Clayton State University Natural Sciences

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Advisement Information

Programs
Advisors
Degree Requirements
Program Maps
Course Sequencing
Advisor and Student Roles and Responsibilities
Training & Assessment Plans
Graduation Applications
Useful Links
Declare your Minor

The Department of Natural Sciences offers the following programs:

B.S. in Biology
A.S. in Integrative Studies - Pre-Engineering
A.S. in Integrative Studies - Pre-Pharmacy
Minor in Chemistry

Advisors

The College of Arts and Sciences has two types of advisors: the general academic advisors and faculty. The general academic advisors are full-time advisors who specialize in the freshman and sophomore advising.

Advisor assignments for the B.S. in Biology are determined in the following manner:

If the student has not yet enrolled in or taken CHEM 2411, Organic Chemistry I, a general academic advisor is assigned. The general academic advisors are assigned alphabetically by the students last name. Those assignments are provided on the College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising Center's Web page.
If the student has enrolled in CHEM 2411, Organic Chemistry I, a faculty advisor is assigned. Faculty advisor assignments for biology students are made by the Head of the Department of Natural Sciences. If you qualify for a faculty advisor and have not been assigned one, contact the department head.
Contact information for faculty advisors for biology students.

Because of the important role of the advisor for transfer programs and their high complexity, faculty advisors are assigned to Pre-Engineering and Pre-Pharmacy students.

Biology students pursuing the Chemistry minor should consult with their normal advisor. Other students desiring to minor in Chemistry should contact the Head of the Department of Natural Sciences for assignment of an advisor.

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Degree Requirements

The course requirements for each of these programs are provided in program checklists. These checklists are available at the following links:

* Students who declared the B.S. degree program in Biology as their major prior to the spring term of 2002, may choose to graduate under any of the five curricula (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006 or 2008).

** Students who declared the B.S. degree program in Biology as their major after the fall term of 2001, may choose to graduate under the 2002, 2005, 2006 or 2008 curricula.

*** Students who declared Biology as their major after the summer term of 2005, may choose to graduate under the 2005, 2006 or 2008 curricula.

**** Students who declared Biology as their major after the summer term of 2006, may choose to graduate under the 2006 or 2008 curriculum.

*****Students who declared Biology as their major after the summer term of 2008, must follow the 2008 curriculum.

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Program Map

The program map provides the terms in which courses within the program will be offered in future terms. The program map for the courses within the B.S. in Biology and Chemistry Minor are provided by this link. Most course in the Pre-Engineering and Pre-Pharmacy programs are included in this list; however, some course options are not. Program maps for other courses taught by the Department of Natural Sciences are provided by this link.

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Course Sequencing

Course sequencing plans provide recommendations for the order in which courses within a program should be taken. The sequencing plans take prerequisites and co-requisites into account. For the B.S. in Biology, the sequencing plan is designed to provide the ability to graduate within four years without attending during summer terms. For the A.S. in Integrative Studies - Pre-Engineering and the A.S. in Integrative Studies - Pre-Pharmacy, the course sequencing plans are designed to provide the ability to graduate within two years without attending during summer terms. Students who desire to take fewer courses per term will have individualized course sequencing plans developed by their advisors. The course sequencing plan for the B.S. in Biology is provided in the Academic Catalog applicable to the date when the student declared Biology as his or her major. The current (fall 2008 curriculum) sequencing plan is available from the following link:

Fall 2008 Biology course sequencing plan

Course sequencing plans for the Pre-Engineering and Pre-Pharmacy programs are provided by the following links:

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Advisor and Student Roles and Responsibilities

The Advisor’s Role and Responsibilities
- To create a welcoming and safe environment where students feel comfortable.
- To clarify college policies, regulations, programs, and procedures about which the student may have questions.
- To be available to meet with students each semester.
- To keep regular office hours and be adequately available to meet with students.
- To offer advice on selecting courses and to assist students in developing an academic plan that satisfies degree requirements.
- To assist students in planning programs of study, both short-term and long-term, that are consistent with each student’s abilities and interests. (This includes course load and factors such as academic background, program demands, employment or personal commitments).
- To be a responsive listener and to refer students to appropriate support services within the college when needed.
- To discuss the student’s academic performance and the implications of their performance for the undergraduate programs, graduate programs and professional programs the student desires to pursue.
- To help students identify special needs and acquaint them with services and programs provided at Clayton State University.
- To refer students to other services, departments, and specific individuals as special needs are identified.
- To help students to explore their unique interests, abilities, and goals and to relate them to academic majors.
- To monitor the student’s progress toward educational goals and keep accurate, up-to-date records of their academic progress.
- To respect the student’s right to privacy of educational records and discuss confidential information only with appropriate individuals.
- To help students assume responsibility for their own decisions and actions.
- To be knowledgeable about career opportunities.
- To offer students the opportunity to participate in a mentoring relationship which will help them become more independent and self-directed.
The Student’s Role and Responsibilities
- To take the initiative to contact their advisor.
- To have and be familiar with the Academic Catalog, the Course Schedule and their student record in DUCK.
- To prepare a list of courses, questions or concerns written down before each meeting.
- To gather all relevant decision-making information.
- To seek resources on campus will assist them in making academic and career decisions.
- To ask questions and be knowledgeable about policies, procedures and requirements.
- To be familiar with their degree requirements.
- To be aware of the prerequisites for each course.
- To follow college procedures for registering courses and course adjustments.
- To observe academic deadlines.
- To keep advisors informed about changes in their academic progress, course selection, and academic/career goals.
- To keep a personal record of their degree progress and official university documents (program worksheets, copy of schedule changes and advisement appointment notes, etc.).
- To understand academic performance standards, academic probation, academic dismissal, and to know GPA requirements.
- To inform an advisor or the Dean's Office immediately whenever a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) disrupts the students’ ability to attend classes or interferes one’s ability to focus on their education.
- To make final decisions and be actively responsible for their academic career.

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Training and Assessment Plans

Training Plan

Advising Handbook. The University maintains an online Advising Handbook, which provide information on advising for advisors. Each new advisor is required to read the Advising Handbook prior to being assigned advisors.

Mentoring Program. Each new faulty member is assigned a another faculty member as his or her mentor. One role of the mentor is to help prepare the new faculty member to advise students. Typically, new faculty members will be required to shadow experienced advisors to see real advising situations and questions.

Workshops. Workshops involving advising are often provided by the Office of Academic Affairs during Faculty Development days. Additionally, the College of Arts and Sciences has provided workshops on the Core Curriculum. Also the Advising Council presents workshops on advising topics.

Webinars. The Office of Academic Affairs sponsors Webinars on advising topics which are open to faculty.

Participation in these training opportunities is reported to the department head annually and is plays a role in the annual faculty evaluation process.

Assessment Plan

Advisement Survey. An assessment survey on advising is conducted annually. Results of that assessment are provided to deans and department heads to assist them in making improvements in their advising programs.

Faculty advisement questionnaire. After each advising session, the student completes as short survey to provide feedback on the quality of advisement.

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