Zhijun Wang - Computer Science - Shepherd University

Resources for Advising and Your Class Schedule

Please visit RAIL and perform a "Degree Evaluation" if you have not done so for a while. This helps you identify the classes you need to take, and sometimes, helps you correct errors on your transcript. If you find any error on your degree evaluation, please talk to me or contact the registrar's office to make corrections as soon as possible. I have about 100 active advisees at the moment. I apologize in advance but it is very hard for me to keep track of every individual advisee's progress and issues. Therefore, please keep track of your academic progress and let me know if you spot any issue. I can provide information and look for help whenever needed.
Official advising information from Shepherd - http://www.shepherd.edu/advisement/
Advising help is available through the Advising Assistance Center, in the lower level of the Library. The folks there can help you navigate RAIL, your degree evaluation, and your transcript if needed.
Maintaining a full-time status by taking 12 hours per semester cannot make you graduate in 4 years (12 x 8 = 96).
You have to meet all requirements in your catalog in order to graduate. Please check regularly to make sure you are making progress in the following areas -
1. Core courses in your major
2. Courses required in your concentration, if any
3. Elective hours required in your major/concentration (often ignored by students)
4. Core curriculum courses

http://www.shepherd.edu/registrar/class-schedule/
Academic Calendar
Please select the right subject such as “CIS”, “CIT”, or “MATH” etc. for courses offered in the corresponding discipline. You can also see the real-time seat availability for each class or section. When the class schedule is posted for next semester, please research the classes you plan to take and think about the alternative classes if your primary choices become unavailable. Please check for any time conflict of your classes.
Please pay attention to prerequisites of classes you plan to take. In general you have to pass the prerequisites first. This is especially important for CIS/CPE students since many classes have Math prerequisites, delay of which may delay your overall progress.
Your actual schedule depends on a few factors such as class offerings, your academic progress (like prerequisites and current semester's grades), your work/study schedule, etc. I will provide advice, information, and help but you are the decision maker for your schedule.

http://catalog.shepherd.edu/
Core curriculum worksheets
For CIS/CIT programs, please go to “Programs of Study” then “Computer and Information Sciences Comprehensive” or “Computer and Information Technology Comprehensive”. Please do not rely on the “Four-Year Course Progression” plan. There are a few factors that can affect your actual schedule such as your entry term, changes in courses, and course availability. If you are under another catalog, such as “2014-15”, please check your catalog correspondingly, and use your degree evaluation as a guide for your plan.
Please note - Due to the curricular changes, catalog is updated sometimes to reflect additions/modifications of classes, especially Core Curriculum classes.

Advanced Placement (AP) Tests
Transfer of Credits and Articulation Agreements
Placement/prerequisites for Mathematics and English courses based on ACT/SAT/ACCUPLACER scores - See advisor.

Please register on RAIL. Once you get your PIN, please register your classes as early as your time slot allows since some classes or your desired sections may get filled quickly.
Overrides - I can only request overrides to my classes if they are not overly filled. So please treat registration with a high priority.
Registrar forms - http://www.shepherd.edu/registrar/registrar-forms

Please plan in advance. Do not wait till the last minute to apply for graduation - http://www.shepherd.edu/registrar/graduation/
After you register classes for your graduating semester, conduct a degree evaluation to make sure all requirements are met, and save or print a copy. If a substitution is needed, do not wait till the last minute.
Important - For CIT majors, please note the major has 107 credit hours in the 16-17 catalog so you need 13 hours of "free electives" to meet the 120-hour requirement. Students in an earlier catalog have the similar issue. Most CIT students meet the requirement by taking extra math classes and classes from other disciplines, and/or transferring credits to Shepherd.

According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), I can only discuss your academic progress in front of them if you give me a written agreement beforehand.