Prospective Students Frequently Asked Questions

Advisors and the Advising Process
College and University Requirements
Exemption opportunities
Honors and Activities
Miscellaneous questions about the College and the University

These are questions that we have received from high school and junior college students and their counselors and parents. If you have a question that isn't addressed here, please e-mail us at AskAdvice@franklin.uga.edu. We'll answer your question and possibly add it to our list. 

Advisors and the Advising Process

What is Academic Advising? 

The Office of Academic Advising in the Franklin College at the University of Georgia assists students in achieving their educational goals. Advisors help with the selection, planning and completion of students' academic goals without unnecessary delays or expense. Students work together with professional or faculty Advisors to plan their programs of study to include the required courses in their proper sequences to meet the requirements of the major department, the College, and the University. Students are assigned to Academic Advisors who specialize in the various degrees and majors within the College. All Advisors also assist students who are undecided about their majors. 

An Advisor is someone who can... 

...assist students in understanding the purposes, opportunities and challenges of higher education. 

...assist students in planning an educational program consistent with their interests, abilities and talents. 

...review student's selection of classes for each upcoming term to make certain courses are appropriate choices leading in a timely fashion toward designated degree/major or pre-professional program. 

...provide accurate information regarding college and institutional policies,procedures and regulations, educational options, core and major requirements, curricular offerings, registration procedures and deadlines. 

...assist students in finding alternatives to their educational goals when necessary. 

...encourage undecided, undeclared and exploratory students to make good decisions based upon the maximum amount of information available to them. 

...refer students to available institutional and/or community resources, programs, and support services. 

...assist students in planning appropriate steps to correct academic difficulties. 

...maintain accurate and complete advising records based upon all information available. 

...work with upper division faculty Advisors within the College, with the undergraduate Advisors in other colleges and schools, and with representatives of other institutions to provide students with the most up-to-date information available about majors, departments, and programs. 

How will I know who my Academic Advisor is?

You will be assigned to a lower division Advisor at Orientation. Because the Office of Academic Advising recognizes the value of continuity between students and Advisors, you will probably see the same Advisor throughout your first two years at the University unless you change your degree/major plans. During your Junior and Senior years, you will be assigned to a Faculty Advisor in your major department or school.  If you will be living in one of the high rise residence halls (Brumby, Creswell or Russell) you will be advised there.

Do I have to meet with an Advisor if I'm in the Franklin College? How often? Why?

Advising is mandatory at the University of Georgia, which means that you must meet with your Academic Advisor at least once each semester in order to be advised and cleared for pre-registration for the following semester. Appointments may be made in person at the appropriate advising office or online through the Student Advising and Registration Assistant (SARA) website.

You may certainly meet with your Advisor more than once if you have questions or problems or need help as you make academic decisions. Each Advisor has Walk-in times every week for this purpose (see SARA for specific times) and the Franklin College offers On-Call opportunities every day (9-6 Monday through Thursday and 9-4 Fridays) in the New College advising office for all students.

I'm hoping to be a doctor some day. I know that the University doesn't have a medical school on its campus, but is there anyone in the Franklin College who can help me get ready to apply?

Yes. The Office of Academic Advising offers preparatory advisement for a number of professional schools, including Premedicine and Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Law, Pre-Engineering, Pre-Veterinary Medicine, Pre-Nursing, Pre-Business, and Pre-Journalism. 

Where is your office? When are you open? 

The main Office of Academic Advising is located in the New College building (on the old part of the campus, four buildings down from the University of Georgia Arch) and is open 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Fridays. There are three satellite offices located in Brumby, Creswell and Russell halls to assist students in those residences. These offices are open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Fridays.

An On-Call Advisor is available in the New College office on a first-come basis, for students with general questions, Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. You can also call us at 706/542-1412 during office hours and ask to speak with the On-Call Advisor.

Also, you should consult the Franklin College web site and the University On-Line Bulletin for more information about the University and the College.

In addition, the Advising Office offers an e-mail advising service at AskAdvice@franklin.uga.edu for general questions.  

How can I make the most of the relationship with my Advisor? 

You should take reponsibility for...

...developing your social, academic, and career goals and examine how they will affect your life 

...becoming familiar with the Testing Center and Career Services and discuss your goals with the counselors in those offices. 

...discussing career opportunities and the selection of a major/minor with career counselors, faculty in the academic departments, your Academic Advisor, and other resource people on and off campus. 

...reviewing the academic polciies, procedures, and requirements of the University and College as stated in the current bulletin, the OASIS booklet, and the departmental checksheets. Consult with your Advisor if you have any questions regarding these. 

...knowing the graduation requirements of your chosen major/minor well enough to plan ahead for the upcoming semester before you meet with your Advisor. 

