Academic Advising

Importance of Academic Advising

Completing the requirements for your degree in a timely manner requires planning. Academic advisers can help you develop your academic plan. Don’t wait until you have a problem to see an adviser. Let the adviser help you prevent any problems. The sooner you make the decision about what your major will be, the better you can plan your academic program. There are many program choices available at SDSU. An adviser can assist you with this decision process. Choosing the major that is right for you and compatible with your life goals will enhance your academic success. Requirements, policies, and procedures may change from year to year. Advisers can clarify which changes may affect you and which will not.

Advising Services

• Understand advising tools and graduation requirements
• Develop an academic plan
• Evaluate transfer credit
• Choose or change a major
• Clear mathematics and writing requirements
• Remove probationary status to avoid disqualification
• File for graduation
• Prepare to enter a professional school (medical, dental, legal, etc.)
• Plan your next semester’s schedule

Major Academic Plans (MAPs)

The MAPs website located at http://www.sdsu.edu/mymap was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and complete degree requirements in a timely manner. Students may also access their Personal MAP at http://www.sdsu.edu/portal. The Major Academic Plans (MAPs) created for each major are not meant to encompass every major-specific requirement or a required sequencing of courses. Refer to this catalog for a complete description of requirements, including: course prerequisites, minimum grade requirements, unit limitations, and General Education approved courses and distribution requirements.

The MAPs will help you identify which General Education course will also fulfill a major preparation course requirement. They will also suggest sequencing to ensure you complete prerequisites prior to taking the higher-level course.

Questions about graduation requirements and General Education should be directed to the Academic Advising Center at 619-594-6668. The Academic Advising Center is located in Student Services West, Room 1551 (north of Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union) and online at http://www.sdsu.edu/advising.

Student Responsibilities Regarding Advising

General Catalog. Know your catalog year (or years) for your General Education requirements and for your major requirements and be sure to access the online SDSU General Catalog. Provided you maintain your enrollment at SDSU, this catalog or these catalogs establish the requirements you must complete for graduation. Details regarding catalog rights are listed under Graduation Requirements.

Use your degree evaluation. Your online degree evaluation, available at http://www.sdsu.edu/portal, is a personalized document that provides a status report on your progress toward completing your graduation requirements. The degree evaluation outlines how your courses fulfill your General Education, major preparation, major, and other graduation requirements and shows which classes you can select to fulfill these requirements. Once you reach 90 units and apply for graduation, you will be sent an official graduation evaluation describing your remaining degree requirements. You can review your unofficial degree evaluation in the WebPortal to ensure that you are on track to graduate within your desired time frame. Don’t risk a delay in graduation due to a missing graduation requirement.

See your adviser regularly. Don’t wait until you encounter a problem before seeing an adviser. Check your degree progress regularly.

Keep an advising file. Keep a personal copy of transcripts (official or unofficial) from each college or university you have attended in a file and bring it to your advising session. SDSU does not release copies of other schools’ records. Evaluations, test scores, and other important academic information should also be kept in your personal advising file.

Plan your advising sessions during non-peak times. Advisers and advising centers are busiest during registration periods and the first weeks of classes. Avoid these busy advising times with a little planning. Faculty advisers (major advisers) are not always available during the summer months or between semesters.

File for graduation. Graduation is not automatic; you must apply to graduate during the stated graduation application periods. Filing early will assure a final graduation evaluation before your last semester of enrollment. It is recommended you file for graduation once you have passed 90 units. Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/applytograduate.

Seeing an Adviser

There are many types of advisers at SDSU. For general undergraduate advising regarding graduation requirements, General Education, competency requirements, probation and disqualification, and major selection, go to the Academic Advising Center, Student Services West, Room 1551, 619-594-6668.

Major/faculty advisers for each major are available to help you plan your upper division course schedule, and provide you with advice about career options and graduate school. For advising in your undergraduate or graduate major, contact the adviser or advising center assigned to your major and class level. A more detailed listing follows. A directory of SDSU academic advisers is available at http://www.sdsu.edu/majoradvisers.

Students in the Educational Opportunity Program needing advising should go to the Office of Educational Opportunity Programs/Ethnic Affairs, Student Services East, Room 2109, 619-594-6298.

For general requirements for master’s or doctoral degrees (except for the major), contact the Division of Graduate Affairs, Student Services East, Room 1410, 619-594-5213.

For teaching credential advising, contact the College of Education, Office of Student Services (EBA-259). Teachers holding preliminary California credentials issued on the basis of programs completed at other universities or in other states, may secure program advising from the Office of Student Services, Education and Business Administration, Room 259, 619-594-6320.

For specialized advising such as preprofessional advising (premedical, prelaw, etc.), contact the adviser assigned to your preprofessional area. A detailed listing follows and can also be found at http://www.sdsu.edu/preprof.

New Student Orientation is conducted by the Office of New Student and Parent Programs, 619-594-1509, for new students (freshmen and transfers) and provides important pre-registration advising. Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/orientation.

Advising Centers

Academic Advising Center

Student Services West, Room 1551, 619-594-6668, FAX 619-594-4902, Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

The Academic Advising Center works with the university community to encourage and promote student learning in a welcoming and supportive environment. We clarify university policies, procedures, and requirements to ensure student retention and timely graduation. The center staff facilitates academic responsibility and competence by educating students to use resources effectively.

Advisers in the Academic Advising Center are available to help you understand SDSU graduation requirements, including General Education requirements and institutional policies and procedures. If you are undecided about a major, an adviser can help you develop an educational plan consistent with your life goals and objectives. Advisers can also connect you with important campus resources and services.

• Graduation Requirements
• General Education
• Undeclared Students
• University Academic Policies and Regulations
• Unofficial Evaluations
• Probation/Disqualification Advising

Educational Opportunity/Ethnic Affairs
Student Services East, Room 2109, 619-594-6298
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Preprofessional Advising

It is recommended that students contact their preprofessional adviser in their first semester at SDSU. Advisement for students planning to attend professional schools is available for the following programs:

* Advisers in prelaw are not available during the summer months.

College of Arts and Letters

Fowler College of Business

College of Education

(Degrees, Credentials, and Certificate Programs)

* Advising in Education and Business Administration, Room 259, 619-594-6320

College of Engineering

College of Health and Human Services

College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

College of Sciences

Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement

Division of Graduate Affairs

SDSU Imperial Valley

It is recommended that SDSU Imperial Valley students see an adviser prior to registration each semester. Call 760-768-5512 to schedule appointments with the advisers listed below.

The following advisers correspond to the various majors and programs.

Undergraduate Division of Student Affairs

Graduate