Helping you Decide

The following offices, programs and workshop resources may be of service to you while exploring Harpur College programs of study. Each of these programs provide different perspectives and resources related to helping you make major choices. You are strongly advised to work with several, or all, of the following individuals, offices or programs.

Academic Advisors
 Your advisor can be an excellent partner and sounding board when you are making decisions about a program of study. Advisors exist to ask the right questions, and help you investigate your interests, goals and strengths. We are also able to review your academic history, in order to help you evaluate which courses you have pursued or are pursuing are helping you to develop intellectualJune 11, 2008e which disciplines or subjects engage you, and attempt to evaluate whether or not any of these interests, or a combination of them, could lead you to your program of study. When appropriate, we may also refer you to faculty, or undergraduate coordinators/directors to help you further explore the specifics of a major or major course offerings. We do not assign an advisor to you; however you can feel free to choose an advisor as "your advisor." Learn more about advising on our "About Advising" page. Also, you are encouraged to visit our home page.

Departmental Web Sites
Virtually all academic departments provide detailed information on their departmental homepage. Departmental pages generally include departmental policies, faculty names and contact information, advising information, worksheets, and course offerings. Many of your initial questions may be answered using these resources. Harpur Academic Advising has assembled links to departmental pages, arranged by division on our main site.

Directors of Undergraduate Studies & Departmental Advisors
 All departments have directors of undergraduate programs within them. The undergraduate director is a faculty member who maintains and develops undergraduate course schedules, coordinates course offerings, and ensures that major and minor requirements are accurately communicated. In addition, many of Harpur’s larger departments have professional advisors within them, who coordinate major requirement fulfillment, and advise students on the specifics of majors or minors. The departmental advisor or undergraduate director is the primary contact person when you have questions concerning major declaration, or major requirement fulfillment. They also generally make the decisions when it comes to course equivalences within a major program. As our undergraduate directors and departmental professional advisors maintain and oversee the departmental major and minor requirements, you are advised to speak with them before deciding on any major, minor or program of study. Generally, you will also be required to meet with them when officially declaring your major. You can find contact information in the University Directory, or on departmental web pages.

The Career Development Center
In the advising office, we will often encourage students to visit the Career Development Center as they are making major decisions. The perspective offered from a career standpoint is often extremely helpful when assessing programs of study. The CDC also provides services to help you determine a career path, identify and secure opportunities that will allow you to gain experience, and conduct a successful job search. Visit the Career Development Center's homepage.

The Discovery Centers, Residence Life and Peers
Experienced peers can be a vital resource when making decisions. We encourage you to ask knowledgeable students about their experience when creating a degree plan. We also have some exceptional programs on campus that put you in touch with knowledgeable peers in a more formal way. In particular, we encourage you to reach out Discovery Assistants, residence hall staff and your Summer Orientation Assistants, who you may see during the academic year. Harpur College Academic Advising also has a peer advising program. When you enter the office our peers will be there first, so you can ask basic and immediate advising questions without waiting for a walk-in appointment. Of course, since major and General Education requirements are often modified in new catalog years, you should always continue to discuss anything you learn with your academic advisor and an undergraduate director/coordinator or major faculty member.

Workshops and Programs
Throughout the academic year, Harpur Advising, major departments, the Discovery Centers, The Career Development Center, and Residence Life (in particular) will feature workshops and sessions which are designed to help you move closer to a major decision. We have launched an area designed to assemble all of these relevant workshops and upcoming programs on this site. Check it out frequently. Also, you are encouraged to subscribe to our RSS feed, which delivers information directly to your desktop.

Move On: It's a Major Decision