Change of Major Policy
Cal Poly provides for the possibility that students may decide to change to a major other than that under which they originally were admitted to the university. The change of major process may not be initiated until a student has completed at least one quarter of instruction at Cal Poly. Each academic department has its own set of criteria students must satisfy prior to being accepted into the major. Until such time as a student has been accepted into a new major, s/he is responsible for continuing to satisfy degree progress requirements for her/his current major.
Any student wishing to change to the Communication Studies major who meets the minimum application requirements and for whom a change of major to Communication Studies appears feasible may, after consultation with the department chair, enter into an Individualized Change of Major Agreement (IMCA) with the department. By university policy, any student who enters into an IMCA with a major will be allowed a maximum of two quarters to satisfy the change of major requirements, after which the agreement expires. Students who fail to complete ICMA requirements within the two quarter timeframe cannot subsequently re-apply to the major.
Communication Studies Major Minimum Application Requirements
- Have completed at least 1 Quarter at Cal Poly.
- Have satisfied all GE Area A1 requirements.
- Have earned a cumulative GPA of 2.9 or higher for all Cal Poly coursework attempted.
- Be in good academic standing (not currently on academic probation).
Individualized Change of Major Agreement Process
- Consult with the Communication Studies Department Chair regarding the feasibility of changing to the Communication Studies major.
- Provide a Communication Studies Change of Major Eligibility/Inquiry form within your Cal Poly Portal.
- If a change of major appears feasible, complete an Individualized Change of Major Agreement. Select, with approval of the Department Chair, 12 units of ICMA-eligible Communication Studies coursework, at least 4 units of which must be at the 300-400 level. Applicants are responsible for having completed any necessary prerequisites prior to registering for approved courses. Approved courses may not be taken on a credit/no credit basis.
- Complete the 12 units of approved Communication Studies courses within two quarters of the ICMA start date.
- Earn a grade point average of 2.9 or higher for the 12 units of approved Communication Studies coursework.
List of ICMA-eligible courses.
- COMS 205 Rhetorical Studies
- COMS 206 Communication Theory
- COMS 208 Performance, Literature, and Culture
- COMS 211 Interpersonal Communication
- COMS 213 Organizational Communication
- COMS 215 Media Studies
- COMS 217 Small Group Collaboration and Creativity
- COMS 250 Building Advocacy Skills
- COMS 301 Business and Professional Communication
- COMS 305 Persuasion
- COMS 308 Group Performance of Literature
- COMS 316 Intercultural Communication
- COMS 317 Technology and Human Communication
- COMS 319 Critical Cultural Studies and Communication
- COMS 320 Intergroup Communication
- COMS 330 Classical Rhetorical
- COMS 331 Contemporary Rhetorical Approaches
- COMS 332 Rhetorical Criticism
- COMS 333 Race and Rhetoric
- COMS 384 Media Effects
- COMS 385 Media Criticism
- COMS 386 Communication, Media, and Politics
- COMS 387. Sports Communication
- COMS 404. Video Games & Society.
- COMS 413. Advanced Organizational Communication.
- COMS 418 Health Communication
- COMS 420 Nonverbal Communication
- COMS 421 Gender and Communication
- COMS 422 Rhetorics of Science, Technology, and Medicine
- COMS 428 Family Communication
- COMS 435 American Political Rhetoric.
- COMS 470 Selected Advanced Topics
