Undergraduate Academic Advising

Meeting with Your Advisor

Your undergraduate advisor is a full-time professional, ready to help you pursue your educational goals. Learning about the resources that NSU offers is essential. As a student, you play a critical role in the advising process beginning with the selection of your first semester courses and creating your academic plan. Your advisor is committed to assisting you with this process.

To make the most of your advising sessions, please review the following:

Before Seeing Your Advisor

Submit official transcripts and test scores so that transfer credit can be awarded.
Set up an appointment with your advisor. It is a good idea to meet with your advisor every semester and to schedule your appointment early in the semester.
Review Degree Works.
Write down any questions and concerns you have about your curriculum, and bring these questions to your advising session.
For a list of courses and their descriptions, please visit our Course Wizard page.
Review the NSU Undergraduate Student Catalog. The catalog from the year you entered NSU explains all of the university, college, and divisional requirements for all degrees.

At Your Advising Session

Think critically about your academic goals.
Work with your advisor to establish a program of study and an outline of the classes that you plan to take in the next two or three semesters.
Ask any and all additional questions that you might have.
Keep notes from your advising meetings to remind you of what was discussed.
Establish a target graduation date in consultation with your advisor.

Academic Advising Tips

The following tips can help you succeed:

Review Degree Works and bring a copy of it to your advising session.
Register early to ensure you schedule the courses you need and to avoid late registration fees.
Bring a tentative schedule to your course planning advisement meetings.
Complete your courses in writing and math as soon as possible so you can use these skills in other courses and avoid graduation delays.
Discuss your career goals and plans with your advisor.
Talk at least once with a professor about your career goals and plans.
Use a GPA Calculator to monitor your success. Here is a video on how to calculate your grade point average: Calculate your GPA.
Check the Undergraduate Student Catalog to learn the prerequisites for upper-level courses you expect to take eventually, especially practicum courses.
Gain practical, hands-on experience in your discipline by participating in related honor societies.
Take advantage of opportunities that can add to your academic experience.
For example: Publish your work in the HASS Student Journal. Share your research at the Undergraduate Student Symposium. Participate in a Travel Study Program.
Attend events outside of class to learn other perspectives. For example: Attend the annual Faculty Lecture Series; the Distinguished Speakers Series; and performing and visual art productions and exhibitions by your peers.