Academic Advising

What is Advising?

Academic advising is a process by which an adviser (faculty or professional staff member) helps a student plan, select, and complete academic goals without unnecessary delays or expense. Students work with an adviser to plan a program of study in which courses -- taken in proper sequence -- lead to completion of a major and degree.

Importance of Advising

Get to know your adviser and take the initiative to seek help when you need it. Let your adviser get to know you.
  • Examine your academic, career, and social goals and how these might affect your life's work.
  • Become familiar with the information about your school or college in the college catalog. Learn your degree requirements, using the college catalog and major requirement sheets. Know the basic graduation requirements of your chosen major or minor well enough to plan your own progress toward completion of these requirements.
  • Study the Schedule of Classes carefully prior to each registration period. Keep current on academic policies, procedures, and requirements.
  • Ask questions! Prepare a list of questions or concerns before each meeting with your adviser. If you don't understand a policy or procedure, ask questions until you do.
  • Know the academic calendar. Know when to register and drop or add classes. Set up appointments with your adviser well in advance of these deadlines. Have a tentative schedule prepared. Make your own decisions after the adviser presents your options.
  • Study your advising checksheet (unofficial transcript), which shows your scholastic standing.
  • See that any academic records from other institutions are sent to the Admissions Office for evaluation.
  • Keep personal copies of schedules, drop/add forms, etc., and other important information regarding your academic progress. Use this information to make the most of appointments with your advisor. Keep a personal record of progress towards your degree so that if you talk to different advisers they will understand where you are and what advice will be helpful to you.
  • Become familiar with the Career Development Center and other resources at GSU. Discuss your long-range goals, career opportunities, and selection of a major or minor with career counselors, faculty, your academic adviser, and other resource people.
  • Become familiar with student services and student organizations on campus.

When To See Your Adviser

  • To discuss problems which affect your academic performance.
  • To select courses for the upcoming semester or to adjust courses which have been dropped or added.
  • To declare a major.
  • To discuss requirements for or progress towards a degree.
  • To discuss career considerations.
Become familiar with your adviser's office hours/schedule. Whenever possible, make an appointment instead of "dropping in."

If advice is needed and you have no appointment, select a time when your adviser is on duty and allow plenty of time in case you have to wait.

The first and last weeks of each semester are often very busy times for advisers, so schedule longer appointments to discuss issues such as possible majors and careers during the middle of the semester.

Graduate Advisement

All graduate students in the Department of Communication should seek advisement before their first semester of attendance at Georgia State University. 

MA students should seek advisement from their graduate Area Director every semester before registering for classes.  By the time the student has taken their 7th class, he/she should choose (in consultation with their Area Director) a thesis adviser who will guide them through the thesis process.  

Advisers in the department have scheduled office hours each semester. In order to obtain these hours, contact the main office at (404) 651-3200. The advisers in each of the primary areas of emphasis are listed below; students may also obtain advisement from the Director of Graduate Studies. If the student has a question regarding who should be her/his adviser, she/he should contact the Director of Graduate Studies.

Ph.D. students in their first year of coursework should seek advisement from their graduate Area Director every semester before registering for classes.  By the end of the first year, the student should choose (in consultation with their Area Director) a graduate advisory committee consisting of a chair and at least two other appropriate graduate faculty.  This committee should meet annually with the student until the student has completed their comprehensive examinations.  This advisory committee works with the student to determine an appropriate set of courses and to prepare for the comprehensive examinations.

Dr. Michael Bruner - Director of Graduate Studies, Public Communication, Mass Communication, Human and Social Influence - (404) 651-3465

Dr. Greg Smith - Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Moving Image Studies, Film/Video and Digital Imaging, - (404) 463-9428

Tawanna Tookes - Administrative Specialist, Graduate Program
(404) 651-2682