Transfer Students: Advising and Registration

The Academic Advising, Retention, & Completion Office (AARC) offers professional and peer advising to assist students with general questions about academic programs and policies. The office does not provide major-specific advising; rather the staff helps students find resources and understand TU’s academic programs and policies.

The Orientation Process

1. At the transfer student orientation you will meet with a department adviser who will assist you in selecting your courses. If the major you want to pursue is different from the major you listed on your initial application, please declare your major online as soon as possible. This will ensure you are assigned an appropriate adviser.
2. We encourage you to be flexible when choosing your classes.  In addition to major requirements you can enroll in Core Curriculum and/or elective classes.
3. If you are not bringing in college credit for a math class, you are required to take the Towson University ALEKS Mathematics Placement Test to determine the appropriate mathematics course.

The Academic Advising and Registration Process

1. After completing your first term at TU, you will register for classes on your own based on an assigned enrollment appointment date. But first, you’ll need to meet with your adviser.
2. Students with declared majors are assigned an adviser by the major department listed on the student’s record. Please declare or change your major online (as needed) so that you are assigned an appropriate adviser.
3. Students who are open/undecided about a major are assigned an adviser from the AARC.
4. Your adviser’s name and contact information are posted to your online student dashboard page.
5. Every student is required to meet with their adviser prior to registering for the next term, and you’ll have an academic advising hold that will restrict you from registration until you meet with them. You can keep up-to-date with your academic requirements by reviewing your Academic Requirements Report.
6. Academic advising for spring registration typically begins in October and advising for fall registration typically begins in March but varies with each department.
7. If you have not been assigned an academic adviser prior to advising, please contact your major department.

Change of Schedule Period (Add/Drop)

1. As a new transfer student you will have the opportunity to make adjustments to your schedule after attending orientation. Please note that changes are at your own risk so remember to take major/degree requirements and any prerequisites into consideration. Once you drop a class, it is possible that you may not be able to get it back.
2. Some courses, particularly those in your major, may be restricted, requiring department consent or a special permit to enroll in the class. Before dropping other courses, contact the department restricting the course for information on how to get into the class. Please refer to The Registration Process–How to Make Changes to Your Class Schedule section of this guide.
3. The official change of schedule period begins in the days following the start of the term. Consult the academic calendar for the exact dates. The change of schedule period is your final opportunity to make adjustments to your schedule before courses are permanently posted to your TU transcript.

Degree Completion Plan

If you have 45 or more earned credits (including transfer credits), you must meet with your major adviser to complete a degree completion plan. A degree completion plan, individualized to your needs, takes into account not only the courses needed to complete your degree but the appropriate sequence and timing of the courses.

To prepare your Individualized Degree Completion Plan:

• Check out TU’s online undergraduate catalog for the suggested plan of study for your major.
• Review your academic requirements report to see which graduation requirements you have met and which you need to complete.
• Access the website of your college or major department to find information about how to file a degree completion plan with your adviser or academic department.

Your plan is a road map, but it can change if your direction (degree program) changes. With your degree completion plan in place, you will be able to monitor your progress and be a Tiger on track!