Advising

Undergraduate Advising Additional Advising Resources Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions Table of Contents

Advising

Careers

Declaring

Graduation

Internships

L&S Degree Requirements

Major Requirements

Registration

Studying Abroad

Transfer Students

Frequently Asked Questions

Advising

How do I make an appointment to see the advisor?

Students can schedule an appointment to see the advisor by calling the Comm Arts Undergraduate Office at 262-2543.

When are the walk-in advising hours?

Walk-in advising hours vary from week to week and are posted on the undergraduate advising page.

What should I bring with me to my advising appointment?

You need to bring a DARS report with you to walk-in advising hours. DARS reports may be requested through My-UW:

  1. After logging on to My UW, select the "Student Record" tab.
  2. Scroll down to the "DARS report request" section.
  3. You can request reports for declared majors as well as "what-if" reports. DARS reports may be requested for overnight processing to be delivered via email, or for immediate viewing via a web browser.

Please see the Registrar's website for additional information and instructions.

Can I make an appointment to see the Comm Arts advisor if I'm not a declared major?

During busy advising times, such as registration, non majors may be asked to wait until a later date to schedule an appointment.If you are a first semester freshmen, you should make an appointment to see your assigned advisor.

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Careers

Where can I find out what types of careers people typically pursue with a Comm Arts major?

Don't box yourself in by thinking this major equals a specific set of careers. The careers section of the Comm Arts website provides you with a list of some of the occupations Comm Arts alumni have pursued. L&S/Human Ecology Career Services and the Career Exploration Center help students explore different career opportunities for liberal arts students.

I need help putting my resume together. Any suggestions?

L&S/Human Ecology Career Services offers a resume/cover letter review service and runs workshops on writing effective resumes.

I have no idea what I want to do. Any advice?

Internships are a great way to try out different careers.

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Declaring

When do I declare the major?

You must apply during the semester in which you will complete your third Communication Arts class at the 200 level or above (excluding Independent or Directed Study) at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. We encourage students to apply for the major one month before registration begins for the upcoming semester, so that they have temporary major status when they register.  Several Comm Arts courses are initially reserved for majors during senior and junior registration.

How do I declare the major?

Bring a current campus copy of your transcript to the Undergraduate Office, 6117 Vilas Hall, or to the undergraduate advisor, 6068 Vilas Hall, to complete the application forms. We do require the Registrar's version of the unofficial transcript which is available free of charge at the Registrar's office, 333 East Campus Mall #10101.

You will be asked to complete both a declaration and a cancellation of major form at that time. The cancellation form will be processed at the end of that semester if your Comm Arts grade point average is below 3.0 and you will need to pursue a different major. If your Comm Arts GPA is 3.0 or above, you will be admitted to the major.

Is the 3.0 GPA requirement to be accepted in the major based on a student's overall GPA or only within Comm Arts?

We look at the student's Comm Arts GPA.

If I repeat a course in Comm Arts to try to raise my Comm Arts GPA, how will the GPA be calculated?

Repeated courses do not calculate in L&S requirements for quality of work, such as GPA requirements in the major.

What if I don't have a 3.0 GPA in Comm Arts at the end of the semester that I applied?

If your Comm Arts GPA is below a 3.0 at the end of the semester in which you declared, we will process the cancellation form you completed when you applied for the major. You will need to pursue a different major.

Can I appeal the cancellation of the major if I don't earn a 3.0 GPA within Comm Arts?

An appeals process is available for exceptional circumstances. Students granted an appeal will be given an additional semester to raise their Comm Arts GPA to a 3.0.

Students not granted an additional semester may not subsequently reapply for admission to the Comm Arts major, even if they continue to take classes in the Department of Communication Arts. Information about the appeals process and deadline will be sent to students with the cancellation notice.

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Graduation

How do I let the University know that I expect to graduate at the end of the semester?

Indicate when you intend to graduate through My UW. This will prompt the Registrar's Office to audit your records and to send you e-mails about graduation.

When is the commencement ceremony being held?

Please check the Secretary of the Faculty website for information on commencement.

Do we need tickets for family and friends who want to attend graduation?

Family and friends don't need tickets. The University doesn't limit the number of people who attend graduation.

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Internships

Do you have any information on internship opportunities?

See Comm Arts internships and L&S/ Human Ecology Career Services for information on internships.

I have an internship. How do I get credit for it?

Please follow these instructions.

How many credits can I earn for completing an internship?

One (1).

If my internship is more than 8 hours per week, can I earn additional credit?

No.

I'm a Comm Arts major who completed an internship last summer. Can I still receive credit for it?

No, students must register for the credit during the semester in which they are completing their internship.

Can I continue the same internship next semester and earn another credit?

As a general rule, no. Students may be able to continue interning at the same place if their duties change significantly. This has to be approved by the advisor.

