Students may propose a unique, individualized and specialized 18-unit concentration if the proposed concentration is viable and if it fulfills objectives that cannot be met through one of the other Communication Studies concentrations (e.g., Media Studies, Relational and Organizational, and Strategic Communication). To be eligible for the Specialized Concentration, students must complete a proposal (see document link for the proposal draft in the FAQ below) for their program plan, including all the communication courses that they intend to take in the concentration and a rationale for the course of study. The proposal will be reviewed by a Communication Studies faculty advisor before a student can be approved for this concentration. Before declaring this concentration, a student must have completed the following core classes: COMM 2101, COMM 3101, and COMM 3102. Only 9 units of Communication Studies course work completed prior to such approval can be applied toward the specialized concentration. Importantly, this specialized concentration is not intended to bypass normal graduation requirements or to avoid certain requirements of a regular concentration offered by the department.
No. To submit your applicaiton, you need to: 1) provide contact information for your three recommenders, and 2) initiate those recommendation requests via Cal State Apply. But the actual letters can be received from your recommenders after your application is submitted.
Note, though, that your application will not be reviewed until all three of your recommenders' letters have been received.
Students majoring in communication are eligible to receive honors in communication at graduation if the following conditions are met:
- At least one-half of the course work required by the major is completed at this university;
- At least a 3.5 grade point average in the major;
- An overall grade point average of 3.5 or better;
- An independent study course that culminates in a research presentation to the department;
- Recommendation for departmental honors by the Communication Studies faculty.
Students interested in this recognition must file a formal application with the department and enroll in an Independent Study at least one semester prior to graduation.
Advising helps students graduate faster, focus their studies, streamline their path to graduation requirements, and help avoid speed bumps along the way like duplicate coursework.
In so many ways. An appointment with an advisor is time best spent while you are here with us at CSUSB.
You may have an advisor assigned to you. You may also not know who your advisor is and need to ask at the department office. You can also get advising from CAL advising at any time.
CAL advising is open and available for you anytime. Their office in UH203 holds great hours and has professional advisors who are a great first meeting point for you with any of your advising questions. Visit them often, at least twice a year if not more, to make sure to stay on top of everything. Visit them regularly! Learn more...
All faculty have a few ways they may be contacted. Phone, office hours and email are listed for each instructor on the faculty page.
You may have specific instructions on what to do from your instructor. Faculty also have mailboxes in the department office at UH018 where items can be left for faculty for pickup. It is a good idea to notify your instructor and always keep a copy of anything you drop off.
Yes! You can! You would not get credit for taking it a third time. It is always encouraged that you meet with advising regularly to confirm your particular circumstances.
Yes and no. You can intern at the same site multiple times, but you can not take the same internship class for the same number of hours and units more than once. You should take the internship for a different number of units and hours a second time.
Internship posting specifically for comm majors are listed for our students on the internship page where you will see a link that says 'find your internship'. You must be logged in and request permission to view the page. It is encouraged to consider these opportunities first as they were created specifically for you!
They are a time your instructor is specifically in his or her office and available for you! Office hours and contacts for faculty are listed online. It is a good idea to visit your instructors during their office hours regularly and discuss any valuable topics with them during your visit.
Your final exam time and date may or may not be listed on your syllabus, but you can always find it yourself! Visit the academic calendar, look for 'final exam schedule' and click on the quarter you are in to get more information!
You can find out any question you have about the academic calendar including the first or last day of class, the holidays, the final exams and more at academic scheduling...!
It is a good idea to check your campus email regularly as many university messages go there. If you are having trouble accessing this, contact ITS immediately to resolve your issue. They offer 24/7 support and it is free and included in your tuition.
Contact ITS immediately. It is free and included in your tuition and available 24/7.
A list of labs and hours is available each quarter. Each lab may have different hours each quarter depending on classes and other factors, but there should be posted hours on the door. It is encouraged you write down or take a photo of these posted hours just to make sure you have the most updated information.
There is a laptop lending program at the Pfau library. iPads and other multimedia items can also be checked out from the library multimedia center.
Paid dining options are available throughout campus. Free food is available for pickup at the Obershaw DEN.
Emergency housing resources are available through Coyote Basic Needs and the CARE team.
Software including Adobe CS is available to students through ITS.
Read more about our concentrations, talk to your professors, and visit CAL advising.
Only you know for certain, but there are many great ways that a degree in comm can be helpful, no matter what your path may be. Visit and talk with your advisor to learn more.
