Advising FAQ

Students at an Alabama community college may check the STARS web site (Statewide Articulation Reporting System), which lists the courses available at the community college that may be used toward a particular degree program at a four-year school in the state. The AGSC Transfer Guide (Alabama Articulation and General Studies Committee) may be printed and used as a guideline for appropriate courses to take.

If you are attending Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Pensacola Junior College, or Okaloosa-Walton Community College, you may print a list of courses available at your school for transfer to South by visiting the USA Transfer Advising Guides page.

No, it is just a suggested model. Note the prerequisites for the required courses. Many of the general core curriculum courses do not require any prerequisites and may be taken at any time.

Students also should consider other factors when scheduling their classes, such as the number of work hours each week, family responsibilities, the possible need for developmental studies classes to be better prepared for college-level work, etc. These issues can be discussed with your advisor.

These are general required courses for your degree that may vary from major to major. Check with your advisor if you have questions about course options that may be available. Five areas are included:

If you have a score of 27 or higher on the English section of the ACT (SAT Verbal of 550 or higher), you will be exempt from EH 101 and may register for EH 102. Students must replace the 3 semester hours for EH 101 with another course if the minimum 128 hours for a bachelor’s degree are not met.

Currently, Advanced Placement (AP) credit for EH 101 and 102 will be awarded with a score of "3" or higher. Six semester hours of credit will be granted. Note: Effective Spring 2005, AP credit will be awarded only for EH 101 with a score of "4" or higher. Official AP scores mailed from the College Entrance Examination Board are required.

College Level Examination (CLEP) credit for EH 101 and 102 will be awarded if a student scores "500" or higher on the English Composition - General Examination. Six semester hours of credit will be granted. Official CLEP scores mailed from the Educational Testing Service are required.

New Policy: Effective Fall 2004, students must complete the online Math Placement Test in order to register for a 100 level mathematics course. The test should be taken at least 48 hours prior to registration to allow time for the scores to be added to the Banner student record system. The test will determine the most appropriate math course for which you are qualified. The registration system will enforce the placement and course prerequisites as indicated in the table below.

The placement test must be completed by the student within 2 hours, and the use of calculators is not allowed. The test may be taken as soon as the JAG number is received from the Office of Admissions. Students should keep a copy of their results from the Math Placement Test to take to their academic advisors.

Placement Scores

The Chemistry Placement Test must be taken prior to enrolling in CH 131/131L, General Chemistry I/Lab. A score of 35 or higher is required. If you score below a 35, you must take CH 100, Fundamentals of Chemistry. In order to take CH 100, you must have MTH 100 credit or MPT score 66.

If you have a score of less than 26 on the science reasoning section of the ACT, you should not attempt to take BLY 121/121L, General Biology I/Lab, and CH 131/131L, General Chemistry I/Lab, in the same semester. Because BLY 121/121L has a chemistry component, you may wish to take the chemistry first.

Go to the Honors web site for details. It is wise to schedule an advising appointment and go over the requirements in person.

• Get a variety of observation experiences in several settings
• Learn as much as possible about the work while you observe a professional in your field of choice
• Learn what is happening in your chosen profession and in the health care field in general (check out the web sites for professional organizations in your major)
• Read the catalog to discover what you will studying in the professional component of your program
• Make sure you have thought through the commitment of time and money you will be making to enter the professional component of your program
• Know yourself and what you will enjoy doing for many years to come

The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is a standardized test that is required for entry into graduate programs. There are 3 sections: verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing.

The verbal score ranges from 200 to 800 in 10-point increments as does the quantitative score. The analytical writing score is reported from 0 to 6 in half-point increments. The analytical writing section consists of two tasks: a 45-minute “Present Your Perspective on an Issue” task and a 30-minute “Analyze an Argument” task. Students may choose to word process or handwrite their responses. However, score reporting may take up to six weeks if you choose to handwrite the response.

The GRE is given by computer on a regular basis at the Sylvan Learning Center, 820 South University Boulevard, Mobile, AL 36609, (251) 344-6284. Also, you may call (800) GRE-CALL or log on to the GRE web site for more information.

A number of books about preparing for the GRE may be found at any bookstore; also software is available. The cost of the test is approximately $115. The highest set of scores will be used if the test is repeated.