1. Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminal Justice Pre-Advising PowerPoint

2. Getting Started in SOAN Welcome to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. Welcome to the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. This is our pre-advising program, designed to prepare you for the face-to-face advising our faculty provide to students in the department. The information provided here is not a substitute for direct faculty advising, but is designed to answer basic questions students often have getting started in our major. This is our pre-advising program, designed to prepare you for the face-to-face advising our faculty provide to students in the department. The information provided here is not a substitute for direct faculty advising, but is designed to answer basic questions students often have getting started in our major.

3. One Departmental Major and Three Concentrations To begin, while we have three disciplines in the department, we offer just a single major. To begin, while we have three disciplines in the department, we offer just a single major. All students who declare the major in our department are Sociology-Anthropology majors, routinely referred to as the SOAN major. In addition, every student in our department must declare a concentration. All students who declare the major in our department are Sociology-Anthropology majors, routinely referred to as the SOAN major. In addition, every student in our department must declare a concentration. Our three concentrations are Anthropology, Sociology, or Criminal Justice. Each concentration has a distinct curriculum, each with its own particular requirements. Thus, students who study in and complete any of our three concentrations complete the SOAN major. Our three concentrations are Anthropology, Sociology, or Criminal Justice. Each concentration has a distinct curriculum, each with its own particular requirements. Thus, students who study in and complete any of our three concentrations complete the SOAN major.

4. Overview of The Department There are approximately 650 students who have declared a major or minor in our department. There are approximately 650 students who have declared a major or minor in our department. The department currently consists of about 23 full-time and 20 part-time faculty. Our website includes links to the profiles of each of our full-time faculty, and we encourage you to visit these pages to learn more about the department. The department currently consists of about 23 full-time and 20 part-time faculty. Our website includes links to the profiles of each of our full-time faculty, and we encourage you to visit these pages to learn more about the department. Students in our department are also welcome to attend any of our three active Student Clubs; there is one in each of our concentrations. Our student clubs offer an excellent opportunity to meet and to get to know other majors in an academic and social context. Our clubs are student organized and run, and thus depend on the active involvement of our majors. Students in our department are also welcome to attend any of our three active Student Clubs; there is one in each of our concentrations. Our student clubs offer an excellent opportunity to meet and to get to know other majors in an academic and social context. Our clubs are student organized and run, and thus depend on the active involvement of our majors.

5. FAQ #1: How do I declare the SOAN major and who will advise me? To declare your SOAN major, start by visiting the department’s main office, located in Linthicum Hall, Room 318 E. To declare your SOAN major, start by visiting the department’s main office, located in Linthicum Hall, Room 318 E. When you visit the department’s main office, we will begin by either assisting you with the declaration of major (an online form), or by checking to make sure that if you have already declared our major and one of our concentrations, that this information appears correctly in the PeopleSoft system for you. When you visit the department’s main office, we will begin by either assisting you with the declaration of major (an online form), or by checking to make sure that if you have already declared our major and one of our concentrations, that this information appears correctly in the PeopleSoft system for you. At this initial visit, the department staff will assign you a full- time faculty member as your major advisor and provide you with the necessary contact information to reach your advisor. At this initial visit, the department staff will assign you a full- time faculty member as your major advisor and provide you with the necessary contact information to reach your advisor. Finally, the department will create an advising file for you, and all advising related information since your arrival in the department will be maintained in the main office. Finally, the department will create an advising file for you, and all advising related information since your arrival in the department will be maintained in the main office.

6. FAQ #2: When do I meet with my major advisor and why is that important? Advising is now mandatory at Towson University for all undergraduate students. For students who have declared a major, this means you must see your major advisor prior to registration for the next semester. Advising is now mandatory at Towson University for all undergraduate students. For students who have declared a major, this means you must see your major advisor prior to registration for the next semester. Faculty advisors in the department will post an advising schedule and/or begin scheduling advising appointments a few weeks in advance of each registration period for Fall or Spring. Faculty advisors in the department will post an advising schedule and/or begin scheduling advising appointments a few weeks in advance of each registration period for Fall or Spring. The form of advising may vary. Some faculty use a group advising format for schedule assistance with selected group times and rooms listed. This is supplemented with one-on-one advising as needed. Other faculty do all their advising in a one-on-one format, in which case individual appointment times will be listed for you to sign up. The form of advising may vary. Some faculty use a group advising format for schedule assistance with selected group times and rooms listed. This is supplemented with one-on-one advising as needed. Other faculty do all their advising in a one-on-one format, in which case individual appointment times will be listed for you to sign up. From the time your advising begins in the department, we provide concentration check sheets to all students that specify the curriculum that must be followed for each concentration. Your advisor will discuss the check sheet with you and help monitor your degree progress using the check sheet. From the time your advising begins in the department, we provide concentration check sheets to all students that specify the curriculum that must be followed for each concentration. Your advisor will discuss the check sheet with you and help monitor your degree progress using the check sheet.

