Academic Advising

Work with your advisor to declare your major as soon as possible so you can take advantage of programs and opportunities for declared students.

As educators and problem solvers, we advocate for students as they navigate their personal journey of higher education and attain their academic goals. Through inclusion and connection, we open doors to new opportunities for self-awareness and growth, empowering students to define their roles as citizens within local and global communities.

What your advisor will strive to do for you:

• Listen attentively to your questions and concerns
• Respect your unique interests, abilities, and circumstances
• Help you explore options that support your academic, personal, and career interests
• Explain degree requirements
• Clarify information about university regulations, policies, and procedures
• Assist you in building an appropriate class schedule
• Refer you to appropriate campus resources
• Help you learn how to search out answers for yourself

Your advisor will not:

• Make decisions for you. The choices you make about which courses to take or what to major in must be yours. The results of those decisions will make up your college career and no one else’s.
• Be your only source of advice and information. While the Academic Advising Center and departmental advisors can provide a great deal of information, there are other offices you will find helpful along the way. They are valuable sources of information and advice.
• Officially clear you for graduation. While your advisor can help you plan your courses to meet graduation requirements, you are responsible for making sure that you have met all requirements. The Office of the Registrar has the final authority in determining when you have satisfied all of the requirements for your degree.

What you can do:

• Take responsibility for learning and complying with university requirements, policies, and procedures
• Be prepared for advising sessions by bringing appropriate documents (i.e. transcripts, degree audit, summary of transfer credit, test scores), making a list of questions and concerns, and planning a tentative schedule.
• Honestly communicate your unique interests, abilities, and circumstances to your advisor
• Take responsibility for achieving your success and accept the consequences of your academic and personal decisions
• Keep up with your academic progress and maintain your own advising file. Keep all documents until you graduate!
• Meet with your advisor regularly

After reviewing these tips, begin by completing the First Semester Planning Guide with an academic advisor from your major department, or from the Academic Advising Center if you have not yet chosen a major.

• It is your responsibility to make sure you have completed all necessary prerequisites for your courses. Prerequisites are listed at the beginning of each course description in the online catalog. NOTE: The system may allow you to sign up for a class without having the prerequisites.
• Do not overload your first semester. Give yourself time to adjust to the University.
• 12 credit hours (3-4 classes) is the minimum to be considered a full time student (for financial aid, scholarships, insurance, etc.).
• To complete a degree in 4 years without summer classes, enrollment in 15-16 credits (4-5 classes) per semester is necessary. Discuss an appropriate schedule with your advisor.
• The number of credit hours does not necessarily reflect the difficulty of a class.
• Allow enough time to study for each class - usually 2 hours per week for every credit hour.
• Consider work hours and other time commitments. Take a full time class load only if you will be working 20 hours or less per week.  If working 30 hours, start with 2-3 classes.  If working 40 hours or more, start with 1-2 classes.
• Consider adding 1 or 2 activity classes in Exercise and Sport Science or Parks, Recreation and Tourism, or other one to two hour elective courses, to achieve full time status without overloading.
• New first-year students should take lower division courses (1000 and 2000 level) unless your advisor recommends an upper division course (3000 level or above).
• Writing and math classes are strongly encouraged in the first year, if not already completed.
• A combination of major and General Education courses typically makes a good schedule.  If you are undecided on your major, take General Education classes and begin exploring majors.  Undecided students should also consider taking UGS 1050: Major Exploration for help with choosing a major.
• Also consider joining a learning community (LEAP, Honors, Block U, EDPS 2600).
• If you have completed General Education, take major and Bachelor’s Degree requirement classes. Undecided students can explore majors by taking beginning classes in those departments. Most transfer students will still need to complete Bachelor’s Degree requirements, but be aware that your major may include some or all of these requirements.

All first-year students are required to meet with an academic advisor before registering for classes for their second semester.  Sophomores and undeclared juniors are also required to meet with an advisor.  (See mandatory advising).