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Undergraduate Advising

Advising Process

Once you have decided on a track and declared your major you will want to check out your SASS audit. General questions about degree planning and SASS audits can be found at Degree Planning 101.

You will notice on your SASS audit that you have several choices to make regarding which classes to take. The next step in the process is to read up on these courses and get an idea of which ones you prefer. Course descriptions can be found in the UWF Academic Catalog.

After you have done this, or if you are still unsure which track you want to do and have questions, you are ready to meet with our Department Advisor. You can make your own advising appointment by logging into MyUWF and going to the GradesFirst App.

After you have met with our Department Advisor and decided on a degree plan it will soon be time to begin thinking about "What is next?" The semester before your senior year you will meet with a Department of Environmental Studies Faculty Member to discuss plans for post-graduation. At this meeting the faculty member will also help ensure you are right path to graduate on time. Our Department Advisor will discuss this with you at your initial advising appointment.

  1. One of the most common mistakes made by students is dropping a class without consulting their advisor first. It is highly recommended you speak to your instructor AND an advisor before withdrawing from a course in order to avoid potentially adding a year to your graduation date.
  2. Financial Aid generally considers 12 hours to be full time. However, completion of the required 120 hours in a 4 year period requires an average of 15 hours each semester (unless several summer courses are taken).
  3. Pre-requisites are another area students sometimes falter. Be sure to double check not only department pre-requisites but also individual course pre-requisites.
  4. Changing the order of classes you take is generally ok, however it should never be done without consulting your advisor. This is mainly because some courses are only offered once per year, few every other year and it could significantly impact your graduation date.
  5. Some students near the end of their degree plan and realize they would like to earn the GIS certification also. While this is absolutely acceptable, if this decision is made early on it can save a student an extra semester or two.
  6. Graduation does not happen automatically after you complete your degree requirements. Details on when and how to apply for graduation can be found on the Office of the Registrar's Apply to Graduate page.

When should I meet with my advisor?

  • You will need to meet with your departmental advisor to set up a degree plan once you reach sophomore level or higher.
  • Upon declaring your major, a degree plan will need to be set up before you can register for your classes.
  • A student may schedule an appointment to see an advisor anytime during the semester if you have questions, but it is recommended that you schedule an appointment at least 1 month prior to registration if you need assistance in determining your class schedule for the next semester.

What is an "advising hold"? And why do I have one?

  • You may notice various holds on your MyUWF account. One of them may be through the Department of Biology. The CAS advising hold simply means that you must see an academic advisor before you can register for classes. You will also need to see your advisor to discuss your new schedule before the hold can be lifted for registration. Once you have met with your advisor, the hold is lifted through the drop/add period for the next semester.

When will I be classified as a senior?

  • You will be classified as a senior once you complete at least 90 semester hours "and" also complete at least 20 semester hours at the 3/4000 level. This also does not include the semester hours that you are currently enrolled in. Hours need to be fully completed before they can count towards these totals.

How do I set up an appointment with my advisor?

  • The best way to set your initial advising appointment is to follow this link: Make Advising Appointment
  • Appointments can also be scheduled through e-mail (chobbs@uwf.edu), phone (850.474.2746) or by stopping by the office in Building 13, Room 206 or 222A.

Do you take walk-in appointments?

  • The Department of Environmental Studies makes every effort to help a student, but it is highly recommended that you call or e-mail for an appointment (or prior to visiting) to be sure that an Advisor is available to see you.

What if I decide to change my major?

  • You will need to complete the Major Change Request to make these changes to your academic record. If you are an undergraduate, a printed copy of the completed form should be returned to the University Advising Center in Building 18 for processing. If you have questions concerning your new major, you are encouraged to schedule an appointment with your advisor.

How can I change my class schedule after the semester has started?

  • Drop/Add period (1st week of semester) - You will be able to drop or add courses through MyUWF during this period. Please consult with your advisor before doing so.
  • After the 1st week of semester - You will be able to withdraw (not drop) from individual courses up until the 11th week of the semester, and withdrawal requests can be processed through your MyUWF account. You will be unable to add any additional courses to your schedule after the 1st week of the semester.

How do I apply for graduation?

If I plan to repeat a course to earn a better grade, what are my options? Also, what is Grade Forgiveness and how do I apply?

If I plan to take a course at another college or university in Florida, how can I be sure it will transfer back to UWF, and what documentation do I need?

How do I calculate my GPA?

How do I set up my Argonet accounts?

Why should I log into MyUWF?

  • The advisors use your information in MyUWFto get in contact with you. Once the semester has started, be sure to do the following:
    • make sure your mailing address and phone number are current
    • check your UWF email regularly OR forward your other email accounts to UWF
  • Email is UWF's official mode of contact with students! Your advisor will send emails throughout the semester regarding important deadlines and registration.