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Full-time faculty members serve as academic advisors for PCOM (pre-communication studies) majors as well as COM majors.  In addition, several faculty are typically involved in freshmen and transfer orientation and advising.  Each semester, students meet with their advisors at least once in preparation to register for the upcoming semester(s). However, faculty members are available on an on-going basis to discuss with students the variety of issues related to their university experience.

Since one hallmark of our program is flexibility, students and advisors often explore elective options for completing their B.A. in communication studies.  That is, in addition to the core of six classes, students customize their degree by selecting a unique complement of elective courses as specified by degree requirements, for example, the necessity the complete a minimum of hours of upper-level (300/400) elective course work in COM. Some students complete double majors, or a minor, while others use their general elective hours to explore numerous disciplines across campus.

As an illustration, a student who has completed her Basic Studies requirements as well as the communication studies core (COM 105, CSC 105, COM 110, COM 200, COM 340, COM 341, and COM 490) may opt to focus on mass media as a primary emphasis. Course work she may select to meet the minimum requirement of 21 additional hours in communication studies (of which at least 12 must be at the 300/400 level) might be:   

COM 265 Survey of Mass Communication
COM 268 Broadcast Journalism
COM 280 Television Aesthetics and Techniques
COM 360 Applied Quantitative Research in Communication
COM 365 Communications Law
COM 380 Field Video Production I
COM 467 Advertising in Mass Communication

Other courses that could be taken beyond (or in place of) the above in the same general subject area include:

COM 290 Rhetoric of Popular Culture
COM 345 Speech Writing
COM 465 Mass Communication in Society
COM 366 On-Camera Performance
COM 385 Studio Television Production

While all COM majors receive a foundation in our discipline via required core courses, students are encouraged to complete several others to round-out their preparation, regardless of the emphasis area(s) they select.  Among these additional classes are:

COM 116 Performance of Literature
COM 220 Interpersonal Communication
COM 221 Small Group Communication
COM 230 Voice and Diction
COM 325 Business and Professional Communication

For additional information regarding requirements for the B.A. in Communication Studies, see DEGREE REQUIREMENTS on this Web site.
 
Contact Information for PCOM Advisors

Ms. Tammy Bulger     bulgert@uncw.edu          (910) 962-7144        Leutze Hall #239
Ms. Jennifer Chin        chinj@uncw.edu             (910) 962-7720       Leutze Hall #238 


Click HERE for a PCOM application 

Click HERE for PCOM application instructions

Click HERE for the PCOM Fall 2009 advising letter

INTERNSHIP and DIRECTED INDIVIDUAL STUDY COM 498 Internship in Communication Studies.  To qualify for a 3- or 6-credit hour Internship, a student must be a communication studies major of JUNIOR or SENIOR status (at least 59 semester credit hours completed) with a minimum overall G.P.A. of 2.5.  While students may earn up to 12 hours of Internship credit during your academic career, a maximum of six (6) hours may be earned at a single agency.  Three (3) credit hours may be counted toward major requirements.  During the Spring 2008 term, class attendance will also be part of the Internship, with several Tuesday or Thursday class meetings from 8:00-9:15 am.   Interns may not enroll in another course that meets during that time slot.  An Internship enrollment should be processed well before the start of the Spring 2008 semester.  To initiate the Internship enrollment process, please complete an application available on-line (see above on this Web page).  For additional information, you may contact Internship Director Tammy Bulger at (910) 962-7144 or bulgert@uncw.edu. COM 491 Directed Individual Study.  To enroll in a 1-, 2-, or 3-credit hour Directed Individual Study, a students must be a communication studies major of  JUNIOR or SENIOR status (at least 59 semester credit hours completed) with a minimum overall G.P.A. of 2.00 and the approval of a faculty supervisor.  DIS work should go beyond that offered in existing courses.  A total of 9 credit hours may be earned through COM 491, with no more than 3 hours outside a student’s major.  COM 491 credit hours DO NOT count toward the major but serve as general electives.  Students should approach potential faculty sponsors with a specific and substantial project in mind.  Enrollment should be processed well before the start of the Spring 2008 semester. 24-HOUR RULE Please be aware of the "24-HOUR RULE" for course enrollments in place each semester, including Summer sessions.  If you do not attend the first class session or notify the instructor within a 24-hour period, you may be dropped from the class to make room for students on waiting lists.  Given the demand for our classes and our desire to keep enrollments relatively low, it's essential that you pay strict attention to this policy and not not risk your slot on a class roster.       TUITION NON-PAYMENT NOTICE Please check with the Office of the Registrar for the Summer & Fall 2007 tuition payment due dates.  Failure to pay tuition and fees in full and on time for these terms will result in the cancellation of your Summer or Fall schedules.  If your classes are dropped because of late payment, there is no guarantee that instructors will be able to re-enroll you in their courses.

UNCW/Jamie Moncrief