Counseling and Psychological Services is confidential and just steps away and FREE for students! This is an amazing resource for anyone who feels overwhelmed.
You should be talking with your faculty advisor and your graduation retention specialist regularly to make sure your specific deadlines are being met. You'll want to file a grad check early in your second to last semester with the Registry to avoid holds and late fees.
You might be interested in research, HR, training, or teaching. Or something else entirely! No matter what your path, you can learn more about your options at the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Thesis (COMM 699, 5 units)A thesis involves systematically, theoretically, and methodologically answering research questions in written format.Project (COMM 686, 5 units)A project may include a short video, documentary, journalism project, public relations project, marketing project, web design, advertising strategy, or radio project. Typically, a project involves a creative production coupled with scholarly documentation.Comprehensive Examination (COMM 999, 0 units)The comprehensive examination option is designed for students who prefer to demonstrate mastery of their graduate studies through an examination that broadly tests their understanding of the knowledge obtained. More information is available about each in the graduate handbook.
Your graduate advisor is a very important person to your program of study and it was likely provided to you upon enrollment in the program. You may be getting communication from that person regularly. If not, contact the department office or CAL Advising to confirm your advisor for your graduate program or any piece of information related to advising and the graduate program.
You can learn and practice teaching as a Graduate Teaching Associate while in the Comm MA program. Read more...
If there is a full class, you can get on the waiting list if you do not have any holds and if you are fully paid. If your status changes you may lose your spot in line so it is important to watch this carefully. You can do this in your cart in student center. One great way to follow up on this is to have this conversation in person by going to class on the first day and introducing yourself to the professor or instructor politely with an add form ready. You can get this form in UH018. You need to be fully prepared with a backup plan because you may or may not get into this class this term and that it is up to the professor or instructor if the class is full to exceed capacity and many will not do it to preserve the small student to faculty ratio in their classes for the benefit of the student.
Consult the graduate handbook and communicate with your graduate coordinator because you don't want this to delay completion. It is at faculty discretion to be on thesis and project committees. Maybe considering having open ended conversations with faculty about their research interests and build your team accordingly.
Consult the graduate handbook and talk with your graduate coordinator. There should be core courses towards your program every quarter so if you are having trouble finding them it is important you reach out right away.
Advising helps students graduate faster, focus their studies, streamline their path to graduation requirements, and help avoid speed bumps along the way like duplicate coursework.
Small scale, advising can help you save money and graduate faster. Big scale, advising can help you reach for your dreams and stay connected to what brought you to CSUSB in the first place. Seeing your advisor regularly will help in so many ways!
You may have an advisor assigned to you. You may also not know who your advisor is and need to ask at the department office. You can also get advising from CAL advising at any time.
CAL advising is open and available for you anytime. Their office in UH203 holds great hours and has professional advisors who are a great first meeting point for you with any of your advising questions. Visit them often, at least twice a year if not more, to make sure to stay on top of everything. CAL Advising...
Yes! You should be making your Q2S advising appointments with CAL advising or a faculty advisor to avoid holds. Make sure that your MyCap is up to date and keep checking your PAWS often. If all this sounds like something that you've never heard before, meet with your advisor immediately and they can help make sure that your transition will be smooth.Please do not wait until the last minute to seek advising. You should also be meeting with CAL advising regularly. ESPECIALLY if you are part of the quarter to semester conversion.
They are both great! But they are different in important ways. CAL advising can help you with your classes, your MyCap, your PAWS and removing holds. They can make sure you ae on track for graduation. Faculty advising is discipline specific and can answer questions you may have about your major, your future, your concentration, your job prospects connected to your coursework, and other elements of advising related to talking to someone who has been in and taught in the field of Comm for years.
It is a good idea to see an advisor each quarter to stay on top of your graduation plan and avoid any holds or duplications of graduation requirements.
It is a good idea to do all the time! You can check your status toward completion, your GPA, your transfer credits and more! Instructions on how to run PAWS...
COMM 304, 306, and 400.
There is a graduate handbook, updated for each academic year, available in our graduate 'forms' page. This is a very useful detailed resource for people wishing to learn more.
We accept applicants with GPAs that are 2.5-2.99 on probationary basis and give them a year to take upper division communication classes to demonstrate their interest and abilities in the discipline. If they succeed in raising their GPA (either cumulative or last 90 units) to 3.0 by the end of that year, then we allow them to start the graduate program the next fall quarter.
You may continue to re-take the TOEFL score and re-apply to the program.
