Advising
ADVISING SERVICES
Advising services are available within the department to current and prospective Psychology majors and minors. We offer guidance in your academic career, assist with planning for your future, and make referrals to other campus services.
The Psychology Department offers a two-tiered advising service. A professional staff advisor is available for procedural questions, academic planning, academic performance problems, transcript review, and registration issues. Students are also assigned a faculty advisor with whom they can meet for discussion of graduate school and career planning. Students are encouraged at all times to meet with ANY faculty member for questions about the courses they teach. The advisors at the College of Arts and Sciences are available for questions and problems at the college level.
WHOM SHOULD I SEE?
See the Staff Advisor for questions like these:
- What should I take next semester?
- Help! I have an advising flag.
- What should I take to be ready for graduate school?
- I’m having trouble academically.
- I have my preliminary degree check, what do I do now?
Staff Advisor: Email Allison
See your Faculty Advisor for questions like these:
- Should I consider graduate school?
- Which graduate program is right for me?
- How can I get research experience as an undergraduate?
- What kind of job can I apply for with a Psychology degree?
See the Arts and Sciences Advisors for issues like these:
- I want to change majors.
- have questions about the accuracy of my preliminary degree audit.
- I want to take a course at another college this summer.
- All problems requiring a petition
HOW DO I GET ADVISED BY THE STAFF ADVISOR?
If you are uncertain as to whom you should see, contact the Staff Advisor with your question. Some questions can be answered by email. Some require an appointment or referral to another source of help. The fastest and most reliable method is to send an email through your University account to: Alison.sommers@gwise.louisville.edu. Emails are usually answered within 24 hours. You may also be able to contact the Staff Advisor by phone at 852-8810 or by walking in Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday 10-4 (other appointments or meetings may mean the advisor is not immediately available, however).
Most of the time: Appointments with the Staff Advisor can be made at your convenience, usually within 48 hours. Some students find it valuable to come for a series of appointments or to see the advisor on an annual basis. Appointments are generally 45-60 minutes long. Seeing the advisor WELL BEFORE registration gives you a chance to ask all your questions and receive maximum attention to academic, personal, and career issues. It also gives you enough time to go to other departmental advisors or university departments, if needed, and still register as early as possible.
Two weeks prior to continuing registration: Appointments are harder to get and appointment length is shorter. Only brief advising issues can be handled during this period, and appointment availability may be limited.
Continuing registration week: This week is for handling EMERGENCIES related to immediate registration issues only. Appointments may be limited to 15 minutes in order to accommodate the number of students who want to be seen. There will be a sign-up sheet on the wall outside the Advising Office for making appointments, or you may walk-in if the advisor is available. You may have to wait if you choose to walk-in and there is no guarantee that you can be seen in a timely manner during this week. General transcript review questions cannot be handled during this busy period.
PLEASE PLAN TO COME FOR ADVISING SERVICES EARLY IN THE SEMESTER!
