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Communication Studies

Advising

Advising categories

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Services for student success

Academic

Academic advising

Academic Advising (campus-wide information)

Academic Advising Center

Student Support Services

Accommodations, Study Skills, & Time Management

ACCESS center
ACCESS center collaborates with students with disabilities to identify, reduce, or eliminate barriers to obtaining education within the most integrated settings possible.

Student Support Services

Study skills
Skills and resources for academic success

Internships & Careers

Career Services
Handshake: Internship & Employment, Determine Career Goals, Resumes, Cover Letters & Interviewing

Library

Murphy Library provides access to resources to aid research and studying:

  • A large, diverse collection of digital and print resources.
  • Facilities designed to accommodate a variety of learning preferences.
  • Technology that aids research and studying.
  • Staff to help students find what they need. 
Policies and Guidelines

Each course syllabus will contain statements about, or a link to, important campus policies related to academic integrity & misconduct, religious accommodations, sexual misconduct, student concern procedures, students with disabilities, and veterans & active military personnel.

Records and Registration is the source for information about student records, curriculum, and University academic policies and procedures.

The Student Handbook outlines the policies and procedures that apply to students at UWL.

Tutoring

Tutoring schedule
Use this handy tool to find out when subjects you're interested in offer tutoring help. Use the checkboxes to select your subjects and pick a day to find a time that works for you.

Murphy Learning Center (MLC)
Tutoring, Writing Center, Public Speaking.   All UW-La-Crosse students can receive free tutoring services in a variety of courses, as well as utilize the Writing Center and the Center for Public Speaking at the MLC.   In addition to on-site tutoring they can also direct you to tutoring offered by other campus departments.

Office of Multicultural Student Services (OMSS)

The OMSS peer tutoring program provides free course specific tutoring to multicultural UWL undergraduate students upon request.

Student Support Services (SSS)
SSS provides academic, personal, career, and financial advising and support services to low income and first generation college students, as well as students with disabilities.

Faculty Advisors

  • Assist with course selections and schedule planning for one or more semesters. 
  • Advice on progression toward graduation (Gen Ed requirements, major, minor, college requirements).
  • Discuss opportunities such as undergraduate research and creativity, job shadowing, internships, study abroad programs
  • Need the name of your faculty advisor? Check your Student Center in WINGS or Navigate.

College Academic Services

Your major determines which of the following colleges you are in: 

Each college office provides extensive academic services:

  • Process change of major requests.
  • Perform credit checks and degree verifications.
  • Ensure accuracy of the Advising Report (AR) report.
  • Interpret academic policies and procedures 
  • Advise incoming transfer students and assist with transfer credits.
  • Approve off-campus courses for transfer credit.
  • Notify and advise students who are ineligible or on probation

Academic Advising Center

  • The Academic Advising Center provides academic advisors, career advising specialists, and pre-health advising.
  • Assists students with academic advising, exploring majors, transferring to UWL, researching graduate schools, and careers.

Are you ...

Catalog quicklink

In the Department of Communication Studies, we take advising seriously, and ask that you meet with your assigned advisor at least once every semester.  Your advisor, who is a faculty member in the department, is trained to help you understand your advisement repoAdvising Matters! rt, your university, college, and departmental requirements, and how to locate any additional services you may need while you are with us at UWL. 

Below, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding advising.  Please take the opportunity to review the questions and answers, and do not hesitate to contact your advisor (listed on the right side of your WINGS account) if you have additional questions or concerns. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I declare a CST major?

Students can declare to become a CST major at any time by filling out the Change of Major/Minor form.  

What are the emphasis areas in the CST major?

Majors in Communication Studies will choose from one of four emphasis areas in the department:

  • Public Communication and Advocacy
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Media Studies
  • Organizational and Professional Communication

For a complete description of each of the emphasis areas as well as the course requirements for each, please click here.

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Do I need to declare a minor?

Yes.  Every CST major needs to declare either a minor or the CASSH/VPA Program Option. Students, in consultation with their advisor, should decide on the best path to develop a set of skills and/or knowledge that will be useful in their future endeavors.  For a list of minors at UWL, click here.  Some of the more popular minors for CST majors are: Business Administration, Psychology, Environmental Studies, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Professional Writing, Anthropology, English, Spanish, Sociology, and Women's Studies.

Instead of a formal minor, students may choose the CASSH/VPA Program Option to fulfill this requirement.  The CASSH/VPA Program Option requirements are: Complete 18 credits in two or more departments or programs (at least 12 credits earned at the 300/400 level). These courses must be outside the student's major department and can be from any college. General education courses may apply provided they are not being used to fulfill minimum general education requirements.  Students can declare this option in Morris 260.

You do not necessarily need to declare a minor or the Program Option when you declare your pre-CST major, unless you are within a few semesters of graduating.

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Why did extra courses get added from CASSH when I declared my official CST major?

When you declare your official CST major, you will be asked to decide if you want to pursue a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree.  In either case, you will need to complete several courses as a way of fulfilling this requirement.  Speak with your advisor about the best option for you, and also review the material here to understand the requirements for each.  

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Progressing in the Major

How long will it take to complete the major?

The minimum time it takes to complete the CST major is four semesters.  Our four core classes build on each other, and must be taken in sequence.  This unique set of core courses familiarizes students with the discipline of Communication Studies (CST 190), explores the breadth of communication theories that comprise the discipline (CST 301), trains students on communication research methods (CST 498), and provides an opportunity to engage in an independent original scholarly research project supervised by a CST faculty member (CST 499).

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