...keeping copies of all pertinent information regarding your graduation requirements, transfer credit evaluations, grade reports, DARS sheets, advising forms, grade change petitions, etc. in a handily accessible location. 

...seeing that all academic records from other institutions are received by the University in a timely fashion. 

College and University Requirements

What's the difference between a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Science degree? Does the Franklin College offer any other degrees? 

Usually students who pursue the Bachelor of Arts degree are majoring in the Social Sciences or the Humanities. Students who intend to earn the Bachelor of Science degree are typically choosing majors in the sciences and mathematics areas, and their core coursework includes higher level science and math courses. The Franklin College offers both of these degrees and several other more specialized degrees. 

What is a major? A minor? Can I choose to do more than one? 

The University of Georgia does not offer a General Studies degree, therefore, students must select a major area of study in which to concentrate a part of their coursework. There are seventy nine majors, forty six minors, thirteen certificate programs and six pre-professional programs available to students in the Franklin College. 

Often students are interested in more than one area of study and may also choose to do a minor or certificate program. Minors and certificates are not required for graduation, but they usually do not require any additional coursework if students plan ahead and make good use of their electives. Double majors (two majors in the same degree) and dual degrees (two majors in two different degrees) are also available to students. It will probably take you a bit longer to graduate with one of these options because all of the requirements may not overlap. It is possible to do more than one minor and it might not even take you longer to graduate, if you plan ahead.

What majors are available to students in the Franklin College?

The Franklin College includes majors in all of the Arts and Sciences (sometimes called the Liberal Arts). The College offers undergraduates both the fundamentals of a liberal education on which to base a lifetime of learning and the opportunity to concentrate in studies which form the foundation for professional pursuits. The Franklin College is organized into several divisions: 

The Division of General Studies where all freshmen entering the College, and all transfer students who have not earned enough credit to be classified as juniors, are enrolled. These students take courses in the required University System of Georgia core curriculum and also work toward satisfying the Franklin College degree requirements. While in this Division, students who entered the University undecided about their majors choose majors for which they are eligible. 

Major Divisions:  Division of Biological Sciences: the departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Botany, Cellular Biology, Genetics, Marine Sciences, and Microbiology.

Division of Fine Arts: the department of Theatre and Film Studies , and the Schools of Art, Dance and Music

Division of Humanities: the departments of Classics, Comparative Literature, English, Germanic and Slavic Studies, Romance Languages, Speech Communiction, History, Philosophy, and Religion.

Division of Social Sciences: the departments of Anthropology, Geography, History, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, and Speech Communication

Division of Physical Sciences: the departments of Chemistry, Computer Science, Geography, Geology, Marine Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy, and Statistics.

Division of Interdisciplinary Studies

How soon do I have to decide about a major or minor?

Many students come to the University undecided about their majors. In fact, the majority of freshman students say that their major is "Unspecified." You must declare an official major by the time you have completed your core requirements. This will usually be at the beginning of your junior year. However, keep in mind that the core requirements may not be identical for all majors and you might end up having to take some additional classes if you don't make a decision fairly early in your college career. 

I'm really undecided about my college major, but I don't think I want to do anything in the College of Arts & Sciences. Can I be "undecided" in any other college? 

Yes, most colleges and schools within the University will let you be undecided for a while. Just remember that the core requirements may not be the same in every one. You should check with an Advisor in each area that you are considering for more information. All of the Undergraduate programs available at the University can be found in the University Bulletin. 

For even more i nformation about all of the majors that are offered by the University, you should also look at the "Major Decisions" website.

What is meant by a "semester hour" credit? 

Each course at the University is assigned a certain number of semester hours credit (between one and four) depending on how many hours of instruction are involved, e.g. courses that meet only one hour a week do not receive the same amount of credit toward graduation that courses which meet three hours a week do. Most majors at the University require that at least 121 hours be earned in order to graduate. 

How many classes will I have to take every semester?

To be full-time, students must be enrolled in twelve to seventeen hours each semester. A typical course load is around fifteen hours, so students usually take four or five classes each semester. Typically, students do not take as many classes in a summer semester, and they are considered to be full-time if they are enrolled in at least six hours. 

How will my college course work be divided? 

The graduation requirements are divided into three categories. Typically, the Lower Division/Core requirements are 60 semester hours of general studies courses. The Upper Division/Major requirements usually include 30-32 semester hours of courses numbered +3000 which will count toward the major, and about 30 hours of electives (some of which are at the +3000 level and some of which may be at any level). In addition, students must have at least one semester hour in Physical Education. 

What grades to I have to make while I'm a student in the Franklin College?

Students must maintain at least a C average (2.0) to remain in "good standing" and to be eligible for graduation from the University. Students whose grade point averages fall below 2.0 are considered to be on "Academic Probation." Students who do not improve their grade point averages above this level are in danger of being placed on "Academic Dismissal" during which they must remain out of the University for a certain period of time. 

