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Making
Choices as a Student
Your Advisors
Additional Offices to Help You
Your Schedule
Semester/Session Typical Academic Load
Progress Toward Your Degree
First Year (Freshman)
Second Year (Sophomore)
Third Year (Junior)
Fourth Year (Senior)
Special
Notes for Transfer Students
Beginning
Your Studies
Making Choices as a
Student
You
have many academic decisions to make. You will choose a major
and possibly a minor, and enroll for courses which lead toward
a desired degree or certificate. Students enrolled on the Mt.
Pleasant campus will be required to complete an authorization
for a major or sign a statement of intent to major by the time
they earn 56 hours of credit. Some students have already made
these choices when they begin their university studies, but
most appreciate the opportunity that CMU offers to sample many
areas of study through the University Program portion of the
General Education Requirements. The University
Program is required of all students. While taking
University Program classes, you are preparing yourself to make
career and life choices from a broadened perspective, as well
as fulfilling needed General Education requirements for
graduation.
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Your
Advisors
As
a freshman or a transfer student, you will receive
individualized advisement in course selection during academic
orientation. The registration process is computer assisted to
help you obtain preferred courses. The Academic
Advising Services Office (Student Service Court, Bovee
University Center) offers general advising in the areas of the
University Program, Competencies, and Degree Requirements.
When you are ready to consider a major, arrange an appointment
with a faculty advisor in the department teaching courses of
interest to you. You may want to visit with faculty in several
departments, but once you have selected a major, you will be
assigned a faculty advisor in that department.
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There
are additional
offices to help you:
The
Counseling Center
(102 Foust, 774-3381), the Career
Services (Bovee University Center, 774-3068),
and the Center for
Student Services (203 Ronan, 774-3309), Undergraduate
Business Studies Office (105 Grawn, 774-3124), offer
professional assistance in career decision making.
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The
Undergraduate
Academic Services area of the Registrar’s Office (Warriner
123, 774-3504) provides a number of services. Personnel
evaluate academic credits earned at other schools, provide
academic counseling for degree and graduation requirements,
and audit students’ records for graduation.
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Your
Schedule
Academic
programs and course offerings of the university are in a
constant process of change and revision in response to
advancements in knowledge, and to changing student needs and
societal demands. In accordance with this process, academic
programs and courses may be changed, deleted, or rescheduled.
The time you will need to complete a degree depends, of
course, on your decisions concerning such variables as the
academic load you will carry, whether or not you will attend
summer sessions, and how well you use academic advisement
services. You may complete a bachelor’s degree in less than
four years or it may take you longer. Conditions producing
high demand for certain courses and programs where resources
are limited may require some students to take more than the
estimated minimum of time to complete their programs. There
may also be special requirements for certain degrees and major
and minor programs. These requirements may include a
particular grade point average, specific demonstrated
competencies, or other prerequisite experience as specified in
the Bulletin. You should be aware that students who
have entered academic programs may be dropped or suspended
from these programs for unsatisfactory academic performance or
for other program-related problems.
You
are urged to discuss your progress toward a degree
periodically with your academic advisor as you continue your
program of study at CMU.
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Progress
Toward Your Degree
The rate at which you move toward your degree and how
economically you progress depend largely on the decisions you
make. Making use of the academic advisement services available
on campus is strongly recommended. The advisors can help you
clarify your plans, as well as help you plan the most
efficient route toward your degree.
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Academic
Load
The following is a typical academic load for a CMU
undergraduate:
Semester/Session
Typical Academic Load
Fall
Semester
14 -18
Spring
Semester
14 -18
3 weeks of Summer Session
3
6 weeks of Summer Session
5 -7
12 weeks of Summer Session 12 -14
In
order to graduate within four years with a degree, which
requires a minimum of 124 hours of credit, a student must
average at least 31 hours of credit each year. Some degrees
and majors have minimums above 124.
