Dec 14, 2024  
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

1310 Academic Advisement and Development


Return to: 1300 University Academic Regulations  


Georgia State University is committed to providing individual advice and assistance to students at every step of their degree program. The University offers services and programs to support the academic development of every student by helping them transition to college, succeed while enrolled and graduate in a timely manner.

All new freshmen (by admission category) are required to come to campus and complete New Student Orientation. Freshmen who do not attend orientation must enroll in a GSU 1010  class during their first semester of attendance at Georgia State. Transfer students are encouraged to attend a transfer orientation program designed to address the questions and circumstances of students who are new to Georgia State University but have attended college elsewhere before. All students who attend an in-person orientation will receive academic advisement during the orientation. All transfer, transient, transition, and postbaccalaureate students are required to complete the appropriate online orientation prior to registering for classes. Students who complete an online orientation program who have earned less than 90 credit hours should make an appointment with an advisor in the University Advisement Center to review their academic record. Postbaccalaureate students and those who have earned more than 90 credit hours should contact the Office of Academic Assistance in their college for advisement.

1310.10 New Student Orientation

New Student Orientation is the official Georgia State University new undergraduate student orientation program. New Student Orientation is required for new freshman and strongly encouraged for new transfer students. Orientation programs are designed to introduce students to the unique world of Georgia State and prepare them to make the most of both their academic and co-curricular experiences.

Students will receive a tour of Georgia State’s unique urban campus in downtown Atlanta, learn about important campus resources such as campus safety, financial aid and more. Additional benefits of attending New Student Orientation are the connections made with fellow classmates as well as seasoned student leaders who will be assisting students throughout the orientation experience. At the end of the orientation day, students will receive academic advisement and register for classes.

New Student Orientation has multiple dates available in order to meet students’ needs and schedules. Oneday orientation programs are offered for new freshman students and half-day orientation programs for new transfer students. There is also a special parent and guest orientation program which runs concurrently with all student programs.

For additional information, visit orientation online at orientation.gsu.edu or in person, Student Center East, Suite 304.

1310.20 Placement Testing

Math

A math placement test is recommended for all students who do not have credit for an Area A math course and is required for students who wish to take (or are required to take) MATH 1111 , College Algebra, or higher. Students may not register for a math course higher than that indicated by their placement test score. See Area A2: Mathematics for information about math course requirements for different majors.

Depending upon your status, new student, currently enrolled student, or returning student, see the following information that applies:

New Student (first semester at Georgia State)

All new students who wish to take (or are required to take) MATH 1111  or higher should sign up for this exam on an available date and time as shown on their PAWS accounts. This is usually done prior to or in conjunction with New Student Orientation.

Current student (enrolled student that is presently taking classes at Georgia State)

Students who have enrolled at Georgia State during previous semesters will find test information at the Testing Center website (counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/) where testing is available for first-time as well as for re-test ($50 fee applies) purposes on a walk-in basis.

Returning student (returning to Georgia State after a semester or more absence)

Testing for returning students is conducted during scheduled times in the University’s Testing Center. See counselingcenter.gsu.edu/testing/ and click on Tests, then Math Placement for these dates and times.

Chemistry

A diagnostic chemistry test is required in order to register for CHEM 1211 , which is the prerequisite for BIOL 2107  and CHEM 1212 . The test is administered by the Chemistry Department on campus at selected times through the University Testing Center. Students with AP Chemistry scores of 2 or better, SAT subject scores of 600 or better, or those who have completed college-level chemistry courses may be exempt from taking the test. See chemistry.gsu.edu/chem-1211k-online-placement-exam/ for additional information.

