For Students

Explore the Curriculum

Use the various advising resources on this website wisely to plan an optimal educational experience. Talk with your academic advisor frequently and be open to off-campus options such as the Washington Program and Study Abroad. Take advantage of undergraduate research experiences and internships. Use the Academic Worksheet for Undergraduate Degree Requirements [pdf] to develop a plan of study.

Required Initial Advising Meetings

There are three required academic advising meetings that will take place between you and your pre-major advisor during your first year at the College. Your initial face to face meeting with your advisor will take place during the orientation in August - right before school begins in the fall. Your pre-major advisor will help launch your college career, review your course selection and discuss remaining courses that will complete a "full load" of classes (typically 12 - 15 credits per semester). You are responsible for setting up this meeting by signing up for an appointment during orientation. Please review the Pre-Major Advising Handout prior to your meeting.

At this meeting you will review your academic goals, review your course selections, and begin to map out an academic plan to meet your goals and satisfy the College's degree requirements. Your additional two meetings will take place prior to registering for spring term and once again prior to the subsequent summer and fall registration terms. During each required appointment you will receive your Alternate PIN. Please be sure to save this six-digit number as it will be required for registration. From time to time, generate a degree evaluation in Banner self-service, available through myWM. This degree-evaluation module will help you chart your progress toward completing your degree.

Pre-Professional Advising

Some students are fairly certain they want to pursue a pre-professional track leading to a specific profession. If this is the case with you, it is especially important that you choose courses carefully to satisfy these additional requirements. We recommend that in addition to meeting with your initial advisor, you also make an appointment with the appropriate pre-professional faculty advisor.

Selecting Your Major Advisor

When you have completed 39 credits you are eligible to declare your major at the College. Please keep in mind that you must declare a major once you have completed 54 credits. Transfer students entering with 54 or more credits must declare by the end of the first semester. When you are ready to declare your major, contact the appropriate Department or Program to find out how to be matched with your major advisor. You will need a major advisor in order to officially declare your major. 

Prior to meeting with your  major advisor, download the Declaration of Major Form and complete it, as far as possible, in pencil, so that you are prepared to work with that faculty member on the remainder of your academic studies. You and your major advisor will plan your course of study and other opportunities as well as complete the Declaration of Major Form, which you will then submit it to the Registrar Office. Please note that if you are planning to double major you will be assigned a faculty advisor for each major. If you are planning to major in Business or Education you will have to apply to these programs in order to be admitted. If you wish to change your major advisor, submit this form to the Registrar's Office.