At Florida Southern, you can expect to put your learning into action through a hands-on, holistic on-campus experience. Your academic advisor is here to assist you in making the most of your time at FSC.
Your advisor strives to guide you towards your educational goals by providing information and advice; that process begins with developing your first semester schedule.
With new Mocs about to receive their fall schedules, Mocsie sat down with Shari Szabo '83, Dean of Student Student Success, to learn how first year classes are selected and what you can expect.
Q: How can I see my fall schedule?
A: You can log in to the Single Sign-On and access the FSC Portal. Once logged into the Portal, click the "Students" tab to view your schedule.
Q: How are my classes selected?
A: There is an intentional reason for each class on your schedule. First, all first-year students participate in a learning community organized around a common set of courses. Your schedule also includes courses that meet your general education and major requirements (if you've declared a major).
Q: How do I view course descriptions?
A: You can find a list of course descriptions in the Academic Catalog, listed by discipline. For example, COM 1500: FUNDAMENTALS OF SPEECH is listed under COMMUNICATION – COM. Course descriptions start on page 206.
Q: What do all the abbreviations mean?
A:
MWF
Means the class meets every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
TH
Means the class meets on Tuesday and Thursday every week.
'A' TERM
Means the class begins at the start of the semester and concludes at the midpoint, usually before the semester break.
'B' TERM
Means the class begins at the midpoint of the semester, usually before the semester break, and concludes at the end of the semester.
Q: How many credits should I be taking?
A: First-year students generally take 14-16 credits to start. Some majors require that students enroll in more credits in their first semester. Twelve credits is the minimum to be considered a full-time student.
Q: What if I've already taken a course on my schedule?
A: Our academic advisors have reviewed your Course Preference Form and credit or pending credit from AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, and AICE. We will continue to make adjustments to schedules as scores are received.
Q: How can I ensure I receive credit for the dual-enrollment courses I've taken?
A: If you’ve taken dual-enrollment courses — we’ll need an official transcript from each school(s) through which you earned the credit. You can typically arrange to have a transcript sent to Florida Southern through their website. Credit by Examination (AP, CLEP, AICE) requires that we receive your official test scores from the testing agency. IB coursework requires an official copy of the IB diploma or the IB score.
Q: How can I double major or add a minor?
A: During Orientation, you will have an opportunity to meet with your academic advisor. Your advisor will want to learn about your career interests and will help you to add double majors and suggest minors that will support your career goals.
Q: What if I want to request a change to my schedule?
A: You'll be able to share change requests with your advisor during your one-on-one meeting at Orientation.
Q: How do I know who my advisor is?
A: We will share more about your advisor and advising appointments at Orientation. If you have questions in the meantime, please email studentsolutions@flsouthern.edu.
Dean Szabo also offered some words of advice:
"Your first year is a beautiful time to explore Florida Southern and its rich academic and co-curricular opportunities. Some students come to FSC with a good sense of what they'd like to study, and some are more undecided, but you'll discover new areas of interest and ability here. Be open to what might capture your interest!"
More Questions About Your Schedule? We invite you to join our Southern Summer Webinar: Academic Advisors & Community with Student Solutions to get all your questions answered. Register here »