INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADVISEMENT

Music Education Students

 

 

 

Everyone completes the following steps in sequence:

 

1. Print a copy of your unofficial transcript from www.mybama.ua.edu.  If you find errors, notify your advisor so that the problem can be investigated and resolved.  Watch transfer hours carefully to ensure that all courses have been credited appropriately.

 

2. Print a copy of the Advising Worksheet for MUE Students, available online at www.musiceducation.ua.edu.  Transfer the information from your transcript to the Advising Worksheet.  This can be hand-written.  Although it is not necessary to type the information, you may type it if you wish.

 

3. Make sure you have the Degree Checklist which is appropriate for (a) your degree track, MUEI or MUVC, and (b) the literature/history option you chose.  See Cathie Daniels if you need a new checklist.

 

4. Update your Degree Checklist using your transcript and the Advising Worksheet..  In the blank spaces next to each course, write in the semester you completed that course (e.g., if you completed it in Fall of 2005, write F’05 in the blank).  Notate completed courses in ink.  Notate courses for which you have not yet taken the final exam in pencil.

 

5. Transfer the information from the Advising Worksheet for MUE Students to the GPA Workbook, which is an Xcel file.  .  If you do not have this software on your personal computer, you may work on it in the music education lab in 261-A Moody Music.

 

6. Select from tabs at bottom of GPA Workbook to access each required area.  Input data listed on each tab until all areas are completed.  After all worksheets have been completed, fill in the information on the first tab of the workbook, which recaps all information from the worksheets.  Some of the material will replicate what is written on the Degree Checklist.  Look things over to be sure the information is the same and is correct in both places.

 

7. Examine your progress (courses taken, GPAs achieved in various categories).  If anything is amiss, make an appointment with your music education adviser.  You do not have to wait until the official advising period to seek guidance!

 

8. If you are a freshman, access the suggested list of courses for the Spring term.

 

9. Check the Spring 2007 schedule website at https://mybama.ua.edu to begin planning your schedule.

 

10. Make yourself a schedule calendar for one typical week of the term, with spaces to write in courses at various hours.  Remember that you must take time to eat if you are to remain healthy.  [IF you are following the freshman guide, skip to step 16.

 

11. On your schedule calendar, lock in all of the following courses you must take this term, as appropriate:

 

ü     Required music courses, such as theory, music history, etc. (courses, not ensembles or applied lessons

ü     Any music education or professional studies courses recommended on your Curriculum Checklist for this term

ü     Your most important ensemble(s)

ü     Piano class, if you are not taking applied piano and have not pass the piano proficiency examination

ü     MUA 010 (Convocation), if applicable

 

12. Make a list of the courses you blocked in, including the credit hours for each. Compute the total credit hours thus far.

 

13. On this course/credit hour list, add TBA courses such as (a) principal applied instrument for 2 hrs. credit, (b) applied piano, if piano is not your secondary instrument and if you are not taking piano class and have not passed piano proficiency, (d) MUA 199 (Sophomore Qualifying) if you are planning to take it at the end of the term, (e) MUA 299 (Piano Proficiency) if you are passing it in Fall 06, or (f) MUA 499 (Recital) if you will perform it before the end of the Spring term.

 

14. Assuming you will take 12-17 credit hours, figure out how many hours you have left to fill.  Double check the suggested list of courses for your class (freshman, sophomore, etc.)

 

15. If you have not finished your Freshman Composition (EH 101 and EH 102) courses, schedule the necessary course in the time remaining on your blocked out schedule grid.  These courses should not be postponed.  If you have finished these courses, fill in any schedule gaps with other available recommended courses.

 

16. Add any extra ensembles.  You are NOT supposed to take more than two ensembles.  Put your scholarship obligations first (if you do not know these, see you advisor).  If these fill up the “two ensemble limit,” you may have to forego the pleasure of extra ensembles. 

 

17. You will be charged extra if you register for 18 hours.  12-17 hours is a full load.  Do not let anything on mybama mislead you to think you can take an 18^th hour without paying extra.  This has been verified with the College of Education Registrar.

 

18. Write everything in on the calendar.  Eliminate overlaps.

 

19. A sign-up sheet for an advisement time will be circulated by your advisor.  Sign up for an appointment and make a note of the time.  The appointment list will be posted by your advisor’s office door.

 

20. Watch for signs, emails, or verbal instructions on how to receive your registration materials.  You must secure a Registration Worksheet from the Music Education website (https://musiceducation.ua.edu) or the Music Education office, 261 MM.

 

21. FILL IN THE REGISTRATION WORKSHEET.  On a separate sheet of paper, list alternative courses and their code numbers for your own reference when you register.

 

22. Remind yourself of your advisement appointment time and arrive promptly.

 

23. When you come to your advisor’s office, bring the following items (if you don’t bring them, you will not be advised):

 

·       Your Degree Checklist, filled in appropriately

·       A printout of your unofficial transcript

·       A printout of your Advising Worksheet for MUE Students (pages 1-5*), with all information completed

            *Note Page 5 is the Academic Honor Pledge; complete, sign,

             and bring with you

·       A printout of your GPA Calculation Workbook (the Xcel file)

·       Registration Worksheet, completely filled in

·       Your schedule calendar, showing when your courses will meet

·       Your list of coursesand your list of alternatives

·       Freshmen Only:  A paper on which the following statement is written and signed, “I aver that I have read the registration instructions three times.”

 

22. All these things will be looked over by your advisor.  He or she will sign the official Registration Worksheet.  If changes are made during advising, a copy of the revised Registration Worksheet will be made for you.  All other materials will be returned to you.  YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING UP WITH YOUR PROGRESS TOWARD YOUR DEGREE AND FOR KEEPING AN ADVISEMENT FILE.

 

23. Write your registration time on your calendar (available online at www.mybama.ua.edu; timer at set by Academic Records based on GPA and hours earned).  Go online and register during your assigned time.  If there are problems during your registration, see your advisor immediately.

 

YOUR ADVISER IS HERE TO HELP YOU AND TO PREVENT MISTAKES WHICH COULD SLOW YOUR DEGREE PROGRESS OR WORSE. 

HOWEVER, THE ULTIMATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR READING THE CATALOG, FILLING OUT THE SCHEDULE SHEET, TAKING THE APPROPRIATE COURSES, CHECKING THE INFORMATION IN YOUR PACKET, AND STAYING ON TARGET IS

 

YOURS!