1. Be Advised: Academic Advisement & General Education
Advisor name
SOAR leaders name

2. OVERVIEW OF MEETING Outline the general education program
Discuss requirements of your major
Explain the SOAR advising process
Provide scheduling tips

3. GENERAL EDUCATION AT MISSOURI STATE

4. WHY GENERAL EDUCATION?
Educated persons have both breadth of general knowledge and depth of knowledge in a major area.

5. ABOUT GENERAL EDUCATION AT MSU
Consists of credit hours
Serves as the common foundation of all undergraduate degrees at Missouri State
Reflects commitment to ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement
Prepares you for success in later courses

6. GENERAL EDUCATION AREAS
Foundations
14-16 hours
First Year Foundations
Writing I
Public Speaking
Quantitative Literacy
(Math)
Written Communication and Integrative and Applied Learning
(Writing II)

7. GENERAL EDUCATION AREAS
Breadth of knowledge
31-33 hours
Natural world
Life sciences
Physical sciences
Human cultures
Social and behavioral sciences
Humanities
The arts
Public affairs
U.S. and Missouri Constitutions/American History and Institutions
Cultural competence
Public Issues

8. PLACEMENT TESTS Determine your level of skill in an area of study
Helps place you in an appropriate course where you can learn and succeed
Can choose to enroll in a course lower than your placement, but not higher

9. PLACEMENT OPTIONS Visit: missouristate.edu/placementexams
English: ACT or SAT English sub-score
Math: ACT/SAT math sub-score or departmental placement exam
Spanish, French or German: online placement exam
Other foreign languages: Contact department of modern and classical languages
Visit: missouristate.edu/placementexams

10. FIRST YEAR FOUNDATIONS
GEP 101 (or UHC 110 for Honors College students)
Integrative and interdisciplinary class which addresses:
Public affairs issues
Academic success
The Common Reader
Campus resources
Integrates service-learning (volunteering with a community organization) in select courses

11. Visit missouristate.edu/pie for details.
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
Visit missouristate.edu/pie for details.
Limited to freshmen students and their identified Partners in Education (PIE)
Must sign a waiver to allow the release of academic information
Partners receive:
Welcome letters.
Mid-semester progress report.
Final grades.

12. WHY BECOME A PIE?
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student education records
FERPA rights transfer to the student upon enrollment in a college
Release certain information to identified partners (only) through becoming a PIE

13. REQUIREMENTS OF XXX MAJOR

14. Insert major requirements here

15. RESOURCES FOR CHOOSING A MAJOR
Explore areas of interest your freshman year
Take IDS 120: Exploring Majors and Careers
Attend the Majors Fair on September 26
Schedule an appointment with an academic advisor at the Academic Advisement Center
Visit with a career counselor at the Career Center
Take a career interest inventory at the Career Center
Could be optional or used only by undeclared advisors

17. SOAR ADVISING PROCESS
Discuss course selections over dinner or after the evening activities
Brainstorm a list of possible courses and a possible schedule
Bring those ideas to your SOAR advising session tomorrow

18. CHANGING REGISTRATION AFTER SOAR
Changes to your schedule cannot be made online once you register until the first day of class
Handle any essential schedule changes through the Academic Advisement Center during the summer

19. SCHEDULING TIPS
Most classes meet either 3 times a week for 50 minutes each or twice a week for 75 minutes each
Full-time status is 12 hours; hours is an average load

20. STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
Create a balanced schedule
Plan appropriate amounts of study time
Pay attention to syllabi
Keep work to 15 hours or less (or cut back on classes proportionally), if possible
Take at least one class that you expect to be interesting or enjoyable

21. Thank you!