Step 1) Fill out the New Student Questionnaire

Step 2) Understand the term "liberal arts" and the UMW Degree Requirements

Step 3) Understand the benefits of a VCCS Associates Degree

Step 4) Understand Transfer credit and AP, IB, Dual Enrollment, and Cambridge Credit

Step 5) Understand Prerequisites & Vertically Building Coursework

Step 6) Consider Pre-Professional Interests

Step 7) Tips and other considerations when planning a schedule

Step 8) Review Your Pre-Matriculation Coursework

Step 9) Choose Possible Courses

Step 10) Fill Out the Course Registration Request Form

Step 11) How to Register

Transfer Student Academic Planning Guide
spring 2009

Step 9) Choose Possible Courses

Your first semester schedule should consist of four or five classes for a total of 12-16 credits. Students may take no more than 18 credits without special permission for an "overload" from the Office of Academic Services. A full-time student has a schedule of 12 credits or more.

Advice for working students: To optimize academic performance, students who work more than 20 hours per week but fewer than 40 hours per week should limit their course load to 12 credit hours in each regular semester. Students who work full time, 40 hours per week, should limit their course load to 6 credit hours in each regular semester.

Students should consult the open course list to select courses for the fall semester. The complete schedule of courses for spring 2009 lists all courses offered. These may become available as other students add/drop classes or may be available through an instructor force add.

A good first semester schedule could look like this:

A course in your prospective major that is subsequent to completed courses in your UMW record Another course in your prospective major that is subsequent to completed courses in your UMW record If you have not satisfied the foreign language general education requirement then an introductory language course An elective Another elective

Some of these courses may overlap requirements. Some courses may meet both a General Education and a Major Requirement. Some may meet a General Education and an Across-the-Curriculum Requirement. Some may meet a Major and an Across-the-Curriculum requirement. As you choose your courses, keep in mind how your transfer coursework will affect the courses left to take at UMW. Refer back to the General Education Tracking Sheet that you filled out in Step 4. If you have an area of academic interest, you should request courses recommended for that particular Major. You should then select other courses to begin fulfilling the General Education and Elective requirements.

You should fill out a Course Registration Request Form for your own records to assist you in registering online from home in Banner, the University’s web-based computer system, on December 15 & 16. If you have questions or concerns, please make use of the advising opportunities offered by the Office of Academic Services.

Special efforts are made to meet the needs of entering students. Many departments reserve seats specifically for new students. If one or more of your preferred courses is filled to capacity during your registration session, you will be able to consult with your Academic Advisor during the first week of courses to discuss your options. Although you are not permitted to declare a major until you have completed 28 graded credits (so if you are transferring in more then 28 credits then you can declare your major upon arrival), you should try to enroll in introductory courses within your prospective major, particularly in disciplines (such as Biology, Business, Chemistry, and Computer Science) that require a specific introductory course during the first semester. If you do not wish to remain in a particular course, your course schedule may be altered during the Add/Drop period at the beginning of the semester. New courses may be added up until the last day of the first week of classes. New students will be informed about and guided through the Add/Drop process by their Advisor. As a result, most students’ first semester course schedules are both appropriate and satisfactory.