7. FAQ #3: What will I learn during advising and what will be covered? Your major advisor provides you with access to a full-time faculty member beyond the classroom. This faculty member is familiar with the institution as a whole and is an invaluable source of knowledge for you. Your major advisor provides you with access to a full-time faculty member beyond the classroom. This faculty member is familiar with the institution as a whole and is an invaluable source of knowledge for you. There are two main goals to advising: There are two main goals to advising: First, your faculty advisor will assist you with the requirements of the major and related concentration, basic general education requirements, and course selection related issues. However, faculty work as “advisors” in this capacity, and thus the individual student is expected to propose the courses they will take each semester and to have this ready at the time of advising. First, your faculty advisor will assist you with the requirements of the major and related concentration, basic general education requirements, and course selection related issues. However, faculty work as “advisors” in this capacity, and thus the individual student is expected to propose the courses they will take each semester and to have this ready at the time of advising. Second, beyond schedule related assistance, faculty can assist you with advice for academic success, the formulation of career goals, options for graduate school, and with general knowledge about campus and department related opportunities. Second, beyond schedule related assistance, faculty can assist you with advice for academic success, the formulation of career goals, options for graduate school, and with general knowledge about campus and department related opportunities.

8. FAQ #4: What is the policy for transfer of courses into the SOAN major? Many students, at one time or another, take courses elsewhere that they wish to have count for credit with us toward their major. Many students, at one time or another, take courses elsewhere that they wish to have count for credit with us toward their major. The important thing here is to recognize that the transfer of credit into the university versus the transfer of credit into the major are separate steps. The important thing here is to recognize that the transfer of credit into the university versus the transfer of credit into the major are separate steps. Once you have transferred courses to Towson University and these are posted on your transcript, you must then meet with your major advisor in the department to determine which, if any, courses will apply to your particular concentration of study. Once you have transferred courses to Towson University and these are posted on your transcript, you must then meet with your major advisor in the department to determine which, if any, courses will apply to your particular concentration of study. As a general policy, the department accepts a maximum of six courses, or 18 units total, towards completion of the SOAN major. As a general policy, the department accepts a maximum of six courses, or 18 units total, towards completion of the SOAN major.

9. FAQ #5: What are the basic requirements for graduation? All the requirements for graduation are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog assigned to each new student. Your catalog year is the year you began at Towson University, unless you petition to change the year. All the requirements for graduation are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog assigned to each new student. Your catalog year is the year you began at Towson University, unless you petition to change the year. To graduate, you must meet the requirements as stipulated in your particular Undergraduate Catalog. In general, to graduate from Towson University, an undergraduate student must complete a minimum of 120 units of study, must complete a minimum of 32 upper level units (300 level or higher courses), must complete all general education requirements, must complete all coursework for a declared major, must have an overall g.p.a. of 2.0 or higher for all university coursework, and must have a grade of “C” or better for all courses in the major. To graduate, you must meet the requirements as stipulated in your particular Undergraduate Catalog. In general, to graduate from Towson University, an undergraduate student must complete a minimum of 120 units of study, must complete a minimum of 32 upper level units (300 level or higher courses), must complete all general education requirements, must complete all coursework for a declared major, must have an overall g.p.a. of 2.0 or higher for all university coursework, and must have a grade of “C” or better for all courses in the major. Please keep in mind there are numerous other requirements for graduation, but these are some of the basic requirements. The department’s office staff will provide you with a list of basic graduation requirements that you will be asked to sign and that will be kept in your advising file. Please keep in mind there are numerous other requirements for graduation, but these are some of the basic requirements. The department’s office staff will provide you with a list of basic graduation requirements that you will be asked to sign and that will be kept in your advising file.

10. FAQ #6: What else is helpful to know related to advising and registration? Foremost, seek advising well in advance of the date you are scheduled to register, as advisors become increasingly busy as registration approaches. You do not want to have your registration delayed because your faculty advisor was not available the day of your registration. Foremost, seek advising well in advance of the date you are scheduled to register, as advisors become increasingly busy as registration approaches. You do not want to have your registration delayed because your faculty advisor was not available the day of your registration. Critical to both course selection and registration, you should know that courses offered by the department are listed under three hegis codes: ANTH, CRMJ, or SOCI. The CRMJ hegis is new and began Spring 2008. Students should check for courses in the department under all three course hegis codes. Critical to both course selection and registration, you should know that courses offered by the department are listed under three hegis codes: ANTH, CRMJ, or SOCI. The CRMJ hegis is new and began Spring 2008. Students should check for courses in the department under all three course hegis codes.

11. Finally, what is the next step? At this time, the next step is to click on the link for the concentration of your choice, where you will learn more information. At this time, the next step is to click on the link for the concentration of your choice, where you will learn more information. Again, we are excited that you are interested in studying in the SOAN major and in one of our three department concentrations. Again, we are excited that you are interested in studying in the SOAN major and in one of our three department concentrations.