Importance of Academic Advising
Completing the requirements for your degree in a timely manner requires planning. Academic advisers can help you develop meaningful academic goals. Advisers provide you with educational guidance and connect you to important campus resources and services for 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
- File for graduation
- Prepare to enter a professional school (medical, dental, legal, etc.)
- Plan your next semester’s schedule
- Identify campus resources and support services
Advising Tools
Degree Evaluation
The Degree Evaluation is a personalized academic advising tool to help you track your progress toward graduation. Your online degree evaluation, available in WebPortal at https://sunspot.sdsu.edu/pls/webapp/web_menu.login 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. You can review your unofficial degree evaluation in 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.
Major Academic Plans (MAPs)
MAPs provide a recommended four-year sequence to complete general education, major, and graduation requirements. The MAPs website was created to help students navigate the course requirements for their majors and complete degree requirements in a timely manner. 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.
Student Responsibilities Regarding Advising
University 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 University 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 academic advising tools. Your degree evaluation, MAP and university catalog are important advising tools that you should review regularly. These advising tools will help you understand your graduation requirements.
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. 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.
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 to support you. The Student Success Help Desk can help you find an adviser or connect you with a campus resource.
Each first year student will be assigned a coordinated care adviser. This adviser will ensure that all first year students have the navigational and developmental support to succeed at the university. First year students can find their assigned coordinated care adviser in SDSU Navigate (EAB).
The Office of the Registrar
Student Services West, Room 1551, 619-594-6871, FAX 619-594-4902
The Office of the Registrar works with the university community to encourage and promote student learning in a welcoming and supportive environment. They support student success through records evaluation. Evaluation Specialists in the Office of the Registrar are available to assist with transfer credit evaluation and graduation evaluations once a student is an active graduation candidate.
Student Services East, Room 2109, 619-594-6298
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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 College of Graduate Studies, Student Services East, Room 1410, 619-594-5213.
For teaching credential advising, contact the College of Education, Office of Student Services (LH-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, Lamden Hall, Room 259, 619-594-6320.
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 and campus resources. Visit http://www.sdsu.edu/orientation.
College Academic Advising
Major/faculty advisers for each major and minor are available to help you plan your 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 undergraduate academic advisers is available at https://studentsuccess.sdsu.edu/major_advisor_directory. Each of the academic colleges can also provide advising support to connect you with an academic adviser.
College of Arts and Letters
College of Education
College of Engineering
College of Health and Human Services
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
College of Sciences
Division of Faculty Advancement and Student Success
Fowler College of Business
Preprofessional Advising
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 https://studentsuccess.sdsu.edu/seeing_an_advisor#preprofessional. 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:
Predental
Prelaw
Premedical
Preoccupational Therapy
Preoptometry
Prepharmacy
Prephysical Therapy
Prephysician Assistant
Prepodiatric Medicine
Presocial Work
Preveterinary Medicine
* Advisers in prelaw are not available during the summer months.
For additional information, visit preprofessional advising.
College of Arts and Letters
Assistant Dean
- Arts and Letters, Room 172, 619-594-6270
Africana Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 373, 619-594-6531
American Indian Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 331, 619-594-6991
Anthropology
- Arts and Letters, Room 448, 619-594-5527
Arabic
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Asia Pacific Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 473, 619-594-3934
Chicana and Chicano Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 348, 619-594-6452
Chinese
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Classics and Humanities
- Arts and Letters, Room 662, 619-594-5186
