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At MSU Denver, you’ll be supported by a team of advising professionals throughout your academic journey. Each plays a unique role in helping you succeed:
Professional Academic Advisors
These advisors are your go-to resource from the start. They can help you:
Professional academic advisors are ready to help whenever you have questions. Whether it’s finding the right starting point, navigating higher education, or planning your next steps, we’re here to help.
Faculty Advisors
Faculty advisors are professors within your major, offering in-depth knowledge of your field. They can help with degree planning and navigating higher education but as subject matter experts, they can also support you with:
Together, professional and faculty advisors provide well-rounded support, from choosing your path to preparing for your future career
An academic advising appointment is a personalized, one-on-one meeting with a professional academic advisor. During your appointment, we can:
Your undergraduate experience is a holistic journey, so bring any questions, big or small, to your advising appointments!
You can find professional academic advisors from the College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design (CACED) on this website.
Academic advisors are assigned by college or area of study. To find the right advisor for you, visit the advising page for your college or program:
Faculty advisors are professors from each department, contact your home department for information on availability, office hours, and contact details.
It’s recommended that you meet with your professional academic advisor at least once each semester to stay on track for your degree. Many students meet to plan their upcoming semester’s classes, but you can also schedule an appointment, attend drop-in sessions (if available), or send an email anytime you have questions.
As you get closer to graduation, staying in close contact is especially important to ensure there are no surprises regarding your graduation status.
You can schedule an academic advising appointment in several ways:
Appointments are available in-person or virtually, depending on your preference.
Some advisors also offer drop-in hours for quick questions, contact your academic advisor or more information.
Welcome to MSU Denver, we’re so happy you’re here! Before your appointment, make sure you complete the following steps:
Completing these steps ahead of time will help ensure a smoother advising and registration process.
When you schedule an advising appointment, you’ll receive an email from MSU Denver Advising Systems with important details like the appointment location, format (in-person or virtual), and information from your advisor. Be sure to read it carefully.
To make the most of your appointment, here are some helpful tips:
Tip: Being prepared helps you get the most out of your advising appointment. Take a few minutes to review your records, jot down questions, and know what you want to discuss.
When we discuss your degree, we talk a lot about credit hours. Credit hours indicate how much time you spend “in class” each week. Many classes are 3 credits, meaning that you’ll usually meet for about three hours per week.
Credit hours also give a sense of the workload. For example, a 4-credit hour class generally requires more time for assignments, studying, and class activities than a 3-credit class.
Tip: If you’re deciding how many credits to take each fall and spring semester, here’s a simple way to estimate your workload:
A Bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver requires a minimum of 120 credits. These credits are made up of different types of classes, and each major or program has its own specific requirements. Use your Degree Progress Report (DPR) and work with your academic advisor or faculty advisor to review your degree requirements and plan your courses
You can find degree requirements in the university’s academic catalog and your Degree Progress Report. If using the catalog, make sure you’re looking at the correct catalog year for your program, this is based on the year when you first enrolled at MSU Denver and determines the degree requirements you follow.
A sample Four-Year Academic Plan is a planning tool that outlines how courses within a program are typically sequenced and offers a recommended pathway to help you stay on track to graduate in four years. It serves as a sample four-year degree plan and a helpful roadmap for your academic journey at MSU Denver.
These plans are designed for guidance only and should always be reviewed in consultation with your Professional Academic or Faculty Advisor to ensure your individual needs, transfer credits, and goals are fully considered. The MSU Denver Catalog remains the official source for all degree requirements.
An academic catalog is the university’s official document listing all degree requirements for every major for a given year. Requirements can change year–to–year so it’s important to follow the catalog for your academic catalog year, the year you started at MSU Denver. Don’t rely on friends for this information, since students who started in different semesters may have different requirements!
Your academic catalog year is listed at the top of your Degree Progress Report. Some new academic policies may be applied retroactively, so always work with your academic advisor when reviewing graduation requirements. While the Degree Progress Report is a helpful tool, it works best when used alongside guidance from your academic or faculty advisor.
Yes! Changing your academic catalog year is possible and can sometimes be beneficial. If you’re considering this, please work with your academic advisor or faculty advisor to determine whether this is possible and/or beneficial.
Please note:
You can view a list of academic programs and the assigned advisors for each program here. To declare a major or minor, complete the declaration of major/minor form and you’ll work with the advisor for the specific program you’re declaring, not your previously assigned advisor. Your advisor will then submit the form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.
Once your major has been officially declared, you and your academic or faculty advisor will work together to develop a strategic plan for completing your required courses. As you plan your classes, be sure to review your Degree Progress Report regularly.
Maybe. All bachelor’s degrees require a minimum of 120 total credits to graduate. Some majors include a high number of required courses, which may already bring you close to or meet that 120-credit minimum, leaving little or no room for additional electives or a minor.
If you’re considering adding a minor or extra courses, it’s a good idea to review your Degree Progress Report and talk with your academic advisor to see how it would fit into your plan.
The Degree Progress Report (DPR) is your academic roadmap at MSU Denver. Think of it as a checklist of all the requirements for your degree; it’s also the tool the Degree Evaluation Team uses to track your progress toward graduation.
We recommend making it a habit to review your DPR regularly, so you become familiar with your requirements. If anything is unclear, your professional academic advisor can help explain it. While the DPR is a great tool, it’s most effective when used alongside academic advising. Advisors know the DPR inside and out and may notice things you might miss, helping you stay on track for graduation.
You can learn more about the Degree Progress Report here.
Access your DPR through the Student Hub under Web Services. Its important to check it regularly, especially before class registration or advising appointments.
You can find a list of academic programs offered by the College of Aerospace, Computing, Engineering, and Design (CACED) on our departments and program page. The assigned academic advisor for each program is listed in the advisor directory.
Student enrollment status is based upon the number of credit hours you take each semester, and is tied directly to your individualized financial aid award package.
Students are eligible to receive financial aid at part-time or three quarter-time, but must be enrolled full-time to receive your full financial aid package. Please work with Financial Aid to see what this means for your individualized financial aid award package.
Students can be successful at any enrollment level, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. If you have questions about how your enrollment status affects your financial aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. For questions about degree planning or course enrollment, connect with your academic or faculty advisor.
Any bachelor’s degree requires a minimum of 120 credit hours. If your goal is to graduate in four years, you’ll need to complete an average of 30 credits per year. This typically means either:
You can view all course descriptions and prerequisites in the university catalog. Keep in mind that prerequisites can sometimes change, so it’s always a good idea to double-check in the registration system before enrolling.
Tip: If you’re ever unsure whether you meet a prerequisite, your academic advisor can help clarify and guide you on the best next steps.
If you’re considering dropping or withdrawing from a class, it’s a good idea to talk with your academic advisor first to understand the impact. For questions about how it may impact your financial aid award, contact the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
Before submitting a request, students are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor for guidance and support.
You can learn more about MSU Denver general studies requirements on the General Studies website.
For a list of the most up-to-date general studies options, please see the University Catalog
We’re excited to help you reach your goals and support you every step of the way. If you ever have questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to your academic or faculty advisors, they’re here to help you succeed!
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