We do not have any tuition waivers; however we do have teaching assistantships available in which graduate students teach the basic public speaking undergraduate course. The stipend is small but the program is designed to give experience to those interested in pursuing a career in teaching. To be considered for the TA-ship, graduate students must be accepted or active in the program, be in good standing, have met the 24 units in Communication requirement, and submit an application to the TA Coordinator by early May. Contact the TA Coordinator or Graduate Coordinator for the annual specific date. To apply, submit a vita/resume and a one page statement of interest to the TA Coordinator. For financial assistance please refer to Cal State Apply or check Financial Aid Office
The graduate committee and/or coordinator will continuecollecting material to complete applications and will continue reviewing them as long as the program is not full. When acceptance letters are mailed out, we request that people RSVP to the program. If we do not hear back or students state they will not be joining the program, we continue to review completed applications until all the spots fill. Currently we accept 10-15 students per track per year.
Yes, the Graduate School requires that all graduate students meet the Graduate Writing Requirement. Please refer to Graduate Studies handbook for additional information.
Yes, our deadline is different than that of Graduate Studies, so please follow our deadlines provided on our graduate program 'about' page.
Yes! If you are a student on campus, you can enroll in the Communications 243A practicum class, which is our base for staff writers. We suggest taking Comm 240 before enrolling so that you better understand news style writing, but it is not required. If you are not a student, but are faculty, employee, one of our dear readers, or a student who is unable/unwilling to take Comm 243A you can submit articles to the Chronicle. All submitted stories, or letters to the editor will be reviewed by the editorial staff and the Chronicle has no obligation to print submitted material. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted to the paper.
Yes! We have staff photographers and our writers also shoot their own photos, so perhaps you want to join the class? See above answer. If you still want to take photos outside of the Comm 243A class then contact our newsroom. All submitted photos, or art will be reviewed by the editorial staff and the Chronicle has no obligation to print submitted material. The Chronicle reserves the right to edit or reject all materials submitted to the paper.
Yes, we can work out arrangements for those seeking to draw political cartoons or funnies by contacting our Administrative Assistant Linda Sand at lsand@csusb.edu.
Please visit our archives page, and follow the instructions about requesting older content.
Wonderful, please visit our advertising page.
Yes! Our back cover is dedicated to a feature called 'Expressions' made specifically for this purpose, to give YOU a voice and a space to share your most creative ideas! Please submit your materials to us today!
You can major in Communication Studies with a concentration in Media Studies, Public Relations, or Relational and Organizational Communication. We also have a Specialized Concentration for those wishing to choose their own path (NB. this requires approval from a faculty member and the department Chair).
PRSSA cultivates a favorable and mutually advantageous relationship between students and professional public relations practitioners.
PRSSA holds monthly meetings exploring various topics in PR, and also participates in national PR competitions for prize money and scholarships.
Yes! Comm382 is offered year round and is the class offered for this activity
The video lab is open to all students every weekday. Spaces can be reserved in advance.
We meet at 2:45 Wednesdays in the Student Union.
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0
It is the official Communication Studies honor society.
Yes! PR and Strategic communication are both important management functions in today’s workplace. We offer opportunities for students to study and practice PR and Strategic Communication at all levels in their studies.
Not every student starts as a strong writer but through practice, hard work and dedication, they will become stronger writers by taking the series of writing-focused classes in the Strat. Comm. concentration. If writing is a challenge for you, don’t let that deter you! We have wonderful resources on campus to help you including our Writing Center
Students in this concentration have gone on to work in human resources, sales & marketing, training & development, consulting, management, fundraising/development, recruiting, dispute resolution, or gone on to receive advanced degrees in law, business administration, and Communication Studies.
Yes, students can minor in Communication! Learn more about our minors...
The Department of Communication Studies is a great stepping stone into your future as an academic or a professional. Communication studies intersects with a wide variety of careers, and is a great way to enhance any career path. Also many of our students go on to Ph.D. programs, teach, and become scholars. Check out what our alumni have achieved here ...
Our department has a diverse and internationally acclaimed faculty, whose expertise and experience covers media theory, medial production (film, video, radio, social media), public relations, all other forms of strategic communications, relational and organizational communications, ethics of communications, social justice in communications, etc.
It is never too early to begin thinking about lining up an internship. Some students are offered jobs at the end of their internships and your internship can be a springboard to many opportunities and a bright future.
If you are doing an internship to explore a particular type of job, it might be best to take it earlier rather than later in your college course work. This way, if you find out it is not what you expected or want to do, you can do another type of internship.