What does the internship credit count towards?

The credit counts towards the 120 degree credits needed for graduation and it is at the intermediate/advanced level.

Although the internship credit counts towards the 40 credits you can earn within the major, it doesn't count toward meeting a requirement for the major. In other words, it doesn't count as an elective within the major.

Please note: students under the BABS07 degree requirements are not limited to 40 credits within the major.

I'm not a declared Comm Arts major, but I plan to declare when I'm in my third Comm Arts course. Can I earn internship credit through the Comm Arts Department?

No, sorry. You must be a declared Comm Arts major to earn credit. Applicants are eligible to receive credit, so a student who applies to the major during the spring semester is eligible to earn credit during the spring and summer semesters.

I need help putting my resume together. Any suggestions?

L&S/Human Ecology Career Services offers a resume/cover letter review service and runs workshops on writing effective resumes.

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L&S Degree Requirements

Can I take a course pass/fail?

Only elective courses outside the major may be taken on a pass/fail basis. To pass, a student must earn a grade of C or higher. Read the additional information from L&S Academic Deans before deciding to take a course pass/fail.

I need to register for one more credit to complete my requirements. Can I sign up for bowling or weightlifting for one credit?

It depends. If you are under the 1971-2007 L&S degree requirements, most phy ed courses won't count toward graduation. Whenever you are looking at courses being offered outside of L&S, like the School of Education or School of Human Ecology, you need to make sure that the credits are degree credits, which means they count towards graduation.

Look for the column with the codes "geBLC" and then look under the "C" column. A "C" or "T" in the "C" column identifies a course outside of L&S which counts for degree credit. A maximum of 20 credits of "T" course may be applied to an L&S BA/BS degree. If the course doesn't have a "T" or a "C"in the "C" column, it doesn't count towards graduation. Bowling and weightlifting are examples of courses that don't count.

If you are under the BABS07 degree requirements, you have 12 free electives. Free electives are optional non liberal arts and science credits (no C notation under the "C" column of "geBLC"). Bowling and weightlifting could count towards graduation. 

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Major Requirements

Does Comm Arts offer a certificate or a minor?

No, we only offer a major.

I noticed another department is teaching a course with film in the title. Can I get Comm Arts credit for the course?

No. Only courses which are cross-listed with the Comm Arts Department will count towards the major requirements. Check the major requirements if you are unsure if a course is cross-listed.

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Registration

I meet the prerequisites for a Comm Arts course, but when I try to register why am I told I'm ineligible?

Many of the Comm Arts courses are initially reserved for Comm Arts majors. Remaining seats become available to non majors after juniors have registered. The exact time and date is listed in the "Notes" section of "Class Detail" when using class search.

When do applications for the advanced production courses come out?

Advanced production applications are usually available on the Monday before registration begins for the next semester and due that Friday.

How can I get into a closed course?

The Comm Arts Department does not keep waiting lists. If someone drops through the on-line registration system, someone will be able to add.

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Studying Abroad

I'm planning on studying abroad. Where can I find out information about different study abroad programs?

For information on various study abroad programs go to the Office of International Studies and Programs Office's Resource Room at 250 Bascom Hall.

How do I find out how my credits from abroad will transfer?

If you are going through UW-Madison International Academic Programs (IAP), you can go to their website to see which courses students have completed in the past and their UW-Madison equivalencies.  In addition, course equivalency request forms are available from IAP.  Please contact your IAP study abroad advisor if you have questions.

If you are going abroad through a different university, you can go to the Office of Admissions website to see a list of course equivalencies for some of the programs or for instructions on requesting preliminary course equivalencies.

I have a form that I need signed for studying abroad that asks if UW-Madison will accept the credits from the program I’m going on.  It says to take it to your academic advisor.  Would that be the Comm Arts advisor?

The Advisor Approval Form from your study abroad program will most likely need to be replaced with the UW-Madison Program Approval Request Form and completed by the UW Admissions Office and/or the Registrar's Office, depending on the information being requested. Please see the instructions on the Office of Admissions website for credit approval forms. The advisor isn't authorized to sign forms that ask if UW-Madison will accept transfer credits.

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Transfer Students

Do you offer a production track within the Comm Arts major?

We don't offer a concentration within production, but we offer several advanced production courses. These courses are filled through an application process.

How do I find out how my credits completed at a different institution will transfer to UW-Madison?

If the courses were completed through the University of Wisconsin System or the Wisconsin Technical College System, you can look at the Transfer Information System to see how your credits will transfer to UW-Madison.

If the courses were completed outside the University of Wisconsin System, the Office of Admissions will determine how your credits will transfer.

How likely am I to be able to register for Comm Arts courses?

Comm Arts is a very popular major at this time and our courses fill quickly. If you are unable to register for a Comm Arts course, focus on satisfying your other L&S degree requirements during your first semester here.

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