World Languages

Placement exams in French, German, Spanish and Chinese are available to help students determine the course most appropriate for their abilities in French, German, Spanish and Chinese. All students with any prior experience in these languages are strongly encouraged to take the placement exam before registering for any language classes. Prerequisites in these courses are enforced. (See Appendix I, Course Descriptions, for the prerequisites of French, German, Spanish and Chinese courses.) Students may satisfy a prerequisite either by taking the indicated prerequisite course or by taking the French, German, Spanish or Chinese placement exam and earning a satisfactory score. Students may take the WebCAPE exam from any computer with internet access and a browser. (Go to http://mcl.gsu.edu/home/language-resources/placement-exams/webcape/ and click the link at the bottom for the WebCAPE placement exam. The user name is “gsu user” and the password is “panthers1”.) The WebCAPE takes approximately 20 minutes to complete, and students are given their score and class level at which they have been placed. As placement is strictly enforced, it is paramount that students take this test without any outside help or study aids. It is recommended that students print a copy of the email regarding their scores to keep for their records and academic advisement. Students who score between 200 and 399 points will be cleared automatically within 1 business day; email notifications will be sent to those with scores of 400 or higher. Only the first WebCAPE score within a 365-day period counts toward placement. Note: This exam is not part of New Student Orientation, so new students should take the exam prior to attending orientation or attempting to register for a French, German, Spanish or Chinese course. Also, the WebCAPE exam does not grant credit and is for placement purposes only; if a student scores above 400 they may consider taking the CLEP Exam (see 1320.40 Credit by Examination ) to obtain up to 6 credit hours for language classes at the 2001 and 2002 level. For placement in languages other than German, Spanish, French or Chinese and for further information, students should contact the Department of World Languages and Cultures at wlc.gsu.edu or email at wlcinfo@gsu.edu. For assessment and/or placement in any other languages taught by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, students are asked to contact the department directly.

1310.30 University Advisement Center

Every student at Georgia State University is assigned to an advisor who will provide them with the information necessary to complete the requirement necessary to complete their degree. All Perimeter College students will receive advisement through the University Advisement Center located at each Perimeter College location. At the Atlanta campus, any student who has earned less than 90 hours and has freshmen, sophomore or junior status, will be advised by the University Advisement Center. Any student who has earned 90 hours or more should seek advisement through the Office of Academic Assistance in the college of their major.

Advisors in the Center can assist students in the following ways:

  • Evaluate transfer work and apply it to Georgia State University degree programs
  • Explain catalog regulations
  • Provide academic counseling
  • Utilize predictive analytics to help students understand their academic risk and remain on path to degree
  • Explain academic standing policies
  • Discuss goals
  • Assist with degree and major choices for undecided students
  • Help students who are experiencing academic difficulties
  • Provide direction to campus resources for further assistance

Perimeter College students may schedule advisement appointments by calling one of the following:

  • Clarkston Campus/Online
    555 North Indian Creek Drive Clarkston, GA 30021-2361
    Phone: 678-891-3200
  • Decatur Campus
    3251 Panthersville Road Decatur, GA 30034-3832
    Phone: 678-891-2300
  • Dunwoody Campus
    2101 Womack Road Dunwoody, GA 30338-4435
    Phone: 770-274-5000
  • Newton Campus
    239 Cedar Lane Covington, Georgia 30014
    Phone: 770-278-1200
  • Alpharetta Campus
    3705 Brookside Parkway Alpharetta, GA 30022-4408
    Phone: 770-274-5200

All Atlanta campus students may contact the University Advisement Center at 404-413-2300 for advisement or to be directed to the Office of Academic Assistance for their college if they have 90 hours of more.

  • Arts and Sciences
    Langdale Hall, 4th Floor
    Phone: 404-413-5000
  • College of the Arts
    55 Park Place, Suite 910
    Phone: 404-413-5855
  • Andrew Young School of Policy Studies
    14 Marietta Street, Suite G52
    Phone: 404-413-0021
  • Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions
    Urban Life Building, Rm. 811
    Phone: 404-413-1000
  • College of Education and Human Development
    College of Education Building, Rm. 300
    Phone: 404-413-8000
  • J. Mack Robinson College of Business
    55 Park Place, Suite 1200
    Phone: 404-413-7115
  • School of Public Health
    1 Park Place, Suite 640
    Phone: 404-413-1452
  • Institute for Biomedical Sciences
    Phone: 404-413-3629

Walk-in advisement for 10 minute consultations and brief questions is also provided at each campus location daily.

