CAS Pre-Registration Tutorial
WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
(Bolded information represents voice-over by Don; Unbolded information represents what will be seen on screen.)
· The College of Arts and Sciences is the largest academic unit at the University at Buffalo
· Offers 49 undergraduate academic majors
· Offered by 31 academic departments
· Majors fall under four academic groups:
1. Humanities
2. Arts
3. Social Sciences
4. Natural Sciences and Mathematics
(We are pleased to welcome you as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences. As the largest academic unit at the University at Buffalo, the College of Arts and Sciences offers 49 undergraduate majors in 31 academic departments. Each major falls within one of four academic groups: Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences and Mathematics. You may click on the groups in the pie chart to discover the departments that fall under each group.)
Pie chart (4 Major Academic Groups in CAS)
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES STUDENT ADVISEMENT AND SERVICES
275 Park Hall
716-645-6883
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm by appointment
· Provides advisement services to all majors within the College
· Nine professional advisors will provide assistance with:
- Your academic and personal goals
- Course scheduling
- General education requirements
- Interpretation of DARS reports
- Major and minor choices with the College including the special major
- Recovering from academic difficulty
- Researching internship, research and volunteer opportunities
YOUR ACADEMIC ADVISOR IS HERE TO HELP YOU SUCCEED AT UB!
Please check our website at casadvising.buffalo.edu
(The College of Arts and Sciences Student Advisement and Services Center provides advisement services to undergraduate students in all of the 49 academic majors within the College. Our professional advisors are happy to meet with students to discuss their academic and personal goals. Our programs and services include assistance with all aspects of students’ academic lives, and we help individuals facing academic difficulties to plan for a successful recovery. In other words, your academic advisor is here to help you succeed at UB!)
BENEFITS OF CAS ON-LINE PRE-ADVISEMENT TUTORIAL
- Prepare you for your scheduling appointment with your academic advisor
- Provide important information needed to make successful transition to UB
- Help you to improve your study and time management skills
- Inform you of important university policies, campus resources and other valuable information
- Will stay active on webpage for easy referral
(This on-line pre-advisement tutorial will provide you with the information needed to make a successful transition from high school to university life. It will prepare you for your advisement appointment, course selection and registration for your first semester at UB. It provides valuable information on improving your study skills and becoming a good time manager. You will learn about graduation requirements, important university policies, campus resources, and other information that a new student must know. It should take you approximately 30 minutes to complete. This program will stay active on our website so that you may refer to it at any time.
At the end of each section of this program, you will be required to answer a question that demonstrates your understanding of the material. You must answer these questions correctly before proceeding to the following section.)
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I COMPLETE THE CAS ON-LINE PRE-REGISTRATION TUTORIAL?
Step 1.
You will be required to provide your full name, name of high school and intended major and submit this information to our office. The submission will indicate to us that you have successfully completed this program.
Step 2.
Please call our office (716-645-6883) to make either an in-person or phone appointment with your advisor. During this appointment you will discuss your academic goals and choose appropriate courses for your fall semester. Your advisor will register you in your courses and you will receive a copy of your fall schedule. Registration for Fall 2008 begins on April 1st.
(Note: To ensure the best course selection, it is important for you to make this advisement appointment as soon as you complete this tutorial.)
Step 3.
Attend the summer orientation session to which you are assigned.
(Upon completion of this program, you will be required to provide fill out a confirmation form affirming that you have read and understand that you are responsible for all the information provided in this tutorial. The submission will indicate to us that you have successfully completed this program.
Your next step is to call our office (716-645-6883) to make either an in-person or phone appointment with your advisor. During this appointment you will discuss your academic goals and choose appropriate courses for your fall semester. Your advisor will register you in your courses and you will receive a copy of your fall schedule.
Note: To ensure the best course selection, it is important for you to make this advisement appointment as soon as you complete this tutorial.)
Attend the summer orientation session to which you are assigned.
Again, we welcome you to the University at Buffalo and the College of Arts and Sciences and hope that your years here with us are satisfying, successful and fun!)
MAKING THE TRANSITION
The transition from high school to college is a challenge, regardless of how solid a student you are. Things in college are different in every way! Here are some examples.
School Counselors VS. Professional and Faculty Advisors
Consult and collaborate with parents, Valuable resources for assisting
teachers, school administrators, school university students in attaining
psychologists, medical professionals their educational goals and adjusting
and social workers to academic rigors of university life
Implement strategies to help students Assist student to become
be successful in educational system independent, self-confident decision
makers and active and responsible
learners
High School Teachers VS. University Professors
Assign homework and usually give Assign homework and make the
students grades or “bonus points” for assumption that students have done
this work the work and expect students to ask
questions
Constantly remind students of Distribute syllabus at beginning of
upcoming work and exams semester and expect students to
keep up with assigned work
Provide students with more Expect students to take ownership
individual assistance of their own learning experience
The High School Classroom VS. The College Classroom
Class sizes are relatively small; there- Class size can range from as few
fore teachers can give students more as 24 students to 100 or more!
individual attention
Teachers monitor attendance daily Professors may not take attendance;
however, they are likely to know if
you have not attended and your
performance could suffer
Class attendance is mandatory It is your responsibility to go to
class and get the information
Generally your guidance counselor After the first semester, you are
schedules your classes and ensures responsible for making an appoint-
you are meeting your graduation ment to see an advisor about
requirements scheduling your classes and satisfy-
ing degree/graduation requirements
In college, you are responsible for attending class, knowing school policies and requirements, and managing your schedule. Faculty and staff are available to help you when you have questions, but no one will seek you out as they might have in high school. You are expected to take the initiative!
