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Picking Your Classes

What to Do  

Knowing how to pick your classes, particularly knowing which classes you need to take when, is vital to your success as a student at the university. To find which classes are available for this term, go to www.sa.pdx.edu/soc/ and either search for a class by name or use the menu to identify a department and then see what classes are being offered. When you do find a class you might be interested in taking, you’ll need help understanding the abbreviations that are used— What exactly is a CRN number? To make sense of the class schedule check out a second website with the Key to class codes: www.pdx.edu/registration/schedule_key.html

You may be surprised to find out that class locations are not provided when you pre-register for classes. Class meeting locations are published online two weeks before the start of each term, so return to this site to get that information. Note that room assignments change frequently due to enrollment increases, disability requests, and other factors that require last-minute adjustments. Students should confirm their class locations on this site a few days before the term begins. Canceled classes appear without location information and with "CNCLD" in place of the CRN.

 If you don’t know how to pick your classes, you may end up taking many classes that you don’t need and wasting your time and money in the process. Meeting with your academic adviser early and often will help you avoid this common mistake. Below you will find strategies that successful students have used to pick their classes and stay on track at the university.

How to Do It 

• Map out your schedule of classes for the entire year. 
• Meet with an adviser as soon as possible and regularly throughout the year. 
• Know when registration begins each term, and register as early as you can. 
• Take all of your prerequisites first. 
• Balance electives and required courses.
• Try to take courses in sequence.

Map out Your Schedule of Classes for the Entire Year

To avoid costly and time-consuming scheduling mishaps you must have a plan. Long-range planning is essential to finishing your degree on time and within budget. This requires advanced planning prior to the beginning of each academic year (typically, September to June). While electives can be exciting and certainly add depth to your program, taking too many can distract you from important deadlines, including missing an opportunity to take a class that may be offered only once a year. To find out which classes are offered, visit the course planning guide. Using the guidelines you received at orientation, make a list of classes you want to take, then meet with an adviser.

Meet with an adviser

Advisers are advocates and guides. They help students reach their goals and at the same time provide critical advice on meeting degree requirements and mapping out academic schedules. 

As a new student, it is essential that you meet one-on-one with your adviser as soon as possible. Experienced students know the value of repeated trips to the advising office. At orientation you are introduced to the Office of Academic Advising services and are able to meet an adviser for the first time. This is an excellent first step, but don't stop here. Make an appointment soon after orientation.

Doing the initial planning on your own is a great step. However, vocalize these plans to your adviser so that they can ensure your schedule is well-balanced and that you're on track to meet degree requirements.

Many transfer and incoming freshman are unsure about a major when they first enter the university system. The beauty of University Studies is that you will take a wide range of classes that will inspire and intrigue you. In time, you'll take a class that truly inspires passion, and that passion will guide you in choosing your major. However, until that time, keep talking with your adviser about your interests and career goals. They can also offer guidance and suggestions on what majors may be most appropriate to meet your future needs. They can also help bring order to chaos. If you are feeling overwhelmed with your choices, or if obligations outside of school such as children or work require you to attend school part-time, your adviser can coordinate a plan that fits your individual needs and goals.

To make an appointment, go to the Undergraduate Advising and Support Center (UASC) website at www.pdx.edu/uasc. Under the “Welcome to UASC” message, click on the “here” link for the drop-in advising schedule. You can also call (503) 725-4005 to schedule an appointment. The UASC is located in the Smith Memorial Student Union at 1825 SW Broadway, Suite 425.

Know When to Register, and Register as Early as You Can

An important part of picking your classes is knowing when to register. Students are allowed to pre-register for classes depending upon their year in school. To learn more about when you can pre-register, got to http://www.pdx.edu/registration/when_to_register.html. Be sure to confirm all your registration dates and write them down on your calendar. If you miss your registration deadline, the classes that you want to register for may be filled.

Take All of Your Prerequisites First

Prerequisites—or “prereqs,” as they are commonly referred to—are lower division classes that you must take before moving on to the more difficult class you’ll take in your junior and senior years. In planning which pre-requisites to take, you should refer to the course planning guide, as certain classes are only offered once a year. If you miss registering for a required class, this mistake can drastically alter your graduation date. Most of the time, the scheduling system will not allow you to register for upper division classes if you have not taken your prerequisites. But some freshmen end up in an upper division elective class that does not list pre-requisites. If that happens, you’ll most likely feel very overwhelmed. Checking in regularly with an adviser is a good way to make sure this does not happen to you.

Balance Electives and Required Courses

This is another place where it pays for you to check out the Course Planning Guide: http://www.pdx.edu/registration/cpg.html. A common mistake that new students make is to take elective classes because they look interesting instead of focusing on their required classes. Then they find out that the prerequisite course they needed for their major is not offered the next term. Successful students save most of their elective courses until their junior and senior years in order to give themselves more flexibility with scheduling. If you take too many electives during your first two years, you may have trouble completing your degree on time. Electives can be fun, but only a limited number apply toward completing your major.

Try to Take Courses in Sequence

There is a reason why a sequence of courses (Japanese 101, 102, 103) is numbered in a consecutive order. It is because Japanese 102 builds upon the material you learned in Japanese 101. Do not skip courses in a sequence—that is a recipe for disaster. If for some reason you fail the first course in a sequence, retake the course before starting on the second course in the same sequence.

Picking your classes is an important part of being successful at PSU. There are two pieces of advice to keep in mind when you’re doing this:

•  Have a plan.
•  Meet with an adviser.

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