Advising

All departmental majors are assigned to an advisor whose name will appear on their Degree Works worksheet.  Advisors assist students with priority registration each semester and set up special appointments for that purpose.  While they also assist with other advising needs that occur throughout the academic year, students are expected to make appointments or utilize their advisor’s regular office hours for those needs.

Students requiring assistance with special matters such as transfer course evaluations, plans of study for ROTC, and other non-routine tasks may seek assistance in the Advising Center (Room 300 Knapp Hall).  Established walk-in advising hours are posted every term.  In addition, advising questions may be directed to SOCA-advising@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-6195.

Priority Registration Advising

Students must see their assigned advisor each semester in order to register for classes.  Advisors will contact their advisees to set up appointments, and students are expected to take advantage of those times.  Students who do not schedule appointments before registration opens will face more limited meeting options and run the risk of being unable to get into their first-choice courses. 

Department advisors’ offices are located in Knapp Hall.  Students should go directly to their advisor’s office (or other designated location) for their advising appointment. They are expected to be prepared with a proposed schedule and any questions they may have.  In addition to taking courses for general education, foreign language, and major requirements, students are strongly encouraged to build academic minors into their plans of study and should discuss options with their advisor.   

At the end of the advising session, advisors will sign a blank evaluation form and give it to students to complete and return to the department’s main office in 307 Knapp Hall.  Students will also sign a clipboard to have their advising hold lifted and should allow up to 24 hours for the hold release.