Advisement
 
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Advisement Overview 

A. What to Expect
B. General Education Archives
C. GPA Calculator
D. FAQ
E. Choosing a Major
F. Academic Difficulty
G. Scholarship Information

Each semester you will need to discuss your plans for the following semester with your advisor. Through this dialogue, you can clarify your educational goals and how to achieve them. If you have not decided on a major, make an appointment with a professional advisor in the Advisement Center.

A. Academic Difficulty

Your Responsibilities:

Prepare a list of courses you want to take. You may not be sure about all your requirements, but make a practice schedule. Then you and your advisor can discuss your choices and other options. Make a list of questions to ask your advisor.

Bring your audit, a major worksheet, and anything else your think your advisor might need. For example, bring a course description of transfer courses in your major.

Make and keep your appointment. Faculty and staff keep very busy schedules, so you should not expect to see them without an appointment. Your appointment is for your benefit. Take advantage of this time to discuss your specific situation with your advisor.

Be Honest! If you are having academic difficulty, your advisor can direct you to tutoring services or suggest better choices for you to make.

Your Goals:

Choose courses based on your educational goals. In other words, avoid taking a course just because it is offered at a convenient time.

Your schedule will likely have a balance of General Education, School Core, and Major courses. You certainly do not have to finish all your "Gen Ed" before you start on your major. In fact, all majors have foundation classes you can take during your first 28 credits. Usually these classes also fulfill lower level Gen Ed requirements. In this way, you can test your interest in a major before you commit to it.

If you are a full-time student in good academic standing, you should take an average of 16 credits per semester in order to graduate in four years. If you take less, you may have to make up credits in summer sessions or attend an extra semester.

Do not miss your registration window! There really is no excuse with web registration.  You can register from any computer that has internet access. The web also provides a longer window of opportunity to register and make changes.

 Make sure you clear any registration holds before your registration window opens.

Your Advisor's Responsibilities:

  • Advisors will post office hours and keep appointments.
  • They will help you make decisions and find information.
  • They will clarify requirements and procedures.
  • They will help you make choices to achieve your academic goals.


Quick Advice for Choosing Classes:

Basic Tools:

  • Your Major/s and Minor requirements. Major Sheets are available in bookshelves outside of the Advisement Center.  Requirements are also in the Catalog hard copy.  If you are undecided, get your top three choices.
  • Course Descriptions are found on the Web at the Web for Students site.
  • A General Education Requirements list for this semester found in the Schedule of Classes or on the Web at the Web for Students site.
  • A current Schedule of Classes available in hard copy or on the web at the Web for Students site.

Basic Goal:

  • Choose courses that sound interesting to you and meet degree requirements. 
  • Degree requirements include General Education, School Core, and Major.  Minors are optional. Typically each student has some credits of "Free Electives," courses that do not meet particular requirements, but are needed to reach 128 credits to graduate. Free Electives can be used for internships, co-operative education, minors, or simply any course you find interesting.

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