Major and Advisor Assignments

Each student is initially assigned an academic advisor based upon the major indicated by the student on his or her application for admission. Students who have not declared a specific major are assigned to the Center for Academic Advising, College of Humanistic Studies. After enrolling, a student may apply for a change of area, major, advisor or degree objective by filling out an undergraduate change of major/advisor form, which may be obtained from any department. To have a major changed, the student must be eligible for the degree level and major selected.  If approved, the student’s advising file will be transferred from the former department, a faculty member in the department of the new major will be assigned as his/her advisor, the Registrar’s Office will be notified of the change, and all computer files will be updated. Since advising materials and reports are sent to the department of a student’s declared major, it is very important that this information be kept current.

Students must declare a major or area program of study by the beginning of their fifth full-time semester and/or no later than the beginning of their Junior year (60 semester hours of credit). An undergraduate student who has a major program (as opposed to an area) must also declare a second major or a minor no later than the beginning of the student’s senior year (90 semester hours of credit). The completion of a second major does not constitute a second degree. This policy is applicable to all students pursuing bachelor’s degrees, including transfer students. Students may change their majors and areas after their initial declarations but need to be sure to discuss their course history with their prospective departments. Students who are on file as undeclared with a Junior classification may not be allowed to register without permission from the Registrar’s Office.

Students are expected to confer frequently with their advisors and plan academic programs prior to the actual time for scheduling of classes each semester.

Although the student advising program at Murray State University is specifically designed to assist students as they progress through a degree program, it is the responsibility of all students to be thoroughly familiar with the university’s catalogs, student handbook and all rules, regulations and requirements that apply to their program of study, and decisions made in connection therewith are the sole responsibility of the student.

 

MSU Academic Progress (MAP) Report

The MSU Academic Progress (MAP) Report is available to undergraduate ASSOCIATE and BACCALAUREATE students to clarify the steps and courses needed to achieve a degree. This report incorporates the requirements found in this Bulletin, and presents updated information as courses and requirements change after the Bulletin  is published.

The MAP reports are prepared for individual students and use file information and transcript courses to monitor a student’s progress toward any specific degree program. MAP reports will be distributed each semester prior to pre-scheduling to provide students with a current statement of remaining requirements for graduation. They are powerful advising tools which are also available on request as students wish to explore the requirements needed should they change degree objectives or add or delete areas, majors, minors, or teacher education.

MAP reports should be used in conjunction with information from the student’s advisor and the Undergraduate Bulletin to insure that all graduation requirements are being met. It is the student’s responsibility to verify that all requirements have been completed.

These are custom advising documents and are intended for students seeking an Associate degree or their FIRST Bachelor's degree. MAP Reports are not available for Master's degree programs.

Students seeking a SECOND Bachelor's degree or pursuing a Master's degree should work closely with their advisors for information about their degree requirements.

• To change MAP information pertaining to your Major, Minor, Curriculum, Catalog, or Degree Objective complete the MAP Report Information Change Form.

 

• To request a MAP Report fill out the MAP Report Request Form.