You need to strategically plan your internship. Why are you doing an internship? Do you want to try to get a job as a result of the internship? Do you just want to try different things to get an idea of what you want to do? Answering these questions will help you decide when and where to do an internship during your college career.
You may also choose to do more than one internship. Internships are 2-5 units and undergraduate students can complete up to 10 units of internship credits toward the major as long as they have electives available. It's important to check with your advisor about when and how many internships you might want to do and can do.
We have undergraduate majors, minors, and a graduate program.
If you are thinking about joining us to study for your bachelor's degree you can choose from four concentrations in Communication Studies: Media Studies, Relational & Organizational Communication, Strategic Communications, and we have a Specialized Concentration for those wishing to choose their own path.
You can also get a Minor in Communication Studies.
And, if you are returning to university to develop your career and/or research, you could join the M.A. in Communication Studies.
Yes!
or get a hard copy in the Communication Studies Department Office in UH-018.
Yes! Talk with our Forensics Director about a team contract.
By joining the Forensics Team you are giving yourself the opportunity to grow as a person with a team. It will also provide opportunities to: Get out of your comfort zone, Travel with the team to meet new people. Boost your resume. Gain hands on experience in constructing arguments and developing critical thinking skills. Challenge your worldview by learning diverse ideas and new cultural perspectives. Represent CSUSB and show your Coyote Pride!
Public relations is the way organizations, companies and individuals communicate with the public and media.
Yes, if you are a student, you can enroll in Communications 243D practicum class.
No! We welcome students from all major and concentrations. Anyone can be a great asset to our team with the willingness to learn and the drive to apply himself or herself to the work at hand.
As soon as possible! The sooner you join the team the sooner Coyote PR can implement some of your ideas to our client. Also, the sooner you become involved and advance in the organization the more you can add to your resume.
Yes! Many of our students are working on skills including creative resolutions to multi-faceted challenges. We would love for you to join us!
YES! If you like to dive deep into an issue or topic you are working on, we welcome that on behalf of the on-campus clients we serve. You can make significant contributions
No! PR is for ALL people interested in giving a clear voice to topics that deserve a stronger presence, brand awareness and engagement. Some of our strongest participants are both introverts and extroverts
Open to the greater campus community with RSVP, all are welcome to learn and grow with us.
Attend and find out! This year's symposium is a student-led effort surrounding the students with all of the information they may need to go out into their respective fields following graduation with confidence. With panels on 'Getting my first job' and 'What employers expect,' seasoned professionals share keys to success in a warm, supportive and inclusive setting.
Tickets are free and open to the greater campus community. This event is particularly relevant to individuals who are interested in what to do after graduation.
Yes! Please just enter the room quietly and watch the door behind you.
Each event can be attended or not attended as you choose with RSVP. We undertand you have busy schedules and that it can be important to meet other obligations throughout your day!
Watch for a call for volunteers. We look forward to your support of our event!
They do! Get your FREE tickets as soon as the event registration opens to ensure your spot!
The event is FREE! Just make sure to RSVP early before tickets run out.
There are many ways to locate an internship. Internships are available in most industries ranging from Business, Government, Non-Profit Agencies, Education and the Entertainment Industry.
Coyotelink is your one-stop resource for locating an internship and is exclusively for CSUSB students. Registering for an account grants you instant access to hundreds of opportunities. You will have the availability to search for local internships by zip code. Check out the CSUSB Career Development Center for step-by-step instructions on how to create your free Handshake account today!
The major purpose of an internship is to provide students with the opportunity to gain new insights about an organization and a job and to develop skills they haven't had the opportunity to develop in a previous job. An internship also provides students with the opportunity to see the application of course material in theory in practice in a job setting, and students are encouraged to bring their internship experiences back into the classroom.
Internships are an academic experience - not just work experience. In your internship paper you are expected to draw relationships between what you learned in the classroom and what you observed and experienced in the internship.
Internships are important resume material in competitive job markets where actual work experience is valued and often expected. Graduate internships can be valuable research experiences that can be tied into final projects.
It is important to select an appropriate internship. One way to determine if an internship is appropriate is to consider how it ties in with your major and concentration. An internship should be a new challenge and one that 'fits' with educational goals.
Another important purpose of an internship is to give students the opportunity to try out a potential job or career. Perhaps you think you'd like television news production. An internship experience will tell you if this is the type of work you really want to do. Perhaps you are planning a public relations career. An internship will give you valuable insight into what it is like to work in the field.