1310.40 Office of Student Success

At Georgia State University, the institutional commitment is to be a “national model of undergraduate education demonstrating that students from all backgrounds can achieve academic and career success at high rates.” The Office of Student Success is comprised of the University Advisement Center and the Office of Undergraduate Studies. These offices exist to help students meet their academic goals and are focused on ways to increase the retention, progression and graduation of undergraduates at Georgia State University. Using data and analytics to better understand what puts students at academic risk, the Office of Student Success designs and administers programs that help students complete college in a timely manner. Their purpose is to lower barriers to educational opportunities, increase academic support and outreach, assist students in the transition from high school to college, and once students are in college, to help them successfully progress through their program of study.

The following are programs and services offered by the Office of Student Success:

Educational Opportunity Programs: the Scholarship Resource Center, Panther Retention Grant Program, Early College programs offered through Perimeter College, Dual Enrollment and TRIO funded programs including Upward Bound, Veterans’ Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, and the Educational Opportunity Center

Academic Support and Outreach Programs: the University Advisement Center, Supplemental Instruction, Early Alert, Learning and Tutoring Centers at Perimeter College, Keep Hope Alive, Student Success Workshops, Academic Coaching and TRIO funded Student Support Services and Student Support Services (STEM) Programs

Transition and Progression Programs: Freshmen Learning Communities, GSU 1010 - New Student Orientation , PCO 1020 - First Semester Experience , GSU 1050 - Survival Skills for College , Success Academy, the Panther Excellence Programs, Transition and Transfer Advisement, Latino Services and Outreach Office, Peer Mentors, 1st-year book program, Atlanta-Based Learning and other initiatives.

University level Perspectives courses are administered through the Office of Undergraduate Studies in the Office of Student Success. These courses include:

PERS 2001 - Perspectives on Comparative Culture  (2)

This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that provide a better understanding of the contemporary world through the study of different cultures. Sections will feature comparative culture study across societies or multi-cultural study within societies. Although courses may take a historical perspective, the goal is to foster a fuller understanding of the contemporary world.

PERS 2002 - Scientific Perspectives on Global Problems  (2)

This category is composed of a group of interdisciplinary courses that deal with scientific approaches to important issues on the environment, public health, or technology.

PERS 2003 - Perspectives on Human Expression  (2)

This category is a group of interdisciplinary courses that focus on the human condition, how people have expressed themselves through the arts and humanities, and how such representations have had broad historical and/or contemporary impact.

1310.50 Learning Support Program

The Learning Support Program (LSP) is for undergraduate students admitted with high school grade point averages (GPA) or standardized test scores indicating that they will require additional support to succeed in collegiate English or mathematics courses.

English:

  • Students do not require the Learning Support Program (LSP) in English if they meet any of the following conditions:
  • Student has credit for an Area A English course (must meet the minimum grade of “C”)
  • Student has a final high school GPA of 2.5 or higher in the Required High School Curriculum.
  • Student has an ACT English score of 17 or higher.
  • Student has an SAT Verbal/Critical Reading score of 430 or higher on the “old” SAT.
  • Student has an SAT Reading test score of 24 or higher on the “new” SAT.
  • Student has an Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score of 61 or higher AND an Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 4 or higher.
  • Student has a Next Generation Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score of 237 or higher AND an Accuplacer WritePlacer score of 4 or higher.
  • Students who do not meet any of the conditions above must take ENGL 999  (Support for ENGL Composition) with ENGL 1101 .

