COMS Curriculum FAQs
Why does the COMS major have focus areas?
The focus areas provide guidance on what classes relate to each other and work well together. Completing course work in a specific focus area allows you to add some specificity to your degree and to help you communicate the knowledge and abilities you will have as a result of your degree. Along with this, we want you to dive deeper into the area(s) of communication that you’ve come to enjoy the most!
Will my focus area show up on my transcript?
No, a focus area will not be listed on your transcript. But, you can list your focus area on your resume and talk about it in cover letters, interviews, and personal statements to highlight the specific aspects of communication about which you have advanced knowledge.
How do I decide which focus area to pursue? What if I have questions about a focus area?
In COMS 100, you will learn more about the Focus Areas and evaluate which one might be the best fit for you.
Additionally, each focus area has an assigned advisor . They are here to help you with all questions regarding a focus area. Or you can reach out to Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski (Department Chair) or Dr. Bethany Conway (Associate Chair) for guidance on choosing a Focus Area.
When do I need to decide on a focus area?
For students who start at Cal Poly as freshmen, ideally, a focus area should be decided upon by the end of your sophomore year; however, students are welcome to decide on a focus area and approach the focus area advisor earlier on in their studies.
For incoming transfer students, a focus area should be decided by the end of your first term at Cal Poly—we know that’s fast! You should meet with your faculty advisor or one of the current focus area advisors early on in your time at Cal Poly to help you decide which Focus Area is the best fit for you.
How do I formally choose or change a focus area?
Good news, you do not need to do anything! The focus areas are a way to help you decide what classes to take to complete your degree and prepare for your post-graduation plans. There is no formal process to choose or change a focus area.
If you change your focus area later in your degree, it may limit the total number of classes you can take within that focus area. Luckily, the focus areas have some crossover, meaning that the courses you have already taken or already planned to take may also be listed in your new focus area. To talk more about changing focus areas, see the list of current focus area advisors here.
How many classes in my focus area should I take per year in order to graduate on time?
There is no one answer to this, as every student’s pathway through the major differs based on transfer units, changes of major, chosen minors, etc. Generally, you should begin taking upper division major courses, all of which fall into one of the listed focus areas, during the last quarter of your sophomore year. You will probably need to take 3-4 Focus Area classes in year 3 and year 4 to stay on track for graduation. For more specific guidance, you should meet with CLA Advising and/or your COMS faculty advisor. You can also review the flowchart for more guidance on how to plan out all your courses and stay on track with your intended graduation date.
How do I know when the classes in my focus area will be offered?
The term that a given class is typically offered can be found here: https://registrar.calpoly.edu/term-typically-offered. This is updated regularly and will help you decide what classes to take. We try to offer the majority of the Focus Area classes at least once a year, but many of them will only be offered one time a year.
What if the classes I want to take in my focus area are not offered?
If a class in your Focus Area is not being offered and no term is listed on the Term Typically Offered page, you should contact your COMS faculty advisor or the Associate Chair (Dr. Conway) for guidance.
I’m thinking about switching to the new COMS requirements. How do I know if this is a good idea?
Whether switching to the new requirements makes sense will depend on your specific degree progress. For third and fourth year students who have already completed many of the major requirements and support courses, it will probably make the most sense to stay on your current catalog. But you can still use the Focus Areas to guide you in deciding which classes to take for your upper-division COMS electives (you need to take 5). Also, if you realize that you have taken a lot of classes in a particular focus area, you can mention that in your job, internship, or graduate school application materials.
If you are are second year student or a third year student who has not yet completed many major requirements, you might be able to switch to the new curriculum without losing much or any of your degree progress.
If you are considering switching, you should meet with CLA advising as well as the Department Chair (Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski) or the Associate Chair (Dr. Conway) to discuss how switching to the new requirements would impact your Degree Progress.
For students on a catalog before Fall 2022: What if I want to complete the new COMS major requirements instead of the requirements listed in my catalog?
If you are currently on a catalog older than the 2022-2026 catalog, you would need to change your catalog to follow the new major requirements and pursue a focus area.
Before changing your catalog year, it is important to speak with CLA Advising and the COMS Department Chair (Dr. Kolodziejski) or the COMS Department Associate Chair (Dr. Bethany Conway) to see how this change could impact your graduation date. There may be reasons why changing your catalog year may not be right for you (i.e. it may change your GE requirements, or you may lose credit for classes you’ve already completed).
Once you have confirmed a change in catalog makes sense for you, changing your catalog year is quite easy. Simply visit the following registrar website: https://registrar.calpoly.edu/registrar_forms. Once there, scroll down to “Change of Catalog (Powerform).” For the “advisor’s email” entry, make sure to enter the email of the person you spoke with (the department chair or department associate chair). They will then receive a notification and get you headed in the right direction.
There is a class that I want to take that is not listed in my Focus Area. Can I substitute this course in the focus area?
The focus areas are meant to guide you, but you have flexibility. For example, if you want to take an upper division COMS course that is not listed in your focus area, you are welcome to do so. There is no penalty, nor is there a formal process of approval. Simply speak with your COMS faculty advisor or the advisor of your focus area.
If the course is coming from outside the COMS Department (from another department or study abroad, for example), a formal course substitution must be submitted by the department. Please see the Department Chair or Department Associate Chair for more information on this. Course substitutions will be granted on a limited basis and only for courses that have a clear focus on studying communication throughout the course.
How do I get career help and internships in these focus areas?
For information on internships, feel free to reach out to the Internship Faculty Advisor.
For AY 23-24, the Internship advisor is Dr. Leslie Nelson.
What if I have a question that is not answered here?
Please contact Dr. Lauren Kolodziejski (Department Chair) or Dr. Bethany Conway (Associate Chair) for further inquiries, including suggestions for questions to add to this FAQ.