What is Academic Advising?

As an MSU Denver student, you have access to both professional academic advisors and faculty advisors, as well as staff in other offices, to help you navigate the University. (Faculty are the professors and instructors who teach your classes. Some of them advise, too.) Advisors are here for you if you:

  • Need help deciding a major, minor, or concentration.
  • Want to learn how transfer credit fits into your degree plan and goals.
  • Are looking for referrals to other offices but don’t know where to start.
  • Need help choosing classes for your next semester.
  • Are exploring careers.

If you’re unsure of which major best fits you, that’s Ok. We have a team of Exploratory Advisors just for you!  Exploratory/Undeclared students are those who have not yet decided on a college major. It is perfectly normal to not know what you want to study in college. You may not have all the information you need to choose a major, or maybe you just need more time to learn about your strengths, interests, and values.

It is common for students to have more than one advisor during their time at MSU Denver. Undergraduate students typically work with a professional academic advisor first and then move to working with faculty advisors in an academic department. Graduate students – check with your program for more advising information. MSU Denver students have an advising team to support them from their first day through graduation!

Meet with your advisor early – before it is time for you to register for classes. Try to check in with someone at least once a semester and make sure you become familiar with Navigate Student, our online advising resource. You’ve got this!

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Pro-Tip: Advising During Busy Times of the Year

If you can’t find appointment availability for your advisor in Navigate Student, send them, or the  advising office for your program, an email to determine options and next steps. For some locations there may also be an option in Navigate Student to request an appointment. Advisors work as quickly as possible to get back to students.

Connect with an Advisor

Advising at MSU Denver happens in the academic department for your major, minor, or certificate. These programs at the University are grouped into Colleges and Schools. It’s OK if you’re not sure what College or School your program is housed in. Use the link below to find your program. Then, visit your College or School’s advising information page to learn more about their resources.

  • If you are exploring program options, we’ve got a team for you, too! Check out Exploratory Advising.
  • If you have general advising or program-related questions, please reach out to an advisor in your major, minor, or certificate program.
  • If you want to meet with a faculty advisor, reach out to your academic department or advising center for more information about how to connect with them. (Faculty are the people who teach your courses, some of them advise, too!)

Keep Scrolling for Contact Information and Helpful Links

 

Find out what College or School Programs are Housed In

Find your program!

Explore Advising Information from Colleges and Schools

What next?

Schedule an Appointment in Navigate Student

Download the Advising Contact Sheet

Other Helpful Contacts

Track Your Degree Progress

 

The Degree Progress Report, also called a DPR, is an online tool that helps you and your advisor see degree requirements for your currently declared program, and how you are meeting them. It includes information about classes you have taken at MSU Denver and classes transferred in, as well as classes you registered for next semester. It doesn’t tell you what order to take the classes in, but academic departments have guides, and people, to help you plan!

Review your DPR before you meet with an advisor and prepare questions to ask during your appointment.

Check out the DPR overview in the video below.

 

DPR Overview from the CLAS Advising Page | Length 4:43 minutes | Closed Captioned

Something Important to Remember

Your DPR is not an official transcript, it is an advisory guide. Your DPR may not show all information until the Office of the Registrar finishes a final graduation check. If there are issues with your graduation application you will be notified.  If you change your major, minor, or concentration, class schedule, catalog year, repeat a course, or earn below the  minimum grade you need for a course, for example, the information on your DPR changes too! If that sounds overwhelming,  remember an advisor can help you better understand what you see on your DPR.

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Future and New Students

Future Students

If you haven’t been accepted to MSU Denver, you won’t be able to schedule an appointment with an advisor without some help. Connect with the Office of Admissions if you have questions about getting started at MSU Denver. If you have very specific questions about an academic program, you can locate the department contact information by selecting your program in the Academic Programs page.

If you would like to apply, please visit msudenver.edu/apply

We can’t wait for you to join us!

 

New Students

Welcome new Roadrunner! We are so glad you are here! The Office of Admissions has prepared checklists of next steps for admitted transfer students, veteran and military students, international students, returning students, non-degree students, and first-time to college students. (Graduate students should check in with their departments. Online student should check in with Online Learning.)

Checklists go over tasks from setting up your student accounts to applying for financial aid and scholarships, and so much more. Make sure to check your MSU Denver email often. It’s now the official way for us to email you and you will be receiving a lot of important information there!

Meeting with an advisor is a task you should complete now that you have been admitted. Their schedules book up quickly, especially at the beginning and end of semesters. Don’t wait to reach out! If you attend a virtual or in-person orientation you will meet with advisors at an advising and registration session. The staff at orientation can help you connect with your department and help you make a plan to get started at MSU Denver. If you complete an online orientation, please follow that up by scheduling an advising appointment.

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Resources

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Resources for Students

Tutorials, FAQs, and more

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Academic Standing Resources from Student Intervention Services

Academic Warning, Probation, and Suspension Standing Resources and Next Steps

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Resources for Faculty & Staff

Handouts, Training, and Resources

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