Advisers can be important resources for many college students, as they can give advice on which classes to take and answer other questions. Becoming familiar with an adviser can also give you an opportunity to speak with someone who can write recommendations for internships, study abroad programs or jobs.
After declaring a major and minor online, advisers can better assist students in selecting classes. It is especially important to speak to an adviser if a student wants to have more than one major, or to find out if there are programs that offer credits toward a master’s degree during undergraduate coursework.
While there are several classes required to complete every major, some electives are included in a degree. Even after the general education and major or minor classes are completed, students might not have received the amount of credit hours needed for graduation.
You should speak to an adviser for every program with which you are involved, including minors. Advisers can help you figure out which prerequisites you must take before scheduling higher-level courses and which classes are
only offered certain semesters.
While electives can be an opportunity for students to take a class they are really interested in, it is best to speak to an adviser about what kind of field you wish to work in. They can better explain the objectives behind each course and help you choose a class that will give you skills necessary for a certain career.
It is a great idea to check up with an adviser at least once a year, if not more, to ensure you are on track for graduation. Finding out which Learning Beyond the Classroom credits have been fulfilled is also important, and contacting an adviser at the University Advising and Career Development Center will help.
Lexus Garcia, who works at the UACDC, said, “Advisers at the UACDC deal with general education requirements as well as career planning. If a student needs a faculty adviser for a certain major department, they are redirected to the appropriate office.”
Students are assigned a faculty adviser during freshman or transfer orientation.
Students who wish to test out of a certain course can also visit the UACDC to schedule a time to take placement tests. Math and foreign language placement tests assist students in finding which courses will best match individual skill level.
If unsure of which adviser has been assigned to you, you can find the phone number for each major and minor department at www.my.emich.edu and call to set up an appointment. The buildings and room numbers for each department are also found online, so walking in to speak with an adviser is another option.
Separate advising offices for the Honors College can be reached by calling 734-487-0341 or by visiting Starkweather Hall. Certain classes are offered solely for honors college students, and there are different graduation requirements as well. Contacting an adviser each semester will help students stay on top of their credit hour requirements.
Advisers are knowledgeable about course objectives, professors and credit hour requirements, so they are the best equipped to help students choose courses or internships.
Visiting www.emich.edu/gen is an important step for students that are unsure of which requirements have been met. Questions about general education requirements, co-ops and career planning can be directed to the UACDC by calling 734-487-0400. This office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For those who would like to contact the office with questions that do not need to be answered immediately, visiting www.emich.edu/uacdc/forms_library/question.php and fill out the form that allows students to send an e-mail through the website.
