Ms. Kelly Atkins is the Department of Psychology academic advisor. The advisement office is in AH-0311 (ph. 650-2266) and hours are posted each semester. An appointment is necessary for the preregistration period and for registration. All students should have a program plan on file as soon as possible after declaring a psychology major. The academic advisor will work with you to develop a program plan which both satisfies departmental requirements and fits your interests and educational/professional goals. Students may also see the academic advisor for course request forms, graduation checks, information about graduate school and professional opportunities. Students are also encouraged to discuss graduate school and professional opportunities with psychology faculty.
Class Registration:
Registration for the Spring semester begins the third week of class in the Fall semester for students who have earned 75 or more hours (university credits). Summer and Fall registration begins the third week of the Spring Semester. Registration begins the following week for students with less than 75 earned hours. During the second week all students may preregister. Students who are advised during the preregistration period will be given a signed copy of their enrollment slip which must be brought to the Service Center or the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office on their assigned registration date.
Preparation is important for a successful advising appointment. Our advisor cannot adequately help you if you do not properly prepare. It is not the advisor's responsibility to make decisions for you, or to schedule time blocks for your courses. Before an advising session, review the SIUE class schedule or look on CougarNet for a list of available courses. Also, look on CougarNet for a list of courses in which you are currently enrolled. Check your program plan and see what courses you need. Check the availability of the courses that you need. Spend some time thinking about your career goals. If you have questions, write them down to discuss them with your advisor.
Remember, the final responsibility of a successful college experience rests with YOU, the student. YOU are responsible for knowing college and major requirements, academic regulations, advisement dates, making and keeping your advising appointment, and registering for your classes.
Graduation:
Early application for graduation is critical in reducing unnecessary "surprises" as graduation approaches. Application for graduation should be made the semester after you earn a total of 90 semester hours. At this time you should receive a letter (including a graduation application) from Admissions and Records requesting that you apply for graduation. On the Graduation Application you will be asked to indicate the semester you plan on graduating. If for any reason you have not met all the necessary requirements at that time, your graduation date will be rolled over to the next semester (you only pay the graduation fee one time). However, before sending the form to Admissions and Records we ask that you stop by the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office to check that your degree has been properly entered in the system. If the system does not match your application, unnecessary delays will likely occur.
The most important aspect of the application for graduation process concerns your graduation check. In response to your application for graduation, a graduation check will be completed and sent to your home. The graduation check clearly specifies any remaining requirements you must complete before officially graduating. A letter will be sent concerning your major, minor, General Education requirements. It is essential that you bring these letters to the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office in order to have your graduation status checked.
Graduate School:
If you are interested in attending graduate school after completing your Bachelors degree, it is never too early to start preparing. This process includes, but is not limited to, taking specific courses that are necessary preparation for applying to graduate schools. It is highly recommended that you inform the Undergraduate Adviser of your intentions to attend graduate school so that you may be properly advised as to the course/activities that will help you achieve graduate school admission.