The College of Arts & Sciences has a multi-tiered academic advising system with some advisors located in a central location called the College of Arts & Sciences Center for Experiential Education and Academic Advising (CEA) and others located in the College's departments and programs.
All College of Arts & Sciences students have:
- a professional academic advisor located at the CEA/Dean’s Office,
- a faculty advisor in the student's major department or program, and
- a faculty experiential education advisor also in the student's major department.
In addition, students who participate in the co-op program have a co-op advisor, and students interested in going on a study abroad program have access to a study abroad advisor in the Provost's office located at 302 Ell Hall.
The CEA/Dean’s Office houses the dean's office professional academic advisors, experiential education coordinator, and the Co-op director. Between the College's departments and the CEA, students have a place to go for all of their academic advising needs and to take care of all their academic business in the College. The CEA is also the central repository for Arts & Sciences students' records.
Professional Academic Advisors
The Dean's Office Professional Academic Advisors, located in the CEA/Dean’s Office, provide advice on a wide range of academic issues, mostly related to College and University requirements and policies. Each student in the College has an assigned academic advisor in the CEA/Dean’s Office, and students see these advisors on issues related to the Core Curriculum requirements, the Experiential Education Requirement, the Middler Year Writing Requirement, academic progress within the College, changing majors, taking leaves of absence, seeking waivers of College or University policies, taking courses at other institutions, and graduation requirements. Academic advisors also monitor students' academic progress each term, notify students when they are in academic difficulty, and maintain academic files for all students in the College.
Academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office are available, by appointment:
Fall and Spring Term
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Summer
Term
Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Appointments may be made by calling 617-373-3980 or by coming to the CEA/Dean’s Office in One Meserve Hall. When students meet with either an academic advisor or with a faculty advisor in a major department, they should bring with them a copy of their Northeastern University transcript (available at Kiosk information centers), and their Arts and Sciences Guidebook.
Freshmen who have not yet chosen a major (LAMP students) are assigned to one of the professional academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office until the students choose, and are accepted into majors, at which time they are advised by a faculty member in the program to which they have been accepted. This should happen by the end of the freshman year.
The professional academic advisors in the CEA/Dean’s Office work closely with faculty advisors in the major departments to guide students through their academic programs and help them with any problems that may arise relating to the College requirements and/or procedures. Together, the professional academic advisors and the faculty advisors review students' records in a "senior clearance" interview several months prior to graduation to ensure that the students have completed all degree requirements.
Faculty Advising
Every student in the College of Arts & Sciences also has a faculty advisor in their major who functions as the students' main connection with the major. Students should see their assigned faculty advisor when seeking advice about major requirements, selection of courses, graduate study, and the possibility of career choices in the major field. It is strongly recommended that students meet regularly (e.g. before each pre-registration period) with their faculty advisor since this person is the student's primary source of assistance on issues related to the major.
Each major program also has a head advisor who is responsible for coordinating faculty advising in the major program, assigning faculty advisors to students, advising students, and sometimes providing advice to student clubs and organizations within majors. Head advisors are also often available as back-up advisors when students are unable to connect with their assigned faculty advisor, and may be consulted if a student is having a problem with his/her assigned advisor. In all departments, and for all programs, faculty advisors have posted office hours, times during the week when students can drop by the advisors' offices or call for assistance. The head advisor also advises students on the College's Experiential Education Requirement and develops experiential learning opportunities for students in their major. Students must meet with their head advisor to plan how they will fulfill the Experiential Education Requirement.