Many majors in the Franklin College are listed as "restricted", meaning that students must meet additional requirements (often higher grade point averages). 

Do I have to take specific courses as part of my coursework in the Franklin College?

Yes. the Franklin College requires that students take a certain number of courses in Foreign Language, Fine Arts, Philosophy, Religion, Social Sciences, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Literature, and History. They must also meet the College's Multicultural Literacy requirement and they University's requirements in U.S. and Georgia History, Federal and Georgia Constitution, Environmental Literacy, and Physical Education. The number of hours required and the specific courses required will vary depending on the college major selected by the student. 

Will I be taking different classes every semester? Every year?

You will take a different schedule each semester, however, many core classes are part of a sequence of courses that you are required to take (e.g. English, Foreign Language, Science, Math, etc.) so you may take similar classes for several semesters in a row. 

How will I know what classes to take? 

Each major at the University requires certain courses as part of its curriculum. In the core, you will usually have lots of courses to choose from for each requirement. Your Academic Advisor is knowledgeable about which courses are required for your major and can give you advice about what courses fit together well with what other courses. Your Advisor will also help you plan your schedule for the following semester each time you meet together. 

Exemption Opportunities

I'm a senior in high school and am taking courses at the local community college as a Joint Enrollment student. I also have some Advanced Placement credit. How will these credits count in the Franklin College? 

When you send your AP scores and transcripts to the University, they will be evaluated and you will be assigned equivalent course credit. The grades students earn while on Joint Enrollment will be figured into the overall college grade point average. AP tests do not earn grades, so the credits will just be used to meet course requirements and no grade will be figured into the grade point average. For more information regarding AP scores, contact the University's Honors Program. 

My high school is very small and I didn't have the opportunity to take any Advanced Placement courses. Is there a way that I can still exempt some college classes?

Yes. During Orientation, you will have the opportunity to take exemption tests in English, Mathematics, History, Foreign Language, or Chemistry. You can also take these tests and others through the Testing Center once you arrive at the University. You should try to take as many tests as possible at Orientation because the cost is included in your Orientation fee. If you take them later, you will have to pay an additional fee. You can exempt courses through these tests. It is also possible to earn semester hours credit through some of them. Your Academic Advisor will review your scores with you and explain the exemptions/credits. 

Honors and Activities

I'm the Valedictorian of my high school. Does UGA have anything like that?

Most definitely. Superior students are invited to participate in the Honors Program at the University. It is also possible to earn semester and graduation honors if you keep your grades high. 

I'm very active in the extracurricular aspects of my current school. Does the Franklin College have anything besides courses for me? 

Yes. Virtually every department within the College offers clubs, organizations or honor societies for its majors. The Franklin College, as a whole, offers several extracurricular activities to its students. Your Advisor can give you even more ideas about things that you might do within the college in addition to your coursework. 

Miscellaneous Questions About the College and University

I'm so confused and undecided about my future. Are there people at the University who can help me decide what to major in? 

Of course. Your Academic Advisor can help you a lot in this decision making process. You may also be referred to other campus resources, such as the Testing Center or Career Services for more information about careers and majors.  You should also spend some time reading through the "Major Decisions" website which has information about all of the majors at the University.

UGA is so huge and I've heard rumors about classes with 500 students in them. How will my teachers know who I am?

With very few exceptions, the rumors you have heard are far from the truth. There are some large lecture classes, but most of the core level classes that you will be taking in your first two years are not much larger than the classes that you are in at your current school. Many of the freshman English classes, for example, only have 17-20 students in them. Your Academic Advisor can give you some tips for succeeding in the large classes and other campus resources such as the Division of Academic Enhancement can give you even more ideas. 

I've been at my local community college for two years. How can I find out if my courses will transfer to the University? 

Usually, all regular college classes taken at an accredited college or university will transfer easily to the University. This does not mean, however, that all of your courses will fit neatly into the graduation requirements for your major at UGA. It is possible that some of the courses taken at your current school may be elective or even excess credit. This is less likely to be true if you are transferring from another institution within the University System of Georgia than if you are at an out of state school or a private college. To see what the requirements are for your major and to compare them with the courses that you have taken or are currently enrolled in, see the "Programs of Study" section of the UGA online Bulletin. You can also call the Franklin College advising office (706/542-1412) and ask to speak to the Advisor-on-Call or e-mail us at askadvice@franklin.uga.edu for more information. 

Are there any special courses or programs that are designed just for freshmen?

Yes, each semester, the Franklin College of Arts & Sciences and the Honors Program jointly offer Freshman Seminars. These one hour electives are designed to acquaint beginning students with highly regarded senior faculty in a small seminar setting.