policy to ensure the integrity of the Common Curriculum of the major and minor programs.
• Does COMN 1210 check off multiple requirements?

  COMN 1210 checks off both a common curriculum and a communication studies major/minor requirement. However, the hours earned for COMN 1210 can only be counted once in the total 183 hours needed for graduation at DU.

Forms for Undergraduate Students

Here, you'll find forms for current communication studies majors and minors, including major/minor progress review, distinction and internship application, and credit transfer. Current students can send their general inquiries to ugcomn@du.edu.

• Communication Studies Major Progress Review Form
• Communication Studies Minor Progress Review Form
• Communication Studies Distinction
• Communication Studies Internship Criteria and Application
• Study Abroad Approval Process for Communication Studies Courses
• Transfer Approval Process for Communication Studies Courses

Forms for Graduate Students

Here, you'll find forms and resources to help support you during your graduate work in the Department of Communication Studies. If you have questions about any information not available here, please email us.

• Graduate Student Resources, Deadlines and Forms

  Learn more and find contact information for the Office of Graduate Education on the Grad Student Resources page.

  Office of the Registrar—information about the university calendar, registration, etc.

  The following forms are available on the Office of the Registrar page:

  • Address Change
  • Colorado Residency
  • Diploma Order
  • Incomplete Grade Application
  • Name Change Request
  • Transcript Order
  • Withdrawal
• Other Helpful Pages
  • Bursar's Office
  • ­Office of Financial Aid
  • Graduate Career Services
• Other Helpful Forms
  • Application for Independent Study, Directed Study and Independent Research (PDF) 
• Department of Communication Studies Graduate Resources

  Coursework plans:

  MA Program Degree Options:

  • MA Communication Studies (Thesis) (PDF)
  • MA Communication Studies (Comprehensive Examination) (PDF) 
  • MA Communication Studies: Culture and Communication (Thesis) (PDF) 
  • MA Communication Studies: Culture and Communication (Comprehensive Examination) (PDF) 

  PhD Program Degree Options:

  • PhD Communication Studies: Culture and Communication (PDF) 
  • PhD Communication Studies: Interpersonal and Family Communication (PDF) 
  • PhD Communication Studies: Rhetorical and Communication Ethics (PDF) 

   

  Comprehensive Exam:

  MA

  • Comprehensive Exam Departmental Schedule Approval Form (PDF) 

  PhD

  • Comprehensive Exam Departmental Schedule Approval Form (PDF) 

   

  Thesis/Dissertation:

  • Thesis/Dissertation Departmental Proposal/Prospectus Approval Form (PDF)
  • Thesis/Dissertation Oral Defense Committee Recommendation Form (PDF)
  • Schedule of Oral Examination Form (PDF)