Study Skills and Time Management
(This section will include a podcast with a student discussing the importance of good study skills and time management.)
Each hour spent in university classroom = At least 2 hours doing homework/ studying outside of class!
Yes, College is a full-time job!!!
Time management:
· Involves taking charge or control of your life and time.
· Includes goal setting, planning, organizing, conserving time and resources, and maintaining peak efficiency.
· Get a daily planner and use it!
· Good time management is essential for a successful college experience.
For more information on developing time management and study skills, visit the Counseling Services website: www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/shs/ccenter.shtml
What can you do to make a smooth transition?
· GO TO CLASS
· Always refer to your syllabus to keep on track
· Know when to ask for help
"In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility."
Eleanor Roosevelt
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Ready .. Set .. Graduate!
In order to graduate you must meet the following requirements:
· You must have completed a minimum of 120 credit hours. At least 30 of these credits must be completed at UB (residency requirement).
· You must have at least a 2.0 GPA
· You must have completed all of your general education requirements
· You must have completed all of your major requirements
· File for degree at http://src.buffalo.edu/pdf/applicationfordegree-2005.pdf
COMPLETING YOUR GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
UB’s general education program focuses on a broad array of knowledge, skills, and issues that are particularly important for all college graduates. It is designed to compliment your major and better prepare you to face the challenges of an ever-changing world. / Requirements Include:1. Writing Requirement
2. Library Skills Workbook
3. World Civilizations*
4. Mathematical Science
5. Natural Sciences
6. American Pluralism*
7. Social & Behavioral Sciences
8. Language Requirement
9. Humanities
10. Arts*
11. Depth Requirement
*Note: Students who entered UB with 24 or more transferable credit hours from an institution of higher education other than UB are exempted from the World Civilizations, American Pluralism, and Arts requirements. (AP credits are not included in this total.) These credits must have been earned prior to enrollment at UB.
COMPLETING YOUR MAJOR REQUIREMENTS
Your Major
In addition to completing your general education requirements, you must complete the requirements of your academic major(s). At UB you can select from over 100 baccalaureate degree options derived from over 80 different academic disciplines. Selecting a major, changing a major, or deciding to pursue double or joint majors, or combined degrees are all significant steps in your educational career. Your major provides depth of study in a particular area of specialization and prepares you for particular careers or for advanced study.
Double Major
A double major is the awarding of one degree with two majors; the requirements for both areas must be completed (e.g., BA Philosophy, BA Psychology)
Joint Major
A student may elect to work toward a joint major by combining the subjects of two departments (e.g., Geography and Economics, Physics and Mathematics). A joint major does not require completion of all of the requirements of each major; rather, it is composed of requirements from each major as determined by the student and the directors of undergraduate studies in each department. Joint majors must link majors leading to the same degree.
Double Degree
The double degree is the concurrent awarding of two different baccalaureate degree types (BA, BS, BFA, MusB). A minimum of 150 total credits must be completed.
Special Major
The Special Major Program provides capable students that are at least in sophomore standing with an opportunity to create their own academic major program. Students with a minimum GPA of 2.0 may initiate and develop their own programs under the guidance of two faculty members and an advisor. The academic program to be designed must be unique; that is, the program may not duplicate the major content in any degree-granting academic department, nor may it be designed to avoid the requirements of existing departmental majors.
Minors
A minor is a secondary field of study that consists of approximately six courses. The minor offers students a means to complement the major, explore a subspecialty, and/or broaden career alternatives. For a complete list of minors log on:
Certificate Programs
Certificate Programs consist of a group of courses that focus upon an area of specialized knowledge or information. Talk to your academic advisor to learn more about how these programs can enhance your studies at UB. Examples of certificate programs are: computing and network management, entrepreneurship, international trade, and paralegal studies.
ACADEMIC POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
As a condition of enrollment, you are responsible for reviewing, understanding, and abiding by the university’s regulations, procedures, requirements, and deadlines as described in official publications, including the university’s undergraduate catalog, UB Web sites, and official university e-mail communications. In addition, you are required to affirm your knowledge of, and adherence to, UB’s Student Conduct Rules, University Standards and Administrative Regulations prior to your first semester at UB.
Drop, Add and Resign Periods
Once you have registered for a course, you are responsible for attending and completing each course and paying your tuition. During the first two weeks of classes, you may drop and/or add courses to your schedule. Once you drop a course, it disappears from your schedule completely. It’s important to remember that adding a course during the second week of classes results in missing at least a week of course material. Therefore, it is best to make your drop/add decisions as early as possible.
You have until the end of the first week of classes to drop courses without financial penalty.
After the end of the drop/add period, you may resign a course until the end of the 11th week of classes. When you resign a course an “R” will appear on your transcript indicating that you were once registered in the course. It is wise to talk to your academic advisor before resigning a course to assure there will be no academic or financial penalties.
To check on various University deadlines, refer to the on-line academic calendars.
Grading at UB
College grading procedures are very different from high school. In most high schools, teachers give frequent tests. However, in college the final grade in each course is generally determined by a limited number of exams and perhaps one or more papers or projects during the semester along with a final exam at the end. Professors specify the grading criteria in the course syllabus (outline), which they distribute at the first class.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Your UB grade point average (GPA) is computed by dividing the grade points (quality points x credit hours) assigned to each grade by the credit hours attempted. For example, earning a "B" grade in a 4.00 credit hour course would yield (4.00 x 3.00)/ 4.00 = 3.00 QPA. You can calculate your own GPA by using the GPA Calculator