General Degree Requirements
Students should refer to the Admissions section of this catalog for information about credit by examination and transfer credit (the College of Communication & Information Sciences has final authority in decisions concerning the possible application of transfer credit toward a student’s degree requirements). Information about academic bankruptcy, application for degree, class-hour load restrictions, concurrent enrollment, core curriculum requirements, drop/add, the pass/fail option, second bachelor’s degrees, etc. can be found in the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.
In order to earn the bachelor's degree from the College of Communication & Information Sciences, students must satisfy the following requirements:
Hours and Grade Point Average
All students with an undergraduate major in the College of Communication & Information Sciences must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours. The total hours for graduation must include the coursework specified in this catalog under the heading for the appropriate major department.
To be eligible for graduation, all students must have an overall and University of Alabama grade point average of 2.0 or higher and a grade point average of 2.0 or higher in the major and in the minor.
Grade Requirements for Courses in the Major
A student must have grades of C- or higher in all required and elective courses counted toward an undergraduate major requirements in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. In addition, grades of C- or higher must be earned in all required ancillary courses, including those established as prerequisites for courses in the major as well as those required directly in the major.
Students should always check with their major department or Tisch Student Services & Engagement for specific policies pertaining to a particular department or program.
Residence in the College and in the Major and Minor
While enrolled in the College of Communication & Information Sciences, students must earn a minimum of 30 hours at The University of Alabama. A minimum of 12 hours in each major and 6 hours in each minor must be earned at the 300- or 400-level in residence.
Policy on Prerequisites and Co-requisites
College of Communication & Information Sciences students must satisfy all course and grade prerequisites and all course co-requisites, including grades of C- or higher in all required and elective courses counted toward the undergraduate major requirements. A student who fails to satisfy prerequisites and co-requisites before enrolling in a course may be administratively dropped from that course on or before the first day of classes. It is, however, the student’s responsibility to drop a course when the specified prerequisites or co-requisites have not been met.
Policy on Auditing Courses
A student who is registered for 12–18 hours may audit one course, but the student may not take tests or a final examination in the audited course. No credit is earned by auditing courses.
Policy on Repeating Courses
Undergraduate students have a maximum of three attempts at completing each required course for the major with a grade of C- or higher, excluding withdrawals. If the third attempt is unsuccessful, the student will not be allowed to register for a fourth attempt without permission from the college. If that permission is not granted, the student will be unable to continue in their chosen major.
More information regarding the University Repeat Course policy can be found here: http://catalog.ua.edu/undergraduate/about/academic-regulations/records/grades-grade-points-gpa/
Minor Requirements
All students in the College of Communication & Information Sciences must complete a minor unless they are pursuing more than one major. Minors must consist of a minimum of 12 credit hours that are unique (cannot overlap) from each of the other majors or minors declared.
In completing a minor, students are required to fulfill the requirements of the department that offers the minor. All students must complete a minimum of six hours in residence of courses numbered 300 or above in the minor.
All students in the College of Communication & Information Sciences can pursue more than one minor, still adhering to the minor policy above. Students are encouraged to speak with their advisor to identify appropriate minor options.
Double Majors
Students majoring in advertising, creative media, news media, or public relations may pursue an additional major in communication studies, informatics, or any department outside the College. Students majoring in communication studies or informatics may pursue one additional major in any other department in the College or any other major(s) on campus. The student must meet all of the requirements for the second major that are in effect at the time the second major is declared. Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisor to develop a plan for a double major. Students who seek multiple degrees (dual degree) must obtain 150 hours and meet the requirements of each degree, including the completion of a minor. Please see the University policy for further information.
Transfer Students
Transferability refers to the conditions under which The University of Alabama accepts credit from other post-secondary institutions for inclusion in the student’s record. It is essential to have transcripts evaluated prior to enrolling in any courses in the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
Students must have earned a grade of C- or higher in all transferred courses that are used to satisfy curricular requirements in the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
Post Graduate Students
A student holding a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning may earn a second bachelor's degree by fulfilling a specific set of requirements at both the College and University level. Please see the University policy for requirements. In addition, the College has specific requirements found under each major/minor. A minor is not required for students seeking a second bachelor's degree in C&IS.
Students in the College of Communication & Information Sciences should meet the general admission requirements of the University. The College has final authority in decisions concerning the possible application of transfer credit and other college credit toward a student’s major or minor requirements.
Declaring a Major and Minor
Any student declaring a major or minor in the College of Communication & Information Sciences should schedule an advising appointment with an advisor in Tisch Student Services & Engagement.
Honors College
Qualified students in the College of Communication & Information Sciences are encouraged to apply for admission to the Honors College. Complete information is contained in the University Honors College section of this catalog.
Academic Advising
All students with a major in the College of Communication & Information Sciences are assigned an academic advisor in Tisch Student Services & Engagement. It is the student's responsibility to consult with their advisors for assistance selecting and registering for the courses necessary to make reasonable progress, within the time period desired, toward meeting all degree requirements. This responsibility extends to seeing that all prerequisites have been fulfilled before registering for courses that have such requirements.
Those students who need assistance with selecting courses, determining academic progress, or addressing difficulties with coursework may make an appointment with their assigned academic advisors.
History
The College of Communication & Information Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in advertising, communication studies, creative media, informatics, news media, and public relations, as well as master's degrees in advertising & public relations, book arts, communication studies, journalism & media studies, and library & information studies, and an interdisciplinary doctoral degree. The College is the only communication unit in the state offering bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.
The College originated from the School of Communication, created on 1 July 1973, by combining the Department of Journalism (founded in 1926) and the Department of Broadcast & Film Communication (founded in 1940) with The University of Alabama Television Services (now The Center for Public Television) in a single administrative unit. The Department of Broadcast & Film Communication was later renamed to the Department of Telecommunication & Film which merged with the Department of Journalism, in 2016, to become the Department of Journalism & Creative Media.
In 1973, its first year, the School of Communication created an additional department, the Department of Advertising & Public Relations, from course sequences that had been offered by the Department of Journalism (now Journalism & Creative Media). University Radio Services (now Alabama Public Radio) was established in 1980, as was the Communication Research & Service Center (now the Institute for Communication and Information Research). On 16 May 1981, the Department of Speech Communication (founded in 1932, now Communication Studies) moved from the College of Arts & Sciences to the School of Communication. The former School of Communication became the College of Communication, on 9 September 1988, by action of the Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama, in recognition of the school's expanded role and scope. On 1 July 1997, the College of Communication and the School of Library & Information Studies merged to form the College of Communication & Information Sciences.
The College prepares students for careers in the production of public communication, such as in news, media, and film, for professional positions in government, business, and industry that require training in media and communication and for educational positions requiring graduate study in specific areas of communication and information sciences. The College also provides study of the processes of human and mass communication to prepare students to be effective communicators by fostering their abilities to think critically, to express and to advocate their ideas effectively, and to understand and appreciate the diversity of human communication in practice. Supporting the College in these goals are the Digital Media Center, the Holle Center for Communication Arts, the Betsy Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations, and the Institute for Communication & Information Research.
Mission
The College of Communication and Information Sciences drives positive change through groundbreaking research and creative work, transformative partnerships, and life-changing education, unleashing the power of communication and information to address pressing societal challenges and improve the world for everyone.
Vision
Our goal is to be a national leader in communication and information, demonstrated by our innovative scholarship and unique educational offerings, interdisciplinary collaborations, and the impact of our graduates and faculty locally, nationally, and globally. We will be distinguished by our student-centric approaches to learning and community-engaged partnerships.