Comparative International Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 536, 619-594-1654
Economics
- Nasatir Hall, Room 329, 619-594-1675
English and Comparative Literature
- Arts and Letters, Room 226, 619-594-5307
Filipino
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
European Studies
- Storm Hall, Room 224A, 619-594-5111
French and Italian
- Storm Hall, Room 224A, 619-594-5111
Geography
- Storm Hall, Room 314, 619-594-5437
German
- Storm Hall, Room 224A, 619-594-5111
Hebrew
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
History
- Arts and Letters, Room 588, 619-594-5262
International Business
- Arts and Letters, Room 208, 619-594-4505
International Security and Conflict Resolution
- Nasatir Hall, Room 126, 619-594-6244
Japanese
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Jewish Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 662A, 619-594-5327
Korean
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Latin American Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 377, 619-594-1103
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 346, 619-594-6524
Linguistics and Asian/Middle Eastern Languages
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Persian
- Storm Hall West, Room 214, 619-594-5268
Philosophy
- Arts and Letters, Room 446, 619-594-5263
Political Science
- Nasatir Hall, Room 126, 619-594-6244
Religious Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 662, 619-594-5185
Rhetoric and Writing Studies
- Storm Hall West, Room 141, 619-594-6515
Russian and Central European Studies
- Storm Hall, Room 224A, 619-594-5111
Social Science
- Nasatir Hall, Room 122, 619-594-4289
Sociology
- Nasatir Hall, Room 224, 619-594-4826
Spanish and Portuguese
- Arts and Letters, Room 134, 619-594-6588
Sustainability
- Storm Hall, Room 306B, 619-594-5600
Urban Studies
- Storm Hall, Room 309B, 619-594-0906
Women’s Studies
- Arts and Letters, Room 346, 619-594-6524
Fowler College of Business
Assistant Dean
- Lamden Hall, Room 419, 619-594-5828
Fowler Center for Student Success
- Lamden Hall, Room 419, 619-594-5828
Undergraduate: https://business.sdsu.edu/undergrad
- Accountancy
- Finance
- Financial Services
- General Business
- Information Systems
- International Business (See College of Arts and Letters)
- Management
- Marketing
- Real Estate
Graduate Business Advising Office
- Lamden Hall, Room 448, 619-594-8073
Graduate website: https://business.sdsu.edu/grad/office
- MBA (various specializations)
- MS in Accountancy
- MS in Business Administration (various concentrations)
- MS in Global Business Development
- MS in Information Systems
- MBA/MA in Latin American Studies
- MBA/Juris Doctorate
College of Education
(Degrees, Credentials, and Certificate Programs)
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
- Lamden Hall, Room 346L, 619-594-1426
Office for Student Success
- Lamden Hall, Room 259, 619-594-6320
Administrative, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education
- Lamden Hall, Room 246, 619-594-6115
Certificate Programs
- Cognitive Disabilities
- Community College Teaching
- Institutional Research, Planning, and Assessment
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation Administration
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Workforce Education and Lifelong Learning
- Supported Employment and Transition Specialist
*Child and Family Development
- Lamden Hall, Room 259F (Undergraduate), 619-594-7035
- Lamden Hall, Room 403 (Graduate), 619-594-5380
Certificate Program
- Early Childhood, Transdisciplinary Education and Mental Health (EC-TEaMH)
Counseling and School Psychology
- North Education, Room 187, 619-594-6109
Service Credentials
Pupil Personnel Services
- School Counseling
- School Psychology
Dual Language and English Learner Education
- Lamden Hall, Room 332, 619-594-5155
- *Bilingual Multiple and Single Subject credentials
- Bilingual (Spanish) Special Education
Educational Leadership
- North Education, Room 166, 619-594-4063
- Administrative Services Credential
*Liberal Studies
- Lamden Hall, Room 255, 619-594-6131
Master’s Programs
- See individual department listings
Doctoral Programs
- See individual department listings
Nursing (Health Services, School Nurse)
- Adams Humanities, Room 3133, 619-594-5117
Social Work
- Hepner Hall, Room 119, 619-594-0780
Pupil Personnel Services
- Child Welfare and Attendance
- School Social Work
Special Education
- North Education, Room 70, 619-594-6665
- *Early Childhood Special Education Added Authorization
Specialist Credentials
- *Early Childhood Special Education
- *Mild/Moderate Disabilities
- *Moderate/Severe Disabilities
Certificate Programs
- Behavior Analysis
- Developing Gifted Potential
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
- Speech, Language, and Hearing, Room 244, 619-594-4787
- Bilingual (Spanish) Special Education Clinical-Rehabilitative Services
Teacher Education
- Lamden Hall, Room 255, 619-594-6131
- Reading and Literacy Added Authorization
- *Multiple Subject and Single Subject
- Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist
