Academic Advising

Frequently Asked Questions related to Advising

General Registration Questions

• How many classes do I have to take in order to graduate?
• How many courses should I take each semester?
• What if I want to do a course overload?
• What are general education requirements and how do I fulfill them?
• How do I pick my classes, if I don’t have any idea of what I want to major in?
• What does “Advisor hold,” "Advising hold," or “Financial hold” notification mean when it shows on my APR2 account?

Major/Minor Declaration and Advisor Assignments

• When and how do I declare a major?
• Can I change my advisor? How do I choose a new academic advisor?

What to do when classes are not going well

• If things aren't going well in one of my classes, what are my options?
• What is the difference between dropping a class and withdrawing from a class?
• What is an incomplete ("E grade) and when is it appropriate to request one?
• How do I write an academic petition?
• How do I complete a SAP (satisfactory academic progress) appeal?
• How do I get back on track academically, if I am behind in units, major or gen ed requirements, or with my GPA?

Transfer credits, Internships, Off-Campus Study

• Can I apply credits from other colleges and universities?
• Can I get academic credit for doing an internship?
• Can off-campus study or transfer courses count for general education requirements?

What to do in case of family/personal emergency?

• What should I do if I have to leave campus for a few days due to an illness or family emergency?