Mathematics:

Math 1001 or 1101

Students do not require the Learning Support Program (LSP) in MATH 1001  or MATH 1101  if they meet any of the following conditions:

  • Student has credit for an Area A mathematics course (must meet the minimum grade of “D”)
  • Student has a final high school GPA of 2.5 or higher in the Required High School Curriculum
  • Student has an ACT Mathematics score of 17 or higher.
  • Student has an SAT Mathematics score of 400 or higher on the “old” SAT.
  • Student has an SAT Math test score of 22 or higher on the “new” SAT.
  • Student has an Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 67 or higher or a Next Generation Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 258 or higher.
  • Students taking MATH 1001  who do not meet any of the conditions above must take MATH 0997  (Support for Quantitative Reasoning) with the MATH 1001  course. Students taking MATH 1101  who do 
  • not meet any of the conditions above must take MATH 0998  (Support for Math Modeling) with the MATH 1101  course.
  • Upon completion of MATH 1101 /MATH 1001  with a grade of C or better students are eligible to enroll in MATH 1111  with the MATH 0999  co-requisite course for majors requiring college algebra.
  • Students are eligible to enroll in MATH 1111  with the MATH 0999  co-requisite course with a score of 67 or higher on the Accuplacer, a 258 or higher on the Next Generation Accuplacer or a high school GPA of 3.0.

Math 1111

Students do not require the Learning Support Program (LSP) for MATH 1111  if they meet any of the following conditions:

  • Student has a final high school GPA of 3.5 or higher in the Required High School Curriculum
  • Student has an Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 84 or higher or a Next Generation Accuplacer Elementary Algebra score of 269 or higher.
  • Student has an ACT Mathematics score of 29 or higher.
  • Student has an SAT Mathematics score of 650 or higher on the “old” SAT.
  • Student has an SAT Math test score of 33.5 or higher on the “new” SAT.

LSP placement and courses

It is required that LSP students meet each term with an academic advisor for advice regarding course selection. For this reason, an advisement hold is placed on each LSP student’s record each term. The hold is lifted after the student has seen an advisor and their schedule is approved. Any student wishing to drop or withdraw from either the co-requisite or linked collegiate level course will be required to withdraw from BOTH courses. Any student considering dropping or withdrawing from a LSP course must first meet with an advisor. The advisor will inform the student of the program’s drop and withdrawal policies, including the right to apply for an emergency withdrawal if an emergency exists.

LSP courses do not count towards degree requirements or a student’s GPA at Georgia State University. They are, however, used to calculate a GPA for Pell and other financial aid awards, and the courses and grades earned appear on a university transcript. Georgia State University will use A, B, C, F grading in the corequisite courses.

Exiting LSP

Students who have exited an area of Learning Support at any institution in the University System of Georgia are not required to re-enter that area upon transfer to Georgia State University.

There is no limit on attempts for co-requisite remediation.

Students exit an LSP area when they successfully complete the collegiate course in their area(s) of remediation regardless of their grades in the co-requisite course. Exit for collegiate MATH includes a grade of D or better (C or better may be required for higher level mathematics prerequisites); and exit of collegiate ENGL is with a grade of C or better.

Students requiring LSP must enroll in LSP courses during their first semester of enrollment. Students requiring Learning Support in both English and Mathematics may defer enrollment in co-requisite Learning Support and the accompanying collegiate courses for one or the other area, but must be continuously enrolled in one or both until the college-level courses have been passed. All area A requirements must be completed within the first 30 hours of enrollment.

Requests for waivers to any of the above regulations should be submitted to the Director of the University Advisement Center.

1310.70 University Career Services

The central office for University Career Services (UCS) houses the comprehensive career center for the campus with programs, services, information, and counseling to assist students with career decisions, as well as preparation for and implementation of successful job and graduate /professional school searches. The central UCS office works with undergraduate and graduate students from the first year on campus through the one year anniversary of their graduation. Alumni beyond a year of graduation may enroll in Alumni Career Services, a program also housed within the office (Note: an Alumni Career Services fee is associated with some services). Students from all majors and areas of study, from all class levels, and from all colleges, are served.