In some professions, internships are expected by potential employers. This is particularly true in public relations. You will be competing with others for entry-level jobs who have completed an internship so if you have not done an internship, you are at a disadvantage. This is also true of many communication jobs.
Applying for an internship is a process. Before you get started, there are a few important steps that you should follow. Having an updated resume and cover letter are essential. You can reference the Career Development Center for tips on how to create effective ones. Not all employers require a cover letter but it's a good idea to have one readily available that can easily be tailored to various positions. It is also recommended that you identify several internship leads and apply to at least 3-5 internships per week. Don't forget to follow up. An email or phone call is appropriate unless otherwise stated on the internship announcement.
If employers do not require a resume and/or cover letter, instead, you may be instructed to fill out an application online or in person. Whatever the method of applying may be, make sure to read the internship announcement carefully. If you are invited to an interview, take the time to prepare and practice. Do your research about the organization. You only get one chance at making a great first impression. For interviewing tips, check out the CSUSB Career Development Center website.
Registration and Contract Requirements
Internships can be taken for 2-5 units. The number of units dictates the number of hours during the quarter you are to work at the internship. The hours you are to work are specified what you must do to get credit for doing your internship.
If you have obtained an internship, undergraduates must pick up the contract from the department internship coordinator. Graduate students can pick up the contract from the graduate coordinator, Dr. Ahlam Muhtaseb (UH 201.23). Discuss the hours and responsibilities with the supervisor. Once you have agreed upon the nature of the work and the hours, complete the contract, including the supervisor's signature. Submit the contract to the department internship supervisor for final approval. For graduate students, the final approval comes from the graduate coordinator. All this must be completed the quarter prior to the quarter in which you actually do the internship. Once the contract is approved, you will be notified and permitted to register for the units.
To receive credit for your internship, you must:
- Complete the total hour requirement for the units for which you have registered;
- Submit a weekly log/journal of your internship experience;
- Write a final paper describing what you learned during your internship experience and discussing how the experience relates to your education;
- Undergraduates must prepare resumes. Resumes should be prepared prior to obtaining internships, but if not, they must be turned in before the quarter ends;
- Additionally, the department will send an agency evaluation form to your internship supervisor. The supervisor must complete and return the form to the department before you received credit for the internship.
- These materials are due by Tuesday of finals week. Turn them in to the department internship coordinator.
Here are a few guidelines to follow so that you make the best impression at your internship.
- Be on time. If you are to arrive at 1:00 p.m., arrive at 1:00 p.m., not 1:10 p.m. If you are unavoidably detained (accident, flat tire, etc.) and you are able, call your supervisor to let him/her know what happened.
- Dress appropriately. On your first day, it's always best to dress in business attire. If you're not sure of what is considered appropriate business attire, ask the internship coordinator, or ask your internship supervisor what she or he prefers you wear to the office.
- Meet the hour requirement of your internship. If you are to complete 15 hours per week, then make sure you complete 15 hours per week. Failure to complete the hours required for the units taken can result in no credit for the internship. You have made a contractual obligation with your internship supervisor to work a certain number of hours. Failure to do this reflects on your professionalism.
- Think and act as a professional - be responsible and dependable.
Remember that you are there to learn. People always respect those who are teachable.
If you are having problems of any kind at your internship, please contact the department internship coordinator if you are an undergraduate student or the graduate coordinator if you are a graduate student.
Good luck and good learning.
The GTA program gives students the opportunity to teach in the classroom while pursuing their own studies. We take pride in the extensive training of our Graduate Teaching Associates. We have a robust GTA program, with around a dozen graduate students currently teaching as part of their graduate studies in the Department of Communication. It is a separate application process in addition to admissions and you must be a graduate student to be eligible to be considered.
You will apply through the office of graduate studies. You'll need recommendations, a personal statement and other items listed in the application. Learn more...
There might be! You already know many of the professors in the graduate program. Whether you know it or not, many of your professors from your undergraduate classes also teach at the graduate level. The institutional knowledge, personal interaction and the routines of your department are already elements you know and are familiar with. Be sure to consider all options and talk with your advisors early to answer any questions you may have.
It is never too early to think about grad school. Keep up your GPA. Work hard in your studies and learn your learning style, likes and preferences in your field of study. Also be an engaged member of your community and your campus. As you get about a year out from graduation begin looking at the application, begin assembling your recommendation letters, and developing your personal statement.