Frequently Asked
Questions about Advisement, Registration, and the Structure of the Psychology
Major
Drs. Makarec, Haines,
and Austin Fall 2006
General Questions about Advisement
What is advisement?
Advisement is a one-on-one meeting between a student and his or her advisor to choose courses, ask questions, and develop a plan for the future.
Why do I need
advisement?
Advisement is the best way to make sure that you are on track for graduation (i.e., taking the right courses, taking the courses in the right sequence, getting the appropriate grades etc). Advisement is also a time to explore potential career goals and get you thinking about life after graduation, before graduation. The two weeks prior to registration, advisement is the time at which you get your RAN.
Who are the advisors?
In the psychology department, advising is shared among the full time faculty. Each faculty has between 45 and 200 advisees that s/he must see over a 2-3 week period (in addition to teaching classes, meeting with students from classes, grading papers, seeing patients, attending meetings, doing research, and having “a life”—spouses, hobbies, friends, children, etc. ). Please remember that advisors are people, too.
Do I have to wait
until the advising period (e.g., the two weeks before registration) to be
advised?
No. You are welcome to see your advisor at any time. However, the only time you can get your RAN is just prior to registration.
What should I bring
with me to my advising session? How do I prepare for my advising session?
To make the best use of your time with your advisor, please bring the following to your advising session:
1) a list of courses you think you need to take (with a few backups)
2) a recent print out of your degree audit
3) a completed curriculum control sheet (click here for one)
4) a pen and paper to write down suggestions or other information that your advisor has for you!
5) Dr. Makarec has put together an excellent student handbook. It is also now available on line at http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/faculty/hainese/advisement/studenthandbook.pdf
How do I find out who my
advisor is?
Through WPU Homepage
1. Go to the
2. Click on student services
3. Click on WP Online
4. You will be prompted to enter your student ID (ss# or 855
number) and your PIN
(6 digit date of birth, e.g., 122585).
5. Click on student records
6. A drop down box will appear; click Advisor
Through Degree Audit
1. Go to the
2. Click on student services
3. Click on WP Online
4. You will be prompted to enter your student ID (ss#) and your PIN (date of birth 122585).
5. Click on student records
6. A drop down box will appear; click on degree audit
7. Your major will appear- click the submit button
8. As you view your degree audit you will see
your advisor's name
at the top of the page.
Through WP Connect:
1. When you enter WP Connect click on the academics tab.
2. Near the upper left corner of the screen
you will see a box titled "My
Academics Channel".
Is my advisor always
the same from semester to semester?
For the most part, yes. However, on occasion, a professor may be on sabbatical for the semester or have a medical leave. If your advisor is on leave, you will be assigned to a different advisor for that semester.
Can I change my
advisor?
Yes, you may change your advisor. You will need to fill out a change of advisor form and get it signed by the department chairperson. You will also need to explain why you are changing your advisor.
How do I make an
appointment with my advisor?
Advisors vary in the way that they make appointments with advisees. The most common method, however, is to sign up on the professor’s door. Advisors have extended office hours prior to registration to accommodate advisees.
General Questions about Registering and RANs
What is a RAN?
RAN stands for Random Access Number. It is a computer generated code that changes from semester to semester. You will need a new RAN for each semester (e.g., fall, spring) with the exception of the summer-fall registration. The RAN for fall registration also works for summer registration.
SAVE YOUR RAN IN MANY SAFE PLACES! You will need it any time you want to change your schedule (e.g., drop or add a course). It is wise to keep your RAN in your cell phone, as a “note” in your email, in your wallet, on your computer at home AND at school. It is not your advisors fault if you lose your RAN and cannot change your schedule. Advisors get VERY cranky when they get emails from students regarding lost RANs. Ultimately, losing your RAN will result in delays making schedule changes and you may even not get into a desired course.
What is my student
number? (855 number)
Your student number is a unique identifier. It is now used instead of your social security number. Please contact help@wpunj.edu if you do not know your 855 number.
What is a Degree
Audit?
A degree audit is a list of all the courses you have taken and all the courses you still need to take. It is a roadmap to your graduation. The degree audit also has gentle reminders regarding when you need to apply for graduation. The degree audit also identifies your advisor and your current Grade Point Average. Your degree audit is continually updated.
How do I get my
degree audit?
Go to wpconnect, student services, click on degree audit
How do I register for
classes?
You can register for classes online by going to www.wpunj.edu, student services, registration. You will need to enter in your RAN, social security number or 855 number, and PIN (your PIN is your 6 digit birthday such as 122586).
When do I register
for classes?
There are three registration period. For fall 2006 the first registration period begins November 8th and goes to November 22nd. The second registration window is from December 4th to January 23rd. The first registration period is arranged such that seniors are allowed to register first, followed by juniors, then sophomores, then freshmen.
When can I add a
class?