Career Development services are available by appointment. Individual and group sessions are offered, always with the goal of helping students and alumni connect their passion and purpose with career opportunities. The career counselors also provide career assessments, which aid students in exploring career possibilities based on values, interests, and personality.

Workshops, information and career counselors are available to help students and alumni with their career exploration and assess their individual talents, skills, and interests, and to set career goals. Programs and materials, employer panels, employer information sessions, and career fairs provide up-to-date information for use in exploring careers and researching employers.

Through the Employer Relations team, University Career Services has programs and services that connect students, alumni, and employers for internship and career opportunities, as well as employment to meet expenses while attending school. Regular workshops, employer events such as mock interviews and résumé critique days, and online information help students prepare résumés, and develop interviewing and other job search skills.

The Cooperative Education and Internships program helps students prepare for in-depth co-op and internship learning experiences, which build skills and strengthen students’ competitiveness for future opportunities. The program also works with colleges and employers in supporting their co-op and internship initiatives. The Co-op Program is the formal hub for the Georgia State University Cooperative Education initiative.

The Graduate and Professional School Planning program assists students exploring advanced degree opportunities, either here at Georgia State University or at another campus within the United States or abroad. This program has materials to assist students in researching programs as well as support in making application. This program also sponsors the fall Graduate and Professional School Fair, which brings graduate school recruiters from across the country to meet interested Georgia State students.

The Career Resource Center (CRC) is the central point of contact for students and contains workstations with access to online career guidance, job postings, graduate/professional school information, and employer research databases.

Drop-In Hours is a walk-in resume and c.v. review service, available Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. No appointment is needed and students are seen on a first-come first-serve basis. During drop-in hours, students may work on their resumes and cover letters, ask questions regarding major selection, job search and related career questions.

All Georgia State University students have an account on Handshake (gsu.joinhandshake.com), a web-based career management system utilized by students, employers and the career services staff. Handshake is free to all enrolled students. Activation of the account (completing a profile and uploading a resume if seeking employment) provides 24/7 on- and off-campus access to many of the Career Resource Center’s online resources, as well as easy application to jobs, and information about career events and employers. Activation requires use of one’s campus ID and password and can be done remotely.

For more information on career counseling, career assessment, career exploration, graduate and professional school planning, internship and career opportunities, and job search support, visit the central office of University Career Services in 270 Student Center West or call 404-413-1820 or visit the website at career.gsu.edu.

1310.80 International Student and Scholar Services

International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) provides essential support services to international students and scholars who come from abroad to study at GSU. Those services include immigration compliance advising and individual support services as well as globally themed programmatic offerings.

Information concerning programs and services is available online at isss.gsu.edu.

International Faculty & Staff
International Student & Scholars (ISSS) provides immigration support and advisement to both various GSU departments and units and the international faculty & Staff within them.

Non-U.S. Citizens
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) provides legal presence verification for students who are in the U.S. but do not intend to study with an international student visa. That verification process allows those students to enroll upon admissions.

International Student Organizations
ISSS provides guidance and advisement to multiple international student organization, including the International Student Associations Council.

International Student Orientation
International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) provides an orientation program to new international students on non-immigrant visa statuses. Students receive information and advice concerning federal immigration, the academic system in the United States, academic advisement and registration, the Atlanta community, and the mandatory health and accident insurance.

International Student Health Insurance
Health insurance is mandatory for all international students and scholars in F and J status enrolled at Georgia State, and is optional for other non-immigrant students. A special international student health and accident insurance policy is made available each academic year, and payment of the insurance premiums is collected along with tuition during the process of registration. Individuals who may already be covered by a policy are required to request a waiver with the insurance company the semester before enrollment. More information is available online at sfs.gsu.edu/resources/student-health-insurance or through Student Accounts.