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Welcome to the Advising
Center for Undeclared Students
The Advising Center for Undeclared Students is an
academic support and resource center for students who desire
to explore academic majors and related careers before
committing to a course of study.
Did you know?
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Up to 80 percent of students entering college,
including those who declare a major, are unsure about
their academic or career goals.
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Up to 50 percent of students will change their major
at least once before graduation; others will change
several times.
As an
undeclared student, you will have the
opportunity to research and evaluate academic
majors
and
clarify your goals while you explore your interests
through courses, programs, and extra-curricular
activities at Kutztown University (KU). The Advising Center for Undeclared
Students provides a variety of resources and
knowledgeable staff to help you make informed decisions
about your course work at KU.
Is entering undeclared right for you?
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Do you have several interests and finding it
difficult to choose between them?
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Do you have an idea about what you want to major in
but you want to explore other options before declaring
it?
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Are you unsure about your own interests and
abilities and need some time to discover them?
Students often feel pressured to choose a major before
they have enough information to make a good decision.
Entering KU as an Undeclared Student provides an opportunity
for you to take some time to learn about yourself, gather information about careers and majors, and work
with an
Advisor before declaring a major
program of study.
Myths
about Entering KU as an Undeclared Student
It's easier to be admitted to specific KU majors if you
first enter as an undeclared student.
False: Undeclared students must meet all departmental
requirements and prerequisites for the
major they intend to declare. These
requirements may include but are not limited to obtaining a
specific minimum
GPA, specific grades in
prerequisite
courses, and earning specific number of
cumulative credits. Undeclared students
should be aware that there is no assurance that he or she will be
accepted into the major of choice since programs with limited
capacity may be restricted or closed.
If you are undeclared, you can take any classes you want.
False: Some academic departments limit course
registration
to students who have declared a major in
that area, so as an undeclared student you may not be
permitted to take courses in certain departments.
With the help of an
Advisor, you will be
able to select courses from a variety of disciplines that
match your interests and fulfill
general education
requirements for most KU degree programs.
As long as I choose a major before my
junior
year, I can still graduate within four years.
False: Any delay in choosing a major could extend your
graduation date beyond four years, especially in programs
that have a very structured course sequence.
You are encouraged to declare a major/minor by the time you
have completed forty-five (45) credits or by the end
of the 1st
semester
of your
sophomore
year. However, you are strongly
encouraged to work with the staff in the
Advising Center
for Undeclared Students and the
Career Services Office to clarify educational and
career goals, and declare a major as soon as you are
reasonably certain.
Academic Advisement
Your Academic
Advisor is a person who will guide and advise
you in matters such as selecting and scheduling courses,
establishing and evaluating academic goals, understanding
and navigating university policies and procedures, exploring
academic majors and related careers, declaring a major, and
connecting with other university programs and resources.
A
Staff Advisor or a
Faculty Volunteer Advisor from the
Advising Center for Undeclared Students
will be your Advisor until you declare a major.
You are strongly encouraged to meet with your Advisor often
and utilize the range of resources and services
available to you.
Selecting Courses
Choosing your courses wisely each semester is an important
part of academic planning. First-year and transfer students will work
with an
Advisor during
Connections
to schedule courses for
their first semester at Kutztown (KU).
Undeclared Students typically enroll in 15-18 credits (5 or
6 courses) that will generally fulfill
general education requirements for most majors.
First-year students also enroll in
UST015,
a one (1) credit course offered to assist students in their transition to college. Course topics include exploring
academic majors, reviewing study skills, selecting courses, and
preparing for web registration.
Information on the
Connections program
is sent to students after they have been offered admission
to the University and their advanced
registration deposit has been paid.
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