Academic Advising
Mission / Purpose of Academic Advising
Academic advising engages students in a dynamic relationship to support their growth and development as they seek to earn their degree. SDSU academic advisors help students:
- Identify and mobilize a community of support (including faculty, staff, students, and family);
- Envision a positive future and make a four-year plan to reach that vision;
- Grow in their capacity to navigate the University and the challenges of college life;
- Become well-informed about campus processes, policies, resources, and requirements.
Core Values
We value:
- Belonging: Every PSFA student experiences community at SDSU.
- Student agency: Students are the experts about themselves, not us; we are collaborators.
- Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI): We see and affirm students’ lived experiences, which shape our work.
- Accuracy: We hold ourselves to the highest standard of academic information accuracy; if we aren’t sure of the answer, we find it and confirm.
- Respect: We honor and maintain student confidentiality. We respect our students’ investment in their education.
- Collaboration: We work in collaboration with the campus community of advising and student success
Meet Your Undergraduate Academic Advisor
The School of Communication has an Undergraduate Academic Advisor and a Director of Graduate Studies. Please make an appointment through SDSU Navigate/EAB system and run your Degree Evaluation in Web Portal so you are prepared with questions prior to your meeting.
How to schedule an appointment with an Adviser
- Please visit the SDSU Navigate page for instructions on logging in and scheduling an appointment
How to access your Degree Evaluation
- Access your Student Webportal
- Log in and click on the Degree Evaluation tab
- You will be re-directed and ask to sign in again using ONLY the first part of your sdsu email.
Yes! You should make a strong effort to see your major advisor at least once per academic year. This will help ensure you are taking the right classes and are on track to graduate.
No. Advising is available both by-appointment and without an appointment. Please log into SDSU Navigate to see appointment and walk-in availability for our Advising Team.
Our Advising Team is trained and ready to help you with all of your academic advising needs while you are a student at SDSU. If you have questions we cannot answer, we will refer you to the appropriate office.
Liberal Arts and Sciences (Language Requirement) – Competency (successfully completing the third college semester or fifth college quarter) is required in one foreign language to fulfill the graduation requirement. Refer to section of catalog on “Graduation Requirements.” (Think completion of Span 201, French 201, etc.).
You can also test out of the language requirement if reading, writing and speaking proficiency is demonstrated.
Applied Arts and Sciences (Mathematics Requirement) – Competency of mathematics must be satisfied by three semesters of college mathematics or a statistical sequence such as Statistics 250, 350A, 350B; or Sociology 201*, 406*, 407* (*additional prerequisites required).
All undergraduate students must demonstrate competency in writing skills at the upper division level as a requirement for the baccalaureate degree. Refer to the University Catalog's Graduation Requirements for the Bachelor's Degree web page for more information about the GWAR requirement.
A. Complete general education oral communication requirement (3 units) and two courses (6 units) selected from Communication 160, 201, 204, and 245, each with a grade of “C” or higher and an average grade of 2.75 or higher. These courses cannot be taken for credit/no credit (Cr/NC).
B. Complete a minimum of 45 transferable semester units and a maximum of 90 semester units.
C. Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
D. To gain entry into the major, students must fulfill the pre-major requirements described in the catalog in effect at the time they declare the pre-major at SDSU (assuming continuous enrollment).
The communication major requires the completion of 36 units (12 classes). See General Communication Studies Major for more information.
The health communication major requires completion of 42 units (14 classes). See Health Communication Major for more information.
The minor in communication requires the completion of 21 units (7 classes). See minor sheet for more details.
No, courses being used to satisfy major requirements are not allowed to be taken for credit/no credit. For more information visit - http://arweb.sdsu.edu/es/catalog/webfolder/440-454_U_Policies.pdf
Look at this list of Future Occupations for Communication Major.
The certificate program in communication emphasizes scholarly, creative, and professional aspects of communication studies. Coursework includes instruction that provides understanding of culture, health, institutions, interaction, politics, relationships, and rhetoric in everyday life. The focus is placed on how effective communication enhances well-being and relationships; promotes civic engagement, and allows for effective participation in a global community.
To be admitted to the certificate program, students must be enrolled at San Diego State University or through SDSU Global Campus.
The certificate requires 12 units from Communication 201, 245, 300, 371. Coursework must be completed with a GPA of 2.0.
Courses in the certificate may not be counted toward the major or minor in the School of Communication.
The certificate program in health communication focuses on how people understand and communicate about health and illness. Coursework includes instruction in health-related and care-related messages, the goals and strategies of health care promotion, the relationships, roles, situations, and social structures in health maintenance and promotion, and the communication surrounding wellness, illness, and healthcare in personal and professional relationships.
To be admitted to the certificate program, students must be enrolled at San Diego State University or through SDSU Global Campus.
The certificate requires 12 units to include Communication 321 and nine units selected from Communication 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, 427, 428. Coursework must be completed with a GPA of 2.0.
Courses in the certificate may not be counted toward the major or minor in the School of Communication.
Please see the internship section.
Please see the study abroad section.
