Academic W rld 411 at Gustavus

Declaring a Major You can declare your major and arrange for an advisor from that department any time after your first semester. Bring the completed form to the Advising Center in the Student Union. How to Arrange for an Advisor –If you don’t know who to ask, meet with the chair of the department to discuss your interests and to get suggestions. Also check the faculty section in the back of the college catalog for information about faculty members’ research areas.

Declaring a Major Spring of your sophomore year is a typical time to declare your major for a reasonable chance to finish your degree in four years. –Majors you are considering that should be started your very first semester because of courses being offered only one semester/year and in sequence include: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, elementary and secondary education, physics, sciences for pre-professional interests, music, math and computer science. –Students interested in Athletic Training, Nursing, Education, Music or Economics/Management should consult department chairs or the college catalog (online) for specific instructions and GPA requirements, etc.

Multiple Majors? Minors? These four years are your last chance in your formal education for breadth of academic experience, while developing one expertise to bring you to your next step after Gustavus whether graduate school, professional school or your first career. Formal schooling that follows your undergraduate degree will be specific and deep.

Faculty advisors and Advising Center staff are available to discuss with you your individual reasoning and considerations to help you decide what is best for you. Finally, it is your decision.

Advisors and Advisees – Who’s Responsible for What? Your responsibility as an advisee –to pursue information, advice, and perspective from faculty and staff – with help from your advisor for referrals; –to know graduation requirements and to keep track of your progress towards your degree – with online access to your degree audits; –to know academic deadlines like course withdraw deadlines, registration, etc. as announced by from the Registrar; –to know the College’s expectations for academic honesty and the consequences for dishonesty as explained by your advisor and your professors; –to know how to prepare for meeting with your advisor for registration approval as explained by your advisor; –to research possible future plans: major, study abroad, internships, graduate or professional school study, career fields, etc. by talking with appropriate campus resources; –to let your advisor know if you are having academic difficulties – for referral to campus resources.

Advisors and Advisees – Who’s Responsible for What? Your advisor’s responsibility – in addition to notes above –advocacy for you, a welcome into this kind of learning, into this network of faculty and staff who care about you, to help you make use of this unusual time in your life; –knowledge of general education, major and graduation requirements and the kind of preparation needed for graduate and professional programs; –knowledge of the College, an overall awareness of campus resources and of the whole life of a student at a residential college – with attention to reminding you of opportunities for learning outside the classroom; –accessibility for talking together – office hours or appointments;

Marking Progress Towards Your Degree Degree Audit –You can use this unofficial audit to figure how many more courses you need to complete to fulfill a major, general education requirements, the total number – as well as requirements for any pre-professional interest, minor or second major. –If you haven’t declared your major, only courses you have taken that fulfill general education requirements and those towards the total number (35) needed to graduate will appear. –If you haven’t declared your major and you want to see how many courses you’ve taken will go towards majors you’re considering, you can do the “What If” option.

–If you have declared your major, courses you have taken and those yet to be taken to fulfill your major will appear. Those courses fulfilling general education requirements will follow. –This is a good piece for planning what opportunities you want to include in your four years, for example, study abroad, internships, J-Term Career Explorations. –The audit shows your GPA and how many courses you still have to complete to meet the 35 course requirement.

Marking Progress Towards Your Degree Application for Graduation –This is the official audit of progress towards your degree which you complete, have reviewed and signed by your advisor, and submit to the Registrar in the spring of your junior year. This is your official safe guard against any surprises in your senior year.