Advising

Advising is provided by the student's advisor and committee, as well as by the Program Director. Guidance on administrative proceedures can also be obtained from the Program Grauate Coordinator.

M.A. Advisor

Each student is assigned a temporary academic advisor upon admission into the program. A permanent academic advisor must be selected by the student no later than the end of finals week of the fall quarter of his or her first year of study.

The M.A. advisor assists the student with a plan of study and supervises the student's research and progress towards satisfying degree requirements. The M.A. advisor also serves as chair of the student's M.A. committee.

It is not unusual for a student's interests to evolve such that a chain of advisors is indicated. A change can be made with the approval of the program director. Of course, a change of advisors may delay the student's progress toward degree completion.

M.A. Committee

Every student has their own M.A. Committee, composed of program faculty members with expertise that come closest to the student's interest. The M.A. Committee generally consists of the student's M.A. advisor and two other members of the program's ladder faculty. With the approval of the M.A. Advisor, the student's committee may include one member who is not on the program faculty, provided that this fourth member holds a professorial or adjunct professorial title at UC Davis. Lecturers may not serve as M.A. Committee members.

Program Director and the Graduate Committee

The M.A. Program in Communication is directed by a Graduate Committee. The Chair of this committee as the Program Director and is responsible for leading the committee and directing the day-to-day activities of the program. The Program Director often serves as an informal advisor to students, especially in their first quarter of study.

Graduate Coordinator

Questions about administrative forms and policies are best directed to the program's Graduate Coordinator.

Program Bylaws

The decisions and proceedings of the Director of Graduate Studies, Graduate Committee, various M.A. and Advisors are governed by the program's bylaws, a copy of which can be downloaded from the Department's web site.

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