Undergraduate Admissions
Academic Planning Guide
An academic plan allows a student to map out short, medium, and long term components designed to meet an academic goal. If, for example, the academic plan is designed to help a student graduate in four years, their academic plan would look like this:
Short Term Planning
First Year-Fall & Spring Semesters
- Schedule meetings with academic advisors to help map out course plan.
- Discuss ideas for academic major/minor with professors during office hours.
- Take course(s) that will help you meet “prerequisites” for future courses. Refer to Undergraduate Catalog and DARS report.
- Take course(s) that will satisfy General Education Requirements. Refer to Undergraduate Catalog and DARS report.
- Take course(s) in area(s) that you might want to explore or possibly pursue an academic major or minor.
- Review and become familiar with admissions requirements for academic programs with selective admissions criteria.
- Join an academic club to meet students in your major and learn more about career and academic opportunities related to your area of interest.
- Find out how to change/declare your major and/or minor.
Medium Term Planning
Sophomore & Junior Year-Fall & Spring Semesters
- Continue taking course(s) that satisfy General Education Requirements.
- Take the General Education Assessment MAPP exam upon completing 45 or more credit hours. If you are seeking certification to teach, you are required to take the C-Base exam instead of the MAPP exam. You can take the C-Base after completing the following General Education requirements: Engl 1030, Math, one Science, and one Social Science.
- Continue taking course(s) that are required for your selected major and/or minor.
- Approach faculty to see if they will write letters of reference.
- Apply for your major if it requires a special admissions process.
- Apply for College and Department based scholarships.
- Begin taking Upper Level Courses in spring of sophomore year (3000 level courses).
- Take course(s) in area(s) that you might want to explore or possibly pursue an academic major or minor.
- Visit Career Services to explore internships, begin developing your resume and attend relevant job fairs.
- Investigate admission criteria for graduate school.
- Present undergraduate research at professional conferences.
Long Term Planning
Senior Year-Fall & Spring Semesters
- Continue taking course(s) that satisfy degree requirements for your major/minor.
- Finish general education requirements.
- Continue taking upper level courses in order to meet degree requirements (3000-4000 level courses). You must have 40 hours of upper level credits to graduate.
- Take graduate admissions tests.
- Visit Career Services to explore internships, begin developing your resume and practice interviewing.
- Apply to Graduate when you have reached 90 credit hours.
