Advising Introduction

Welcome to the Department of Political Science's main source of advising information. The Department prides itself on providing students with the excellent advising and ultimately success in their academic journey through West Chester University.

Information includes:

  • Guidance Sheet for all PSC Majors (pdf)
  • A map of your four years/eight semesters of study.
  • General advice as you move from your first year through the second, third, and final graduation year.
  • Top Ten Advising Recommendations

General Advisor-Advisee Expectations, include:

  • Know your faculty advisor. If you do not know your advisor, please contact the department office for a referral.
  • Advisees and Advisors are expected to meet every semester before the student's scheduling date (available on MyWCU).
  • To facilitate the nitty-gritty part of the appointment, advisees are expected to bring their appropriate, updated PSC Guidance Sheet, transcript, and tentative list of classes to be scheduled. Advisors will do their best to answer questions or refer students to others if needed.
  • Advisees are ultimately responsible for their progress, timing, completing requirements, etc. It is your responsibility (not your advisors) to make sure you are in compliance. The excuse of "I didn't know" or "my advisor did not tell me" is NOT valid. Failure to closely follow the rules may extend your graduation date.

Short list of "Things to Do":

  1. Make sure there are no "holds" on your account and pay your bill by the due date each semester. Failure to pay your bill will cause your schedule to be dropped (print out a copy early on to "prove" you signed up for classes). If you are dropped for non-payment, there is a good chance that you will not get back into classes since most of the classes fill up quickly. If you have financial aid, do not assume that you are OK with payment. Check with the financial aid office to make sure you are activated correctly. Library and Parking fines and Wellness Center balances will stop you from scheduling as well.
  2. Schedule early. Don't wait. See your advisor before your online scheduling appointment. Check your advisor's office hours which are posted both outside the Professor's door to their office and in the departmental office. Do not contact your advisor via email asking when they hold their office hours. The same is true in finding out where their office is located. Check it yourself.
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