Undergraduate FAQ - Advising

1. Advising Policy

1. What is the advising policy for ANSC?
   The Animal Science Department has mandatory advising, which means that a student must meet with their advisor every semester prior to being allowed to register.
   
   
2. What is the ANSC expectation for students coming to advising meetings?
   It is expected that a student will show up for their appointment on time and prepared. Students should be prepared to discuss what courses they're planning on taking in the coming semester. All students in Animal Science are expected to complete a 4-year plan within their first year at UMD. Students who show up to advising appointments without a course plan will not be seen, and will have to reschedule their appointment.

2. Changing Your Major

1. What if a student wants to switch options within ANSC?
   To change options, a student needs to meet with their advisor and discuss the difference in course requirements. You should use Degree Navigator (http://www.testudo.umd.edu/dnentry.html) to see what courses would be required in the new option. The student then fills out the very simple "request to switch option" form found on the forms page of the ANSC website. The student needs to sign the form, have their advisor sign it, and then turn the completed form into the Undergraduate office.
   
   
2. What if a student wants to switch into ANSC from another major?
   A student must attend one of our "change of major" seminars, submit a graduation plan of how they would complete the courses in the ANSC major, and have that plan approved. More detailed information on becoming an ANSC major can be found here: http://www.ansc.umd.edu/undergrad/advising/index.cfm?directory=changemajor.cfm
   
   
3. What if a student wants to switch out of ANSC?
   We cannot advise students on course requirements for another major. If they are interested in switching out, they need to talk to an advisor in the desired new major, and comply with their requirements for switching majors. We can give them a final advising stamp if their major change wont take effect until the following semester. It must be made clear to the student that if they are not making progress in an ANSC major, they will not get any more stamps from ANSC, and need to get their major change finalized as quickly as possible. Students with less than 60 credits who are unsure what major they want to switch to can go to the Department of Letter and Sciences: http://ltsc.umd.edu/

3. Additional Majors/Minors

1. What is the difference between a double degree and a double major?
   A double major requires students to complete all requirements of the two majors (with only 18 credits applied to both) and complete a total of 120 credits. Double degrees require the completion of 150 credits and students are awarded two degrees. More information about double majors/degrees can be found within the student's major college.
   
   
2. What is a minor?
   A minor is an approved, limited but structured concentration in a coherent field of study outside of a major. Not all academic programs offer minors. For a list of minors please check with your academic college.
   
   
3. What are my options for a minor?
   A listing of all minors are listed at the following website: http://www.umd.edu/catalog/index.cfm/show/content.chapter/c/127
   Students are free to choose from any of the minors listed regardless of their current major or department.
   
   
4. How can I add a second major or a minor?
   A student who wishes to complete a second major concurrently with his or her primary major of record must obtain written permission in advance from the appropriate departments or programs and colleges. As early as possible, but in no case later than one full academic year before the expected date of graduation, the student must file with the department or programs involved and with the appropriate deans.
   
   In order to obtain approval, students must complete all of the requirements specified for both the primary and secondary major. Courses taken for one major may be counted as appropriate as part of the degree requirements for the general education programs. If two colleges are involved in the double major program, the student must designate which college will be responsible for the maintenance of records and certification of general education requirements. Final approval of a double major program must be obtained from each of the appropriate departments and college(s).
   
   NOTE: A student who wishes to add a Limited Enrollment Program as a second major must do so at the earliest possible opportunity to assure that specific credit and GPA requirements can be met.

4. Special Advising/Academic Probation

1. What is "Special Advising"?
   Special advising is when the Undergraduate Coordinator has to give a student individual stamps for each course they want to add or drop. This is in addition to the general academic advising stamp that the students advisor gives them.
   
   
2. Who needs "Special Advising"?
   Student athletes, students on academic probation (below a 2.0 GPA).
   
   
3. What is Academic Probation?
   Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below 2.0. Normally a student is expected to attain a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of any probationary semester. Students who fail to achieve a 2.0 cumulative GPA at the end of their probationary semester may be academically dismissed, depending on their credit level as detailed at the following link: http://www.testudo.umd.edu/probation/
   
   
4. How does a student go about getting the special advising stamps?
   Once the student has met with their primary advisor and had their course choices approved, they must email the Undergraduate Coordinator with the list of courses and section numbers they wish to sign up for. The student must cc their advisor on this email, so that the advisor may confirm that the courses match what they discussed. If a student wishes to drop or add a course at any time during the time they are on probation, they must get this specific permission, supported by their advisor.

5. Exception to Policy

1. What is an Exception to Policy?
   An Exception to Policy is a request for an exception that cannot be made at the departmental level, and must be made at the college level. Any student who wishes to request an Exception must first discuss the request with their advisor. Once they submit the request, the advisor will be asked if they support it. The form can be found here: http://agnr.umd.edu/undergrad/policyExceptions/index.cfm
   
   
2. How do I get an Exception to Policy?
   
   
3. What actions require an Exception to Policy?
   An Exception to Policy request must be filled out for any of the following items. When requesting an exception, students should keep in mind that the majority of these exceptions will only be granted under truly extenuating circumstances:
   • Credit limit - request to take over 17 credits
   • Time conflict (trying to take two courses that may overlap)
   • Late Add (adding a course after the end of the schedule adjustment period)
   • Late/Retroactive drop without a "W"
   • Late/Retroactive drop with a "W"
   • Grading method change
   • Repeat Policy (over 18 credits)
   • Repeat Policy (3rd attempt of same course)
   • Enroll "off-campus" within final 30 credits
   • Exceed the 4-credit drop limit in one semester
   • Take a Graduate course for undergraduate credit