Telecommunication, Information Studies and Media FAQs

How do I make an advising appointment?

Meet your TC advisors and view details on all your advising options, including how to schedule a 30-minute appointment.

I don't see any available appointments. What are my options?

The appointments are posted for a week at a time. They are in high demand and become booked very quickly. Advisors post appointments each Wednesday morning for the following week only; therefore that is an excellent time to log-in to the appointment system. You may check for open appointments at any time because cancellations may occur. Express advising is also an option during Fall & Spring semesters. On Wednesday from 8-11 am and 1-4 pm, you can come in and sign up to see an advisor on a first come, first serve basis. No appointments are necessary for Express advising.

If I am a prospective student, how can I meet with an academic advisor?

If you do not have an MSU Net ID, you can still make an appointment with an advisor. You will need to call the appropriate advisor in order to schedule the appointment. This list will provide advisor names, the majors they advise and phone numbers. Please note: current MSU students are not permitted to schedule an appointment by calling an advisor.

How do I change my major?

You must have an overall GPA of a 2.0 or higher.
If you are below 56 credits, you will need to go to your UUD office and notify them you would like your major changed. The major change can take 24-48 hours to be take effect.
If you are above 56 credits, you will need to go to the Academic and Student Affairs Office in Room 189 CAS. The major change will not be complete until you speak with an office assistant in 189 CAS.

How do I apply to the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media?

There is no application. If you are currently a TC major, your record will be reviewed upon completion of 56 credits.

How do I calculate my major GPA?

Login into your STUINFO account.  Click 'Courses by Subject'. Only use your TC courses when calculating this.
Step 1: Calculate the GPA points for each TC course by taking the credits earned in that course and multiplying it by the grade you received.*
Step 2: Add all of the GPA points together for all TC courses.
Step 3: Divide total GPA points by total credits in TC courses.

*If you received a 0.0 in a course the credits for that course must be added into your total credits in Step 3. If you repeated a course multiple times the most recent grade is the only one calculated into your major GPA, whether or not you received a higher grade.

If you need assistance calculating your major GPA come into 189 CAS with a piece of picture ID.

What are the prerequisites for a class?

Check out the Schedule of Courses or the Description of Courses for information on classes, including prerequisites, restrictions, descriptions and semester offerings.

How do I get an override for a TC class?

If you are attempting to enroll for a class that is full, you will need to sign up for an "alert" through Schedule Builder. This will notify you when a seat opens in the class. If you are looking to have a prerequisite waived, please use the online Course Request system: http://override.cas.msu.edu. For online sections of a course, please send request to advisor in that program (e.g. ADV 205 to ADV advisor). For all online CAS *** courses, please email Ann Hoffman, hoffman5@msu.edu. Please be sure to include your name, PID, course #/section, semester and brief explanation for requesting the override. 

What is a 'late add' and how do I go about getting one?

After the 5th day of the semester, adds into courses are normally not permitted. If there is an extenuating circumstance, they must request the late add through the Academic & Student Affairs office. The Academic & Student Affairs office will review circumstances and the student will be notified of the late add decision.

Where is the Telecommunication, Information Studies & Media Office located?

409 Communication Arts & Sciences.

How do I drop a course?

Anytime prior to the start of classes, through the middle of the semester you can drop your own classes on the WebEnroll System.
If you are above 56 credits and it is after the middle of the semester you need to schedule an appointment with Ann Hoffman by calling Joyce Crandell at 355.1794.
If you are below 56 credits and it is after the middle of the semester you will need to contact your UUD office.

How do I find which professor is teaching a class?

Use the Schedule of Courses to find the professor teaching a specific class. If no professor is shown, you can contact the TC Department for more information (517.355.8372).

How do I contact a professor?

Visit the Directory.

What is a Cognate?

A cognate is a Media and Information degree requirement and an area of concentration outside of the student's major. The cognate may complement your concentration area or expand your knowledge and skills in a different area. You work with your advisor to build your cognate. Students must complete a cognate in 1 of the 4 following interdisciplinary areas: Business, Fine Arts, Physical Science, or Social Science. Handouts of Cognates are available in room 189 Communication Arts & Sciences or online.

How do I substitute a class or waive a requirement?

To apply for a waiver, please use the online Course Request system: http://override.cas.msu.edu.

How do I get involved in a TC student organization?

There are several groups with which you can be involved: Check them out here.

How do I find an internship?

Finding an internship is similar to finding a job. 

1. Let family and friends know that you are looking; you never know what connections might be within your own circle.
2. Register on MySpartanCareer.
3. If you are looking at a specific town, search the web for the Chamber of Commerce or town website for information regarding businesses in the area.
4. Consider not-for-profit organizations and find their local branch.

What if I am considering going to graduate school?

The first thing you should consider is taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or other appropriate entrance exam for the particular program you are considering. For further information on how to register for the GRE and testing services, check out the MSU Testing Office. For help in finding graduate programs in your area of interest, check out www.petersons.com for a comprehensive search of academic programs across the country.

Will I need to take the GRE to get into graduate school?

For most, but not all programs.