Academic Advising
Academic advice and course selection tips
Here are some pointers to keep in mind when being advised and selecting the course or courses that are the right combination for you.
*Be advised early! Advisors are very busy the week before registration and may not be able to meet with everyone who waits until then to make an appointment. Many advisors recommend calling at least two to three weeks before your registration date in order to get first choice of appointments and classes.
*Know your registration date. This will be based on the number of credit hours you have earned, and will be posted on the Office of Records and Registration website near the early to middle part of the semester.
*In addition to your advisor, the UALR Undergraduate Catalog is one of your best resources for choosing courses. It lists the “Core Courses” that you need to complete your degree, as well as the courses you need for your specific major. The catalog is available online at this link.
*Plan your schedule around your core courses for the bachelor degree and/or major requirements first. Choose electives if there is room on your schedule after you have selected your required courses.
*Keep in mind that the course numbers describe which year the department expects you to take a course. If a course starts with a 1 or 2, you can take it during your freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior years. However, if a course starts with a 3 or 4 (ex: 3311 or 4210), you usually will need to be classified as a junior or senior to register for the course.
*Before your registration date arrives, look at the class schedule on BOSS to plan the times at which you would like to take your classes. Make note of the CRN for each class you would like, and when registration day comes, simply enter these CRNs into the boxes on the add/drop page in BOSS. This can save you the time of looking up your classes individually again.
*Get some advice on your course choices. Come to the SSS office in the Speech Building, room 101 and discuss your course selection with an SSS staff member. This is especially important if you are on academic probation or you need to raise your cumulative GPA.
*Carefully read the course description and syllabus for all courses you plan to take. Usually, the syllabus can be found on the professors’ website as they become available.
* Pay attention to any prerequisite listed in the course description. Do not register for any course(s) for which you have not taken the proper prerequisites.
*The first week of class does not necessarily represent the full intensity of a UALR course. Get academic advice/counseling and support if you think you will need help with your course work.