› SOC Academic Advising

› Academic Requirements
› Registration
› Add/Drop/Withdrawal/Incomplete
› Graduation
› Related Links
› Advising Forms

The School of Communications ensures that every student has access to academic advising. Quality advising helps devise and execute an education plan, offers advice on courses and activities, and answers any questions a student may have.

For more information about Academic Advising, contact:

Linda Williams
Academic Advisor, School of Communications
(314) 961-2660 Ext. 7963
lindaw@webster.edu

Academic Requirements
It takes 128 credit hours — compiled from major requirements, general education requirements and electives — to earn an undergraduate degree from the School of Communications.

If a student plans to graduate in four years, the school recommends enrolling in 16 credit hours each semester. (16 credit hours X 8 semesters = 128 credit hours) It takes a minimum of 16 hours to be a full-time student at Webster, 13 to be eligible for Webster financial aid and 12 to be eligible for federal financial aid.

Required classes and possible electives for individual majors can be found in the University’s online undergraduate catalog. Requirements cannot change from the catalog in place at the time a student enrolled.

To meet the general education requirement, a student must earn 36 credit hours — 18 in the humanities, 12 in the social sciences and six in math, science or computer science.

Humanities include: literature, history, foreign languages, English, general studies, religious studies, philosophy, art, art history, dance, theatre, music and composition.

Social sciences include: political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, women’s studies, multicultural studies, international studies, international relations, human rights studies and economics.

Math, science or computer science include: computer applications, computer science, mathematics, natural sciences and physical sciences.

Electives can be any course offered by the University. A student also may apply up to four 1-hour courses such as walking, yoga, fencing and bowling toward elective credit.

Students majoring in anything except Film, Interactive Media and Speech Communication Studies are required to go through a portfolio review. For more information about the review, click here.

Most minors and certificates take 18 credit hours to complete. All courses for a minor or certificate must be taken at Webster University and no course can count toward both a minor and a major. There are no double majors within the School of Communications. Students also cannot minor with an emphasis of their major.

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Registration
1. Sign up for a conference with an advisor about one to two weeks before registration.

2. Arrive at the conference with a suggested schedule in hand. An online list of available courses is posted about one month before registration, while the printed version comes out about a week before.

3. After a meeting with an advisor, a student will be released to register online. Seniors with at least 90 credit hours receive first priority, followed by juniors with at least 60 credit hours and then everyone else.

4. Register for classes. Be sure to select alternatives in case certain classes are already filled.

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Add/Drop/Withdrawal/Incomplete
Students may add classes the first week of school with an advisor’s signature on an add slip. The add slip allows the student into the class, even it the class has been determined full.

Students may drop classes during the first two weeks of the class, with a drop slip signed by an advisor.

After the first two weeks, students need a withdrawal form to get out of the class. Reimbursement for this class is determined on a sliding scale. If a late withdrawal is requested after the deadline, a student needs approval from the instructor, advisor and department chair. A late withdrawal normally is done for external reasons such as an illness or family emergency.

Students unable to complete a course may file for an incomplete grade. It’s a contract that spells out what needs to be done and when. Incomplete grades may last up to a year, but after that year they cannot change and turn into an F.

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Graduation
Webster University distributes diplomas in May, August and December, although it only conducts its commencement exercises once a year in St. Louis. Students will not graduate or receive a diploma unless all graduation requirements have been fulfilled and they have filed a petition to graduate.

A petition to graduate for undergraduate students can be found by clicking here. A petition to graduate for graduate students can be found by clicking here. Complete the petition and submit it to a department associate at least two months prior to graduation.

Students within six credit hours of graduation may participate in the May commencement ceremony by requesting permission from the dean. The written request should include:

• a statement outlining why you are requesting permission to participate in the graduation ceremony;
• a list of any remaining classes and their planned completion date;
• contact information including a mailing address, telephone numbers and e-mail address; and,
• a printed copy of the student's degree audit.

Requests to walk early in the May ceremony should be sent prior to March 1 to:

Debra Carpenter
Dean of the School of Communications
Webster University
470 E. Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119


Advising Forms
› Registration Tips
› General Education Requirements
› Class Schedule Planner
› SOC Academic Advising Worksheet
› SOC Academic Planner

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Related Links
Study Abroad
Portfolio Review
Internship Program

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