Advising

Meet Your Academic Advisor:

Academic advising in C&IS occurs by professional advisors housed in Tisch Student Services and External Relations on the first floor of Reese Phifer Hall. Our academic advisors value the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of our students and contribute to their academic success through coaching and mentoring. To find out who your academic advisor is, click here.

Student Quick Links:

Schedule an Appointment

Max Hour Override Request

Course Permit Request

Transfer Credit Reporting

Late Drop Course Request

Late Add Course Request

Course Repeat Appeal

Graduation Guide

Click here to view the steps you need to take to graduate.

E-Advising:

Click here to fill out an E-Advising form. This form is only for students who already know the classes they want to take next semester. Students on academic warning or with an advising pin may not use this form for advising and are required to make an appointment.

Prepare for Advising and Registration:

Academic advisors in C&IS are prepared to guide you in registering for classes each semester.

Before registration begins, follow the steps below to ensure you are informed and prepared for your advising appointment.

Step 1: Review your degree information

Log in to myBama and select “DegreeWorks” on the left side.
- Confirm that your major and minor are correct and look through your remaining course requirements.
- Step-by-step instructions on how to use Degreeworks are available in the “How-to Videos” section of this page.
If you are still exploring major and/or minor options, you can use the UA Catalog to identify programs of interest: https://catalog.ua.edu/programs/
Begin thinking about which classes you would like to take in the fall and make a list of preferences.
Step 2: Review your registration information
From the Student tab on myBama, select “Registration” from the “Academic and Student Services” box. Click on “Registration Status.”
Note your registration date and time. Write it down in your phone or planner. This is when you can begin registering for classes.
Check that you have no holds or advising pins. If there are any holds or restrictions listed (as shown by a red X), make an appointment with your advisor.
Step 3: Write a list of questions or topics you need help with
Before you meet with your advisor, identify the specific topics you want to discuss. You can use the list below and circle any topics that you have questions about:
- Exploring major and/or minor options
- Declaring a major and/or minor
- General education/degree requirements
- Course planning for Summer and/or Fall 2022
- Academic Warning
- Improving academic performance
- Withdrawing from a class
- Getting involved on campus
- Understanding transfer credit
Step 4: Contact your advisor
Here is a list of ways you can contact your advisor:
- Set up an appointment: online at cis.ua.edu/advising, email tischstudentserv@ua.edu, or call 205-348-8599
- Email (brief questions or schedule approvals only)
  - The subject line should read: “Advising Question- [Major]”
  - Be sure to include your CWID!
- Walk-in hours
- Group advising
If you use financial aid or scholarships to pay for school, be sure you are aware of what requirements you need to meet to keep that money.
Many types of aid or scholarship require you to take a certain number of credit hours and/or maintain a certain GPA. A minimum of 12 credit hours per semester is typical.
For questions about financial aid or scholarships, reach out to the respective office or Student Account Services.

How-to Videos:

Our professional academic advisors located in the office of Tisch Student Services and External Relations have produced a series of helpful videos to walk you through some commonly encountered issues and frequently asked questions related to DegreeWorks, course registration and more. Click “View all” below to browse these videos.

View all >>

Major Phase Sheets:

Below are handouts listing the requirements for each major in C&IS. Be aware that these handouts may not include general education, minor, and general elective requirements. Please contact your advisor with any questions regarding major and/or degree requirements.

Accelerated Master’s Program:

C&IS offers three accelerated master’s programs in advertising and public relations, communication studies, and journalism and media studies.

To learn more about these programs, click here and use passcode ?76Hq?e^

Frequently Asked Questions:

Our advisors have a crafted a curated list of their most frequently asked questions from their advisees, separated by category. To view the full list of FAQ’s, visit our Advising FAQ page here.

Additional Helpful links:

Involvement and Experiential Learning:

Registrar and Billing Information:

Student Services and Support:

Meet Your Academic Advisor:

Student Quick Links:

Schedule an Appointment

Max Hour Override Request

Course Permit Request

Transfer Credit Reporting

Late Drop Course Request

Late Add Course Request

Course Repeat Appeal

Graduation Guide

E-Advising:

Prepare for Advising and Registration:

Step 1: Review your degree information

Step 2: Review your registration information

Step 3: Write a list of questions or topics you need help with

Step 4: Contact your advisor

How-to Videos:

DegreeWorks Overview:

Using DegreeWorks “What-if” tool:

Advanced Course Search:

How to Register for Classes:

Check for holds and advising PINS:

Transfer Equivalency Tables:

Major Phase Sheets:

Accelerated Master’s Program:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Additional Helpful links: