Communication Arts academic advising appointments are remote and in-person during this time and can be scheduled through Starfish. Please do not schedule an in-person advising appointment if you are not feeling well.
If you do not have Starfish, go to ‘My UW’ and search for ‘Starfish.’ Click ‘Add to Home’ and it will be added to your dashboard so you can start scheduling. If you need more guidance, you can find more information here.
Schedule an Academic Advising Appointment
Advisor: Steffie Halverson
Academic Advising Appointments (Remote, Phone & In-Person): Starfish
Phone: 608-262-2285
Office: 6114 Vilas (If you’re not feeling well, please reschedule or switch to a Teams or phone meeting.)
E-mail: advising@commarts.wisc.edu
Advisor: Mary Rossa
Advising Appointments (Teams, Phone, In-Person): Starfish
Phone: 608-262-0992
Office: 6068 Vilas Hall (If you’re not feeling well, please reschedule or switch to a Teams or phone meeting.)
E-mail: advising@commarts.wisc.edu
Transfer Students
Transferring to UW-Madison is an exciting time in your life. You’ll be taking new courses, meeting new people, and exploring a new major. Below, you’ll find resources and suggestions to help make your transition as smooth as possible.
General Transfer Information
Visit the Office of Admissions website for the following information:
- Application materials and deadlines
- UW-Madison requirements for admission (GPA, required coursework, course breadth, etc.)
- Test credit (AP, IB, CLEP)
- Transfer credit – After you’ve been offered admission and you’ve confirmed your intent to enroll, the Office of Admissions will perform an official evaluation of your transfer credit. In the meantime, check the online transfer equivalency database to see if your school(s) and courses are listed.
- Transferology can be accessed by any current or prospective student interested in seeing how their credits will transfer in the University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College, and Wisconsin Tribal College systems, as well as several two-year institutions from Minnesota and Illinois. The Credit Evaluation Service will gradually be expanding the data included in Transferology to the other nation schools participating in using this platform.
Visit the Transfer Transition Program website for the following information:
- Schedule campus visits
- Campus Housing
- Financial Aid
- Connect with other transfer students
Communication Arts Major Transfer Information
At UW-Madison, students pursuing a Communication Arts major focus their studies in one of two areas: Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies or Radio-Television-Film.
Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies
The Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies concentration deals with social, psychological, and practical aspects of communication and human behavior. Students focus on public, mass, online, organizational, group, and interpersonal communication. They develop qualitative and quantitative research skills, conceptual and analytical thinking, and effective oral and written communication.
Radio-Television-Film
The Radio, Television, & Film concentration focuses on the history, theory, criticism, cultural uses, and production practices of television, film, radio, and digital media. While there is no production major, students are required to take a media production course in order to gain a concrete understanding of the possibilities of this medium. Emphasis is on critical analysis, creative expression, and an understanding of how media functions in our society.
Students must choose one concentration and complete the respective major requirements. In addition to the major requirements, students must complete either the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I meet with a Communication Arts advisor before transferring?
Yes. Students should email a Communication Arts advisor at advising@commarts.wisc.edu to set up an appointment. Please bring the following information with you to the appointment:
- Unofficial transcript from current institution
- List of how courses will transfer to UW-Madison using Transferology
- If transferring from a UW System School, create a transfer plan
Should I take Comm Arts courses before transferring to UW-Madison?
We recommend that students limit the number of Comm Arts courses they take to no more than two. Students should take courses to satisfy BA or BS degree requirements before transferring.
How will my communication courses transfer to UW-Madison?
The UW-Madison Office of Admissions will evaluate your courses for equivalencies. For a course to count towards the Communication Arts major, it must be assigned the subject code of COM ARTS and be numbered 200 or higher or equated as a COMM ARTS ELECTIVE.
Which Comm Arts Major courses should I enroll in my first semester on campus?
We recommend that you enroll in either Comm Arts 250 (Survey of Contemporary Media) or 260 (Communication and Human Behavior), depending on the concentration you wish to pursue. Since these are the foundation courses for the major, they provide a great introduction to the major.
What can I do with a Communication Arts major?
Communication Arts alumni have gone on to careers in advertising, business, law, information technology, education, government, health, human resources, non-profit, publishing, research, sales, and entertainment. Learn more about internship resources and careers.
Tips for Success
- Limit yourself to two Comm Arts courses at your current institution.
- Meet with a Communication Arts advisor after getting settled on campus to learn more about the major and strategize about course selection.
- Do not discard syllabi from any institution until you graduate and are sure you do not need them.
- If you are considering studying abroad, start planning now.
- Get involved in campus life.
Related Subjects
Students interested in studying communication have also explored majors or certificates in
Prospective Students
Choosing which college to attend after you graduate from high school is exciting. You’ll find communication programs vary from university to university. At UW-Madison, students pursuing a Communication Arts major focus their studies in one of two areas: Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies or Radio-Television-Film.
Communication Science and Rhetorical Studies
The Communication Science & Rhetorical Studies concentration deals with social, psychological, and practical aspects of communication and human behavior. Students focus on public, mass, online, organizational, group, and interpersonal communication. They develop qualitative and quantitative research skills, conceptual and analytical thinking, and effective oral and written communication.
Radio, Television, and Film
The Radio, Television, & Film concentration focuses on the history, theory, criticism, cultural uses, and production practices of television, film, radio, and digital media. While there is no production major, students are required to take a media production course in order to gain a concrete understanding of the possibilities of this medium. Emphasis is on critical analysis, creative expression, and an understanding of how media functions in our society.
Learn more about major courses, internships, and careers.
Degree Requirement for Students in the College of Letters and Science
Students pursuing a Communication Arts major may complete either a bachelor of arts or a bachelor of science.
Information on Applying to UW-Madison
Visit the Office of Admissions page for information about application deadlines, tuition costs, academic programs, student life, and much more.
Schedule a time to tour campus.
While you’re visiting campus, visit a course. From September to April, prospective students are welcome to visit classes on campus. For specific information about courses, times and locations, please click here. Keep in mind that the course schedule is subject to change and that exams will occur throughout the semester. Our professors also ask that you stay for the entire duration of the class period and that you turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices during the lecture.
Related Subjects
Students interested in studying communication have also explored majors or certificates in