Frequently Asked Advising Questions
How to Schedule an Appointment
To schedule an appointment, you will need to call the advisor or the ESS main office. You will need to schedule an appointment if you are declaring ESS as your major. If you have quick questions or schedule revisions, walk in hours are available. Please call the advisor or the ESS main office to find out times and days of walk in hours.
Please be sure that you are on time for your scheduled appointment. If you are more than ten minutes late, you may be asked to reschedule.
What to Bring to an Appointment
To be prepared for an advising appointment, be sure that you bring all the appropriate documents. This can include a DARS report, graduation application, transfer credits, course syllabi for departmental approval, professional program, graduate school, or minor requirements. Be sure to bring a prepared list of questions that you have. If you are unsure of what documents you will need to bring, please ask with making an appointment.
If you would like the advisor to release information about your progress in the major via email, phone or to a third party, you will need to fill out and return a release of information form. This release of information form must be filled out and returned to the ESS main office prior to your appointment.
What to Expect at an Appointment
If you plan on declaring ESS as your major, you will need to bring all documents to help with the planning of your schedule. As a declaring student, you will need to pick the program you are looking to go into in the major. You can change this program at any time after you declare. If you are unsure which program to go into, you and the advisor can discuss it based on your career and educational goals.
You will be required to fill out the major declartion form. This form will be provided for you during your appointment and you must fill out this form to be declared in the major. You will also receive an academic advising syllabus that will go over the roles and responsibilities of the student and the advisor, and the expectations of the student in the major.
At the declaring appointment, you and the advisor will plan out your schedule from the time you declare until your graduation date. This schedule will include all major courses, General Education, and University Bachelor Degree requirements, along with total credit hours and total upper division hours. If you would like any minor or graduate program requirements in your schedule, please bring them. You will also be made aware of any changes in requirements for the major or prerequisites for the ESS courses. This planned schedule can be revised at any time, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all the prerequisites and requirements for the major, as well as the University of Utah.
Transfer Students
Students transferring to the University of Utah must meet with an advisor prior to registering for classes. You have the option of meeting with the ESS departmental advisor if you know you want to go into the ESS major, or you can meet with one of the advisors at University College Advising for advising on general education requirements.
All transfer students must bring a transcript and their University of Utah ID number. If you are transferring from a university or college within the state of Utah, your general education courses should transfer to the U. You will need to contact University College Advising for questions about general education transfer courses. For questions about what courses transfer to the major, please use the Getting Ready Guides provided by the Admission's Office. The Getting Ready Guides are specific to the transferring university or college for the ESS department. If a course is not listed on these guides, you will need to bring in a syllabus from the course you want to go toward the major requirements. Only the ESS departmental advisor can approve courses for the major.
If you are transferring from out of state, all transfer courses going toward the major must be approved by the department. You must provide a syllabus from each course you would like to transfer into the major.
For more information about transferring courses, please visit the transfer page provided by the admission's office or the Transfer Center.
"What I Should Do" Guides
The ESS Department has provided guides to help students navigate the University system during their time here. Guides are provided for Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and Transfer Students.
These guides will answer any questions you have about navigating the University's Web site, what classes to take, and who you need to meet. The guides should not replace meeting with an advisor, but should be used as a reference for finding answers.