You can add classes during the registration windows. The last time you can add a class for the semester is up to 6 days into the new semester.
When can I drop a
class?
During the registration windows, you can drop a class at any time. After the first week of class, however, there are limited refunds for dropping a class. You can drop a class without academic penalty all the way past the six weeks after the first day of class.
How do I choose which
classes to take?
There is a course plan in the psychology student handbook. A list of suggested classes by year can be found in the handbook at: http://euphrates.wpunj.edu/faculty/hainese/advisement/worksheet.pdf or by clicking here the time spent with your advisor is also a good time to help you decide among the courses.
Which professors
should I take?
Your advisor really can’t comment on which professors to take. We only know each other as colleagues and have never taken a course from them! Some students find it helpful to talk to other students who have similar learning styles and ask them which professors were the best for them.
If you are planning on going to graduate school, take professors who focus on writing, reading primary source material, and critical thinking in their courses.
How many credits do I
need to graduate?
You will need 128 credits to graduate. You also need to complete all major requirements as well as General Education Requirements.
When can I graduate?
The traditional graduation time is May, but students can graduate in January and in august too. Graduation ceremonies are held in May and January. You need to apply for graduation . . . . .
How do I apply for
graduation?
You need to apply for graduation approximately 6 months before you graduate. The specific deadlines are as follows:
For January graduation, apply by October 1st
For May Graduation, apply by February 2st
For August Graduation, apply by
June 1st
Of you are completing your coursework during either of the summer sessions, you must apply by June 1st
You can apply on line, by clicking here
I want to graduate in
May but I still need one more class, can I still graduate?
Yes. IF you HAVE ONLY
ONE CLASS to complete, you may still “walk” in May even though you still have
one class left. You will need approval from the Dean of Humanities and Social
Sciences to do this.
I live far away, can I take courses at another college, like, in
summer?
Yes, but once you have 70 credits, you may not take courses at a community (2 year college) . Once you have obtained 90 credits you need to take all of your courses at William Paterson. No psychology courses may be taken at other colleges if you are a psychology major
What are General
Education courses?
General Education courses are a large part of your college
degree. Undergraduate students are required to take courses in: Arts and
Communications, Humanities, Math/Science, Social Science, Health/Movement
Sciences, Racism and Sexism, Non Western, and Electives. Please refer to the Curriculum
Control Sheet for a list of courses that you should take.
Can I take one
semester of language and one semester of another language?
No, two semesters of the same language are required
I took Spanish
(French Italian Swahili) in High school. How do I know what language class to
take?
Contact the languages and cultures department.
How do I know what math
class to take?
Math 110 is the suggested math course to take.
What is a program
adjustment? How do I make a Program adjustment?
A program adjustment is a change in your degree audit. Program adjustments are most often used in order to receive credit for a course that was previously taken. For example, if you took a Biology course at a previous college and its similarity allows you to be “waived” for Bio 114 (A &P). While the majority of these changes are made upon your first registration, there are some cases in which further adjustments need to be made.
If the course is a psychology course, the adjustment can be made in the psychology department (by the chair). Get a copy of the previous syllabus and assignments and ask the chair to review the similarity between the courses
If the course is not a psychology course, go to the department in which the course is offered. Get a copy of the previous syllabus and assignments and ask the chair to review the similarity between the courses
How do I know what
classes meet the requirements for General Education Upper Level Electives?
Any course taken at the 200 level or above that is not part of your major, minor, or program requirements should act as an upper level elective.
How do I know what
course meet the nonwestern requirement for GE
You may look in the master schedule (now just a list of registration timetables and degree requirements) . The master schedule is available on line at and will have a list of nonwestern requirements.
Can I double dip?
That is, can I take one course to count
for two requirements?
In general, no . .the one exception is for upper level elective and the non western requirement. If a nonwestern course is taken at the 200 level or above, it meets the requirement for an upper level elective also. Please note that only three credits will go to towards graduation for a course that satisfies two requirements.
How many credits can I take each semester?
A full course load is 12 credits (approximately 4 courses). The maximum credits that you can take without permission is 18 credits. The maximum amount of credits that you can take with permission is 21 credits. You need permission from the department chair, bring the signed waiver to the dean’s office for approval. If approved, it will be forwarded to registrar to take a credit overload.
I am a transfer student, and not all of my
credits transferred even though it seems like they should have, what do I do?
Please see the academic advisement center in Morrison hall.
Questions
Regarding the Psychology Major/Minor
What courses do I
need to take as a Psychology major?
There are core courses, required track courses, and upper level track courses.
The core courses are
(nothing lower than a c-):
general psychology (110),
experimental 1 (202),
experimental II (203),
History and Systems (230) and
Senior Seminar (480).
The required track
courses are (only 1 D allowed in these):
social psychology (220),
developmental 210),
physiological psychology (353),
one of three cognition courses: learning, cognition, OR perception
one of these: personality OR abnormal psychology.
