College of Arts & Sciences Advising Web Page
Drop Add in your first semester
Students may add or drop a course anytime through the first week of the new semester. In their first semester, freshmen should go to the Registrar's office to drop/add after consulting with their advisors. In subsequent semesters, freshmen may drop/add online after consulting with their advisors, where they obtain their new PIN. To download the form, click here.
Freshmen Seminars
The freshman seminar program is designed to enhance both the academic and advising experience of our students' freshman year. Classes will be capped at 20 and are composed exclusively of CAS freshmen. In most cases, the instructor serves as the students' advisor. Generally, freshman seminars fall into one of two categories: a required course in the student's major or a course in the GER. Most freshman seminar courses are offered in the fall, although there is an opportunity to offer spring freshman seminar courses as well. Click here for a copy of the Freshman Seminar guidelines. For more information about the Freshman Seminar program, contact Dr. Nancy Fox, Associate Dean CAS, x1596.Academic Plan
Faculty are invited to have their students complete an "Academic Plan." This short written document is an opportunity for freshmen to formulate a comprehensive plan for their education, in consultation with their freshman advisor. The Academic Plan is intended to help students take charge of and responsibility for their academic experience at Saint Joseph’s. An effective academic plan requires them to think carefully about where they want their education to take them and who they want to become over the course of the next three to four years. Click here for the Academic Plan Guidelines. Click here for the Academic Plan Assessment. For more information about the Academic Plan, contact Dr. Nancy Fox, Associate Dean CAS, x1596.
Freshmen Advisors
Declared majors are generally assigned advisors in their major. Undeclared students are generally assigned advisors in their division. In many instances, freshman seminar professors serve as their students' freshman advisor. Students remain with their freshman advisor for the entire freshman year, even if students change their major. In the sophomore year, students are assigned advisors in their majors. Students who have not declared a major by the end of their freshman year usually remain with their freshman advisor until they do so. Contact Donna Mallon, x1280 or visit Barbelin 113.
Mid-Semester Grades
All freshmen receive mid semester grades in both the Fall and Spring semesters. The Registrar's office sends grade reports to freshman advisors about a week before the deadline to withdraw from a course; grades are not sent directly to students. Freshmen should meet with their advisors during the ninth week of class to pick up their grades and discuss the next semester's registration. These grades are not available online. They do not remain as part of a student's permanent record but serve as an indication of academic progress.
Declaring a Major
While some students enter the university with a declared major, many do not. We encourage students to declare a major by March of their freshman year. This decision should be made in consultation with the student's advisor. We also encourage students to talk to the chair and/or other faculty in the prospective department.
To declare a major officially, students must fill out a "selection of major" form, which requires a meeting with the freshman advisor (and signature), then a meeting with the prospective department chair (and a signature). The chair will usually discuss the major requirements and assign the student a departmental advisor, effective sophomore year or immediately if the student is not a freshman. The student then must take the form to the associate dean's office for final approval. To download the form, click here.
Students who do not declare a major as a freshman remain as "undeclared," and register as such. To the extent possible, they remain with their freshmen advisor until they declare a major.
Advanced Placement Credit
Decisions concerning AP credit are made by the Associate Dean in consultation with department chairs. Students may receive course credit with a score of 4 or 5 on the AP exam, depending on the department. Incoming freshmen receive letters over the summer from the Associate Dean indicating what credit (if any) they will be awarded and the course equivalent of their exam. In most cases, the student has effectively "placed out" of a GER requirement; in some departments, students are required to take an upper level course in its place. The AP course credit counts toward the 40 course graduation requirement; i.e. if a student places out of Western Civilization, that student needs to take only 39 courses at Saint Joseph's. In the case of an AP course in the student's major, students are sometimes required to take an upper level course in its place. For questions, contact the relevant department chair.
Advisors may view their advisees' AP record on MySJU. Go to School Services, then Administrative Services, then Faculty Services, click on the Advisor Menu and then "AP Program." For each student, there is information about AP exams taken, scores, number of credits received and course equivalents. Students may view their AP record on MySJU. Go to School Services, then Administrative Services, then Student Services, click on the Student Records and then "AP Program." There is information about number of credits received and course equivalents. Students may also view this information on their transcripts.