for students: How Advising Works
New first-time students are pre-registered for their first semester classes during SOAR, for the sake of efficiency and to minimize the burden of quick decision-making. Students may make changes to their schedules after attending Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) and anytime before the beginning of the semester by working with their CASA advisors. Students are encouraged to review the range of course options available to them and work with their advisors to create an optimum class schedule.
The typical first semester course schedule includes a Foundations class, one class in the student’s major, and three classes which meet general education requirements. For every general education category, there are several options, so students are encouraged to research and select classes that meet their specific interests.
After the first semester, students take a more active role in creating their course schedules and register themselves into classes after they have consulted with their academic advisor and obtained their advising code.
If you have completed 30+ credit hours, you should speak to your advisor from within your major department.
During summer and winter breaks, CASA works with incoming transfer, reactivated, and readmitted students to plan their next semester at UNCG. Advisors need up-to-date information on any incoming transfer credits to accurately advise students. Students who are at sophomore or higher class rank may also be advised through their major departments.
Curriculum Structure
It takes 120 semester hours to earn a bachelor’s degree at UNCG, including coursework in general education, major, and sometimes elective or minor classes.
Additionally, students are required to complete at least 36 hours of 300+ level course work, and earn a minimum of 31 hours of semester hours at UNCG. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required to graduate.
**For students on catalog year prior to 2021, check with your advisor about general education requirements.**
All students at UNCG must satisfy Minerva’s Academic Curriculum (MAC) requirements (33-34 credit hours required).
Undergraduate students must select one course from each of the competencies listed below:
- Foundations – 3 s.h.
- Written Communication – 3 s.h.
- Oral Communication – 3 s.h.
- Quantitative Reasoning – 3 s.h.
- Health & Wellness – 3 s.h.
- Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Humanities and Fine Arts – 3 s.h.
- Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Social & Behavioral Sciences – 3 s.h.
- Critical Thinking and Inquiry in the Natural Sciences – 3-4 s.h.
- Global Engagement and Intercultural Understanding through the Humanities and Fine Arts OR through the Social & Behavioral Sciences – 3 s.h.
- Diversity & Equity through the Humanities and Fine Arts OR through the Social & Behavioral Sciences – 3 s.h.
- Data Analysis and Interpretation in the Natural Sciences 3 s.h.
Students in the College of Arts & Sciences have additional general education requirements, Communicating Ideas in Context (CIC), to further strengthen communication skills.
CIC requirements include:
- Complete 2 courses with a College Writing (CW) attribute.
- Complete 12 additional credits distributed across three categories:
- CIC Humanities (6 credits)
- CIC Natural and Data Sciences (3 credits)
- CIC Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 credits)
- Meet CAS’ Additional Language Proficiency Requirement.
Major requirements vary by academic department.
Students who complete general education and major requirements yet still need additional classes to reach 120 credit hours can take elective courses of their choice. These additional credit hours can be used to add a minor field of study. Elective courses can also be used to complete the minimum of 36 hours of 300+ level coursework. Students should work with their academic advisors to strategize on best approaches to maximizing their education and completing all degree requirements.