Policies and Resources

​​ Policies

Students should familiarize themselves with the following:

• Academic Policies page on the College of Communication website
• DePaul University Graduate Student Handbook (university-wide policies)
• College of Communication Graduate Student Handbook (policies specific to the College of Communication)
• Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records

Campus Services and Resources

DePaul University offers comprehensive services and resources for students:

Academics

• Academic Calendar: Familiarize yourself with important dates and deadlines (including add/drop dates and tuition due dates) throughout the academic year.
• Bookstore: The Loop Campus bookstore is located in the DePaul Center.
• Campus Connect: Register for classes, update contact information, apply for graduation and track grades and degree progress.
• Dean of Students: Provides resources, advocacy, and support for students through recognition, response, resolution, and reassurance. The DoS office manages the Code of Student Responsibility.
• Desire2Learn (D2L): DePaul's online course management tool. Students are automatically added to the course roster in D2L when they enroll in classes. You can view course materials, submit assignments, and view grades in D2L.
• Independent Study: Students have an option to compete an Independent Study for academic credit as a part of their graduate program.
• Libraries: Located on both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, the DePaul libraries provide a variety of resources and support for students.
• Writing Center: The writing center is a great resource for students who need assistance preparing and/or editing writing assignments.

Campus Information

• Bookstore : The Loop Campus bookstore is located in the DePaul Center.
• Campus Maps: Navigate both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses.
• Campus Recreation: Graduate student memberships are available, and facilities are located on the Lincoln Park Campus.
• DePaul email account: An optional email account for students to use, make sure you update your primary email account in Campus Connect.
• Housing: Most graduate students live off-campus in one of Chicago's many neighborhoods, and Student Space is a company that helps graduate students in Chicago find apartments to rent. Graduate students may also consider the University Center for on-campus graduate housing that is only a few blocks away from the Loop Campus.
• Libraries: Located on both the Lincoln Park and Loop campuses, the DePaul libraries provide a variety of resources and support for students.
• Parking: Parking options for both campuses.

Career Management

• Career Center: Meet with a career advisor based on the career industries that you're interested in.
• Handshake: DePaul's online internship and job repository.
• Internships: Opportunities to earn academic credit while pursuing an internship are available for College of Communication graduate students.
• Student Employment: DePaul's on-campus job opportunities.

Extracurricular

• Campus Recreation: Graduate student memberships are available, and facilities are located on the Lincoln Park Campus.
• Co-Curricular Organizations and Activities: Co-curricular opportunities to be involved outside of the classroom. 

Housing

Most graduate students live off-campus in one of Chicago's many neighborhoods. Students may want to check out DePaul’s Off-Campus Housing website and Student Space for apartment finding resources. Graduate students may also consider the University Center for on-campus graduate housing that is only a few blocks away from the Loop Campus.

Student Services

• CTA U-PASS: A discounted CTA pass is available for full-time DePaul graduate students (must be registered for at least two courses per quarter).
• Dean of Students: Provides resources, advocacy, and support for students through recognition, response, resolution, and reassurance. The DoS office manages the Code of Student Responsibility.
• DePaul Central: One-stop integrated service area for students to take care of business transactions in Student Records, Student Accounts, Financial Aid and the Payment Center.
• Financial Aid: An office that assists students in understanding the financial process and cost management.
• ID Services: Your DePaul ID Card serves as your official student identification.
• Legal Services: Croak Student Legal Services (CSLS) provides high quality, confidential, and free legal advice to active DePaul students on a wide range of common legal problems.
• Office of International Students and Scholars: Provides advising services for International students at DePaul.
• Center for Students with Disabilities: Provides support and accommodations for students with disabilities to ensure full participation in their university experience.
• Writing Center: The writing center is a great resource for students who need assistance preparing and/or editing writing assignments.

Transfer Credit

College of Communication graduate programs vary with regard to the number of transferred credit hours allowed, with a maximum threshold of three courses (12 credit hours) that can be transferred in. Students must have earned a grade "B" or better in graduate-level courses in order for credit to be transferred. The courses must have been taken in the last five years and not taken toward the completion of another academic degree. Course transferability is not guaranteed, and each request will be addressed on an individual basis.

TransferCreditForm.pdf