The upper level track
courses are:
Two courses from the upper level tracks – they do not need to be in the same track
What classes do I
need to take as a Psychology Minor?
For the minor in psychology, you need to complete the following courses: (6 courses = 18 credits)
General psychology
History and systems
Social Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Two other psychology courses
What GPA do I need to graduate with a degree in psychology?
You must maintain a 2.3 average in psychology to graduate with a psychology major.
Is there a particular
sequence for taking courses in psychology?
Please refer to page 30 of Dr. Makarec’s Psychology Student Handbook.
I am planning to be a
teacher. Are there any differences in the courses I should be taking for the
major?
Yes! You should
contact the College of Education for a complete list of
requirements
I took a course at a
different college and I would like to get it counted toward my 128 credits in a
specific discipline? Can I get the course waived?
Perhaps. This is called a degree adjustment. Get the syllabus from the class that you took and the course description from the college where you took it. Go to the chair of the offering department (i.e., if it is a psychology course, go to the chair of the psychology department; if it is a music course, go to the chair of the music department etc) and have the chair evaluate the similarities of the courses.
What Honors are there
for psychology majors?
See Page 36-37 of Dr. Makarec’s student handbook
What other opportunities
are there for psychology majors besides coursework?
Independent study, Internship, Psychology Club, Psi Chi, and Statistics Tutor.
Other Academic and Personal Issues
I am not understanding or
doing well in class, what can I do?
If you find that you're not grasping the material in a course, you need to take a look at what's going on. Are you studying, and attending class (which also means getting there on time)? Are you taking notes effectively?
If you have difficulty with your study habits (which include note taking, time
management, practice and preparation), we strongly recommend going to the
Academic Support Center http://www.wpunj.edu/academics/asc/.
Make an appointment early in the semester so you can get a good
start. They have tutoring services, study habits evaluation, reading
skills, study skills workshops, exam reviews among other services.
I am feeling overwhelmed and I am having
difficulty in your personal life, can you help?
Many of you are working and have family responsibilities. This is a lot to juggle and we know that it can start impacting your performance in school. This is a very common situation - we all feel stressed at times and life can throw us a curve here and there. If this is happening for you it might be worth a trip to the Counseling and Wellness Center http://ww2.wpunj.edu/healthcentercounseling/ Some people think that you have to have a huge problem or be in major crisis to go here. Remember that counseling is also for people who are generally doing ok but want to work on finding balance and troubleshooting situations that aren't working for them. Friends and family are always willing to give advice but it's often much more effective to talk to someone who isn't biased and is trained to help you figure out what is best for you. Confidentiality is a priority at the center!
I am on Academic
Probation, what does that mean?
This is a wake-up
call for you to get some support and/or make some changes. Students often
use this experience to re-group and get a better handle on their academic
performances. Important: It is your responsibility to come
meet with your advisor at the beginning of the semester.
Here’s an explanation of
Academic Standing Guidelines
Below 2.0 for one
semester = Jeopardy of Probation
Below 2.0 for two
semesters = Probation
Below 2.0 for three
semesters = Jeopardy of Dismissal
Below 2.0 for four
semesters = Dismissal
I think I may have a learning disability.
What are my options?
Many students on
campus are dealing with a wide range of challenges stemming from dealing with a
disability. The Office of Disability Services http://ww2.wpunj.edu/studentservices/disability/ has
some wonderful support for you. The office is here because it is
important and you deserve the resources they provide. Be assured
that the office is very discrete about their services.
What can I do to
start thinking about my career?
Start exploring early! There are many options out there and it's often difficult knowing what you might like to do for a career. Sophomores and Juniors especially (not just Seniors) should take advantage of Career Development services http://ww2.wpunj.edu/career/default.htm Make an appointment and talk to someone there about where to find resources and maybe take an interest inventory to get you started. Here is a link to the Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm which gives you lots of information about many different careers including education/training needed, salary ranges and growth of the profession in the future. Career Services and The Advisement Center also have workshops that help you explore majors and minors at WPU http://www.wpunj.edu/academics/advisement/workshops.htm
Questions about Advisement issues
Speaking of
advisement.... lots of questions come up and while some of you stop by an
advisors office, others never seem to quite make it there. The
Frequently asked
questions - http://www.wpunj.edu/academics/advisement/faq.htm and
General Requirements http://www.wpunj.edu/academics/advisement/genedu.htm
I think I need a
break from college, do I just stop taking classes?
In order to be in good standing with the university, you need to apply for a leave of absence. Click here for more information.
Other Useful links
List of Non-Western Courses http://ww2.wpunj.edu/adminsrv/registra/nonwestern.htm
Apply for a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal from the
University http://ww2.wpunj.edu/adminsrv/registra/leavewithdrawal2.htm
Careers and
National Association for School Psychology http://www.nasponline.org/