
Academic Advising at Seattle University is a collaborative educational process where a student and their advisor are partners in planning the student's personal, academic, and vocational goals as well as in ensuring student success.
To learn more about advising, we recommend you start by reviewing the following:
While Academic Advising is beneficial and we recommend meeting with your advisor regularly, not all SU Undergraduate students are required to meet with their advisor every quarter. Advisors will typically reach out before Advising Period with instructions on how to make an appointment if required.
The following students are required to meet with their academic advisor:
Seattle University students are expected to:
Your advisor can assist with many things. While professional advisors can often help you connect to campus opportunities and faculty advisors can serves as advisors within your discipline, both can assist you with:
Choosing Classes & Educational Planning | Advisors assist you in creating your education plan and meeting requirements. They can provide info about additional majors, minors, internships, study abroad, etc. |
Graduation Requirements | The Program Evaluation is a powerful tool for selecting courses toward graduation. Advisors can help you review your program evaluation and counsel you on your academic plans, course and major selection, and discuss academic opportunities available. |
Majors and Minors | If you are considering adding a major/minor or changing your current academic program, advisors can help you explore the requirements of various majors and minors. |
Registration | Advisors can help you address registration issues and restrictions, and can help you get into closed Core classes. Advisors can also help you explore course options, make changes to your schedule, and review holds. |
Academic Challenges | Advisors can help you evaluate your academic performance and discover the skills and resources necessary to achieve your educational goals. Advisors can connect you with academic and specialized campus services and will support you if you are on academic probation. |
Social Connections & Co-curricular Activities | Feeling like you belong on campus is an important part of being a Redhawk. Advisors may refer you to Pre-Law, Pre-Education, and Pre-Health, policies and procedures, or other ways to connect socially on campus. |
Study Abroad Course Selection | Once you have chosen and been accepted to a study abroad program, advisors can review your potential course selections and help you complete your Education Abroad Course Approval Form. |
Pre-Professional Advising | If you are in a pre-professional program, advisors can also assist you in planning, preparing for, and applying to graduate or professional schools. SU also has specialized advisors for . |
Policies and Petitions | Advisors can explain university and assist you in completing various petitions and forms. |
Advisors care about you as a whole person, not just as a student, and may also recommend that you meet with other support staff on campus. Some common referrals include Career Advising, Learning Assistance Programs, Counseling & Psychological Services, Disability Services, Student Financial Services, etc.
Review this checklist to ensure you are prepared for your advising appointment:
Review Program Evaluation | View on mySeattleU Student Planning under Student Planning |
Identify your Academic Advisor(s) | View on Program Evaluation |
Schedule an Advising Appointment | Varies by advisor - Many use a personalized Bookings link found on the advising center website |
Check Registration Time & Mark on Calendar | View on mySeattleU Student Planning under "Plan and Schedule" |
Check & Resolve Holds | A notification will appear on mySeattleU Student Planning if you have any outstanding holds. Information will appear on who to contact to resolve the hold |
Review Class Options and Add to Plan | Using your Program Evaluation, add planned courses to the upcoming term in mySeattleU Student Planning - be sure to include several backup options in case preferred classes fill up. |
Draft or Update Educational Plan | Use mySeattleU Student Planning and Planning Resources for Degrees - make sure you update your plan each quarter |
Prepare Questions | Write down questions to ask your advisor in your appointment. Be sure to share if you are experiencing any challenges at SU so that they can refer you to campus resources. |
Complete Any Required Assignments | Some departments, such as Premajor, will have quarterly required assignments you need to complete prior to your advising appointment. Students on Probation may need to complete certain requirements as well. If unsure about requirements, check with your advisor. |
Academic advisors will typically send advising notes summarizing important information from the appointment. Many advisors utilize Redhawk SOAR for advising notes, which will send you an email notification. In addition to reviewing advising appointment notes, be sure to consider the following:
180 credits are required to graduate. Some programs require more than 180 credits.
2.00 cumulative GPA is required, some degrees require a higher major GPA, check the Catalog for details.
Major requirements vary but students must complete all required courses as shown for their major in the Catalog. Required Major GPA may be higher than 2.0 for some programs.
The final 45 credits of degree requirements must be taken at Seattle University unless waived.
General elective credits don't satisfy specific requirements, but count towards total required credits. The number of GEs you can take depends on the specific requirements of your major. Discuss GE choices with your advisor.
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