* Advising in Lamden Hall, Room 259, 619-594-6320
College of Engineering
Assistant Dean
- Engineering, Room 200B, 619-594-5807
Aerospace Engineering
- Engineering, Room 308, 619-594-6074
Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering
- Engineering, Room 424, 619-594-6071
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Engineering, Room 426, 619-594-0967
Mechanical Engineering
- Engineering, Room 326, 619-594-6067
College of Health and Human Services
Assistant Dean
- Education, Room 154, 619-594-6151
Gerontology
- Hepner Hall, Room 119, 619-594-6865
Exercise and Nutritional Sciences
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Room 351, 619-594-5541
Nursing
- Adams Humanities, Room 3138, 619-594-5357
Public Health
- Hardy Tower, Room 119, 619-594-1254
Social Work
- Hepner Hall, Room 119, 619-594-6865
Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
- Speech, Language, and Hearing, Room 242 and 244, 619-594-2714
College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts
Assistant Dean*
- Professional Studies and Fine Arts, Room 217, 619-594-6928
Aerospace Studies (Minor)
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Room 385, 619-594-5550
Art and Design
- Art, Room 505, art.advising@sdsu.edu, 619-594-2850
Communication and Health Communication
- Communication, Room 235, ncartercurtis@sdsu.edu, 619-594-3444
Dance
Hospitality and Tourism Management and Recreation and Tourism Management
- Adams Humanities 4158, 619-594-4964
International Studies (Minor)*
International Security and Conflict Resolution
- Storm Hall, Room 223B, 619-594-3768
Journalism and Media Studies*
Adams Humanities 4200, 619-594-5145
Learning Design and Technology*, ldt@sdsu.edu
- Distance Education Certificate
- Instructional Design Certificate
- Instructional Technology Certificate
- Military Science (Minor)
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Room 451, 619-594-4943
Military Science (Minor)
- Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, Room 451, 619-594-2561
Music
- Music, Room 111, 619-594-1779
- Minors
- Music Education
- Professional Studies
- Music, Room 241, 619-594-6031
- Bachelor of Arts in Music
- Entrepreneurship and Business
- Global Composition
- Jazz Studies
- Music Recording Technology and Audio Design
- Performance
- Professional Studies
Naval Science (Minor)
Public Affairs (Criminal Justice, Public Administration)*
- Adams Humanities 4103 and 4104, 619-594-6284 and 619-594-2693
Theatre, Television, and Film
- Dramatic Arts, Room 204, 619-594-4670
College of Sciences
Assistant Dean
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 321, 619-594-5350
Director of Advising
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 604E, 619-594-1152
Astronomy
- Physics, Room 241, 619-594-7118
Biology
- Life Sciences, Room 102, 619-594-6442
- Cellular and Molecular
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Marine Biology
- Microbiology
- Zoology
Chemistry and Biochemistry (Chemical Physics)
- Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Room 332, 619-594-5582
Computer Science
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 531, 619-594-6837
Environmental Sciences
- Chemical Sciences Laboratory, Room 339, 619-594-2063
Geological Sciences
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 117, 619-594-1395
- General Geology
- Engineering Geology
- Environmental Geosciences
- Geophysics
- Hydrogeology
- Paleontology
- Oceanography (Minor)
Health Professions Advising
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 323, 619-594-3030
International Security and Conflict Resolution
- Storm Hall, Room 223B, 619-594-3768
Mathematics and Statistics
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 589, 619-594-7240
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 513 619-594-4170
Oceanography (Minor)
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 117, 619-594-1395
Physics (Chemical Physics)
- Physics, Room 133, 619-594-2051
Psychology Advising Center
- Life Sciences, Room 105, 619-594-5412
Student Success Center
- Geology/Mathematics/Computer Science, Room 429, 619-594-1116
Faculty Advancement and Student Success
Assistant Dean, Administration, Room 220, 619-594-5842
Also advising in:
- Compact Scholars Program, 619-594-3810
- Interdisciplinary Studies in Three Departments, 619-594-7715
- Undeclared Students, 619-594-7715
- Weber Honors College, 619-594-8071
College of Graduate Studies
Assistant Dean
- Student Services East, Room 1410, 619-594-5213
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advisement concerning general requirements (except for the major) and administers the Interdisciplinary Studies master’s degree. A departmental graduate adviser is available in all programs offering graduate degrees.
It is recommended that SDSU Imperial Valley students see an adviser prior to registration each semester. Visit the SDSU Imperial Valley Academic Advising website or call 760-768-5512 to schedule an appointment with an adviser.
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