Moving from PCOM to COMM: A Survival Guide

for Graduation

There are two classifications for majors in the Department of Communication: Pre-Communication (PCOM) and Communication Studies (COMM). The PCOM classification applies to those students who have not met the entry requirements to major in COMM. Those requirements are:

1. COMM 111A, and two other 100 or 200 level COMM courses

2. an overall G.P.A of 2.5

3. Completion of 16 semester credits

Why Can’t You Stay a PCOM Major?

Simply put, you can’t graduate with a PCOM major because the University won’t let you. You can only graduate with the COMM major. The PCOM major was instituted to help the COMM department control both the number and quality of students entering the program and to guarantee you advising while waiting to become a COMM major.

What Is The Problem?

In some cases, PCOM majors have been able to enroll in 300 and 400 level classes, either by a sectioning “fluke” or because they have been able to add these courses. So, despite the fact that 300 and 400 level courses are restricted to COMM majors, some PCOM majors have taken these upper division courses even though they do not have the required 2.5 G.P.A. The problem arises in the senior year. Even if you have completed all the COMM courses required for your graduation, the university will not allow you to graduate with a PCOM major.

What Can Be Done?

The 2.5 G.P.A requirement prevents most people from becoming COMM majors. Here are some suggestions for how to raise you G.P.A to the requisite 2.5 so that you can declare COMM as your major.

Tips for Improving Your Cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A.)

This is a listing of options, not all of which may be applicable to your particular case.

1. Retake classes in which you received D’s or F’s.

2. Remove any NF’s from your transcript. You can make requests at the Registration Center in Griz Central.

3. You may petition to retroactively withdraw from a particular semester. If you identify a semester during which you faced extraordinary circumstances, you may wish to remove all grades from that entire semester (grades will be replaced with “W”s). You must identify whether this retroactive withdrawal is for

medical reasons (documented major surgery, illness, or hospitalization) or for academic or personal reasons.

Your request for a retroactive withdrawal is filed on an Academic Appeals Committee petition form, which is available from the Registrar’s Office. The petition requires your substantiated reason for withdrawal and signature, the approval of your academic advisor and department chairperson and the signature of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Petitions may or may not require approval of the Academic Appeals committee members (this depends upon when you file the petition).

A retroactive withdrawal is never automatically granted and rarely more than one semester of coursework is successfully petitioned for removal. Contact the Registrar’s Office at 243-2422 with questions.

It is NOT a good strategy to just continue taking more courses. The more credits you have the more difficult it becomes to raise your G.P.A.

Some Sample Calculations

If your G.P.A. is below 2.5, it is important to understand how to calculate your G.P.A. Your G.P.A. is based on your “quality points” divided by the number of credits taken for a grade or “grade hours.” Grade hours are listed as “GHRS.” Quality points are listed on your transcript at “QPTS.” Every grade you receive is assigned a certain Quality Point value, as follows:

A = 4.0 quality points C = 2.0 quality points

A- = 3.7 quality points C- = 1.7 quality points

B+ = 3.3 quality points D+ = 1.3 quality points

B = 3.0 quality points D = 1 quality point

B- = 2.7 quality points D- = 0.7 quality point C+ = 2.3 quality points F = 0 quality points

In order to see what you need to get a 2.5 G.P.A., try re-calculating your G.P.A. under different scenarios in the courses that you plan to take.

For example, imagine that Mike has an overall G.P.A. of 2.1 and has taken a total of 80 grade hours. This semester he is taking 15 credit hours and receives a 3.0. His overall G.P.A. is raised to only a 2.24.

Grade Hours (GHRS)	Quality Points (QPTS)	G.P.A
80	168.0	2.1
15	45.0	3.0
Total 95	213.0	(2.24)

When you have a large number of credits (e.g. the end of your junior year or the beginning of you senior year) it becomes VERY difficult to “pull up” your G.P.A. Basically, six semesters with an average G.P.A. of 2.1 can’t be pulled up with one semester with a 3.0 G.P.A.

What to Do?

Since your G.P.A is based upon the number of credits “attempted,” even an “F” gets added into your credits. Consider what happens to Jennifer’s G.P.A if she decides to repeat two courses that she failed. Like Mike, Jennifer has 80 credits and a G.P.A of 2.1. However, Jennifer repeats two 3-credit courses that are listed as “F’s” on her transcript. This time she gets two “B’s.” Here is how the calculations work:

Grade Hours	Quality Points	G.P.A
80	168.0	2.1
(Repeat 6 hours)	18.0	3.0
TOTAL 80	213.0	(2.6)

Notice that Jennifer’s G.P.A. has gone from a 2.1 to a 2.6. In her situation, pulling two semesters of “B’s” would have LESS impact (2.3 G.P.A) than retaking two “F’s” and getting “B’s” (2.6 G.P.A.).

If you have courses with “D’s” or “C’s” and want to improve your overall G.P.A. by repeating these courses, the calculations require a slight adjustment. Since you already have some quality points in your overall G.P.A from the “D” (3 credits x 1 quality point = 3 quality points) or “C” (3 credits x 2 quality points = 6 quality points), you subtract these quality points from the quality points that you gain from re-taking the course.

If you make a substantial leap (from a “D” or an “F” to a “B” or an “A”) you can make significant progress towards improving your G.P.A. if you repeat courses. The sooner you repeat courses the more impact it will have (assuming that you get high grades, of course).

Once you have repeated a course, you must pay a fee that is charged for repeating courses in order to have the old grade removed from your transcript.

Calculate Your Risks

Take a close look at your attempted credits and current G.P.A. Perform the simple calculations discussed above to see what might happen to your G.P.A. in upcoming semesters.

To determine if you will get higher grades if you repeat courses, ask yourself these questions:

1. Am I devoting enough time to my school work?

2. What factors have intruded upon my school work in the past (e.g., health, employment, personal problems, etc.)?

3. Should I take a study skills class? Should I hire a tutor?

4. Should I seek career or personal counseling?

These factors have a direct impact upon your performance.

If it looks unlikely that you can get a 2.5 G.P.A. then your best option is to change to another major.

Several difficult decisions are posed in this guide. Know that the COMM department will not override the 2.5 requirement: You must have a 2.5 to declare a COMM major. There are only a few exceptions, for example, if your lowest grades are very old (several years or more) we may disregard these in calculating your G.P.A. Your official G.P.A. is based only on the grades you receive from the University of Montana, however, if you are a transfer student, we will allow you to include your transfer grades in calculating your G.P.A. if this helps you.

After you are a COMM major you only have to meet the University requirement of a 2.0 to graduate. Once you are in as a COMM major, we don’t toss you out if you fall below the 2.5.

Take a moment, and calculate the possible increases in your G.P.A. Decide if it is a realistic for you to become a COMM major.

Please make an appointment with Dr. Alan Sillars, extension 4293, if you have more questions or concerns, have friends check your math, and make decisions that will work BEST for your future plans.