Abilities
and circumstances of students vary greatly. Each student
should weigh carefully these factors when deciding the number
of hours to carry during a semester or session and the length
of time to be expended in fulfilling requirements for a
degree. Some can carry lighter loads and take longer to
fulfill the requirements. As a guideline, freshmen are advised
to take no more than 15 hours of credit during the first
semester on campus.
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First
Year (Freshman): (0-25 cr. hrs.)
Attend
Academic Orientation II during your first semester to clarify
requirements on the University Program, competency, or any
other questions you have encountered since academic
orientation. Review your Bulletin carefully.
If
you are undecided about a major, minor, and degree:
At
CMU, several advising services, classes, and self assessment
instruments are available to assist you in your academic and
career decision making. Some suggestions include:
-
Talk
to CMU advisors in academic departments, Academic Advising
Services, Career Services, or the Counseling Center
regarding academic programs that interest you.
-
Consider
taking CED 101 (1) Careers and Self Exploration.
-
Participate
in various self assessment exercises designed to match
your interests and abilities with academic and career
opportunities. CMU offers the following personalized and
computerized self assessment exercises: Discover Program,
Michigan Occupational Information System, Strong Interest
Inventory.
If
you are interested in business:
Stop
by Grawn 105, Undergraduate Business Studies, to pick up
the information packet on the College of Business
Administration or schedule a meeting with a business advisor.
If
you are interested in a preparatory program (pre-law,
pre-med):
Talk
with the appropriate pre-professional
advisor.
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Second
Year (Sophomore): (26-55 cr. hrs.)
Continue
your search for a major and/or minor.
-
If
you have decided on your major and/or minor, consult
with the appropriate departmental advisor(s) to authorize
the major/minor and define requirements for graduation.
-
Continue
coursework on the University Program, competency, and
major/minor. Ideally, competency requirements should be
completed by the end of this year. Review your
progress on completion of the University Program and
competency requirements with your general academic advisor. Search for an internship opportunity by
contacting CMU's internship coordinator in the Career
Services office or in your academic department of choice.
Teaching:
-
Complete
admission for Teacher Education.
-
Complete
Cycle I of candidacy requirements (see Standards
Leading to Teacher Certification).
-
Authorize
your major and/or minor in the appropriate department(s) if
you have not done so.
Business:
-
Follow
the procedure for admission
to the College of Business Administration outlined in
this Bulletin.
-
Visit
with the College of Business Administration advisor in Grawn
205, 774-3124.
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Third
Year (Junior): (56-85 cr. hrs.)
- Authorize
your major and/or minor in the appropriate department(s)
if you have not done so.
-
Once
you have your major and/or minor authorized, schedule
a pre-graduation audit appointment in Undergraduate
Academic Services, Warriner 123, 774-3504. An
Assistant Director will review your individual course of
study and determine remaining graduation requirements. Register
with Career
Services using the Resume Expert disc program.
Teaching:
Business:
-
Complete
application process to the College of Business
Administration for admission to Professional Business
Studies.
-
Following
admission to Professional Business Studies, contact
the appropriate department office for the assignment of an advisor.
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Fourth
Year (Senior): (86-124 cr. hrs.)
- Once
you have earned 86 credit hours, apply for
graduation at the Undergraduate Academic Services Office,
Warriner 123, 774-3504 (see Requirements
for Graduation). A graduation fee is required.
Questions about graduation requirements should be referred
to this office.
-
Complete
graduation requirements as indicated on your Graduation
Audit. Develop skills for your job search at Career
Services. Skill development workshops and information are
available regarding job search techniques, interviewing
skills, and portfolio development.
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Special
Notes for Transfer Students:
-
During
your first semester, check with the Office of the
Registrar to be sure that a final transcript from each of
your previous colleges is on file.
-
If
you have questions following orientation, meet with a
general academic advisor, and attend a Transfer
Transitions meeting to review your transfer credit
evaluation, University Program and competency requirements.
- Review
the above steps to verify your progress toward completion of
all CMU degree requirements.
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