Academic Advisement

Communications Department Advising

Advisors: Communications Faculty Dr. Nancy A. Cheever (chair); Dr. Ryan Bowles Eagle; Dr. Brant Burkey; Prof. Toddy Eames; Dr. Miriam Hernandez; Dr. Ana de la Serna; Dr. Fernando Severino; Dr. Sharon K. Sharp; Dr. John Vanderhoef, Penny White
Location: LIB 5324 (the Communications main office)
Email: comadvising@csudh.edu

Communications students should set up an advisement appointment with a faculty member when they need to discuss the following:

1. Major requirements.
2. Switching or declaring options within the major.
3. Submitting a graduation application (see Graduation Applications below).
4. Graduate school and other career goals.

Communications students should set up an advisement appointment with the Department Chair when they need to discuss the following:

1-4 above, plus:

1. Internships
2. Study Abroad course substitutions
3. Petitions for Exception
4. SAP Appeals

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all advising appointments are virtual.  Links to individual faculty calendars can be found on the main department page under "Scheduling an Appointment with an Advisor."

Graduation Applications: Students can apply for graduation through MyCSUDH once they have completed 90 units and should make an appointment with a faculty advisor and see a UAC (General Education) advisor after submitting the application online. Students are responsible for completing all requirements for graduation and for meeting with a faculty advisor and a UAC advisor to confirm that they are on track to degree completion. Check the CSUDH website for graduation application deadlines.

Communications General Education and Special Projects Advisor

Advisor: Penny Roebuck-White
Location: LIB 5389
Phone:  (310) 243-2162
Email: plabaun@csudh.edu

To Schedule an Advising Appointment:  

To set up an appointment please call or email the Communications Department at (310)-243-3313 or comdept@csudh.edu 

Penny White's advising hours are:

Mondays and Tuesdays: 9:00am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 4pm.

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 9:00am to 11:30am and 1:30pm to 5:30pm.

Appointments must be made 8 hours in advance. Appointments are booked every 30 minutes. Please specify the nature of your appointment and include your student ID number. 

Advising appointment will be done through Zoom by going to at the time of your appointment. You will be admitted from the waiting room.                                                

In most cases, Penny will contact students for a variety of advising issues. Communications students may set up an advisement appointment via the link above with the General Education and Special Projects advisor when they need to discuss the following:

1. General education requirements for the bachelor’s degree
2. Overall graduation requirements
3. Academic probation and disqualification advising
4. University policies and procedures

University Advisement Center

Location: Welch Hall A-220 (by appointment and limited walk-in hours)
Phone:  (310) 243-3538
Website: https://www.csudh.edu/uac/ 

For information on general education requirements for the bachelor’s degree, overall graduation requirements, academic probation and disqualification advising and university policies and procedures students should visit the University Advisement Center.

Expectations of Students

It is important for students to understand that they must take an active role in advisement. Students are responsible for making and following through on their own decisions. As such, they are expected to do the following in relation to the advisement process:

1. Meet regularly (at least twice a year) with the appropriate advisor(s)
2. Come to advisement sessions with a written and prioritized list of questions and issues to discuss with the faculty advisor.
3. Familiarize themselves with all degree requirements, including those for their major option, and University requirements for the BA.
4. Check their campus email account regularly. This is the official means of communication used by the University.
5. Check the Academic Calendar (available via CSUDH.edu) well before each semester begins and note all relevant deadlines such as the fee payment deadline, the drop deadline, etc.
6. Maintain accurate and complete records of all advisement-related materials.