First-year students often enter the university undecided about their career plans and intended majors and that usually creates little difficulty for them. Many of the more than 80 majors at USF allow students considerable options in their early course choices. However, some programs require completion of particular courses within the first two years. For instance, students with majors in fine arts and engineering should begin specific coursework in their first year and are best served by declaring their majors upon entering the university. In other fields, such as nursing, natural and physical sciences, education, and business, students must satisfy state mandated course prerequisites and complete specific general education courses during the first two years to be admitted to those major as juniors and to allow graduation on a timely basis. Therefore, students must make early decisions about those majors as well.

Students are cautioned that admission to the University does not imply admission to all the programs and courses offered by the individual colleges; this is especially true with respect to colleges with limited access programs. Colleges such as Business, Education, Engineering, and Nursing have been designated as limited access colleges and require completion of certain prerequisites before a student may declare a major in one of them. It is important that students check the college sections of the catalog for advising and admission requirements. Students planning to enter a limited access program should be aware that their admission by the college may be denied or delayed and should be prepared with alternative plans of action. Students seeking admission to limited access programs must demonstrate successful academic progress toward meeting the limited access requirements in order to remain undeclared beyond 45 semester hours of credit.

In the case of non-limited access colleges, students may declare a major by completing a form in the appropriate college advising office, usually during one of the orientations required by the University. Students who do not wish to declare a major or who cannot meet the necessary prerequisites of a limited access major are advised by the Center for Academic Advising. Upper-level transfer students (entering the University with 60 semester hours or more) who meet the admission requirements of a major are assigned to the college of that major for advising.

USF 2002-2003 Undergradutate Catalog - Page 39

Registration for Admitted Degree-Seeking Students

Continuing degree-seeking students register by appointment for their next semester’s courses during the preceding term, either by telephone or in person (regional campuses only). Appointment times and instructions for all registration periods are published in the Schedule of Classes for the appropriate semester.

Prior to initial registration, all newly admitted undergraduate students and readmitted former undergraduate students returning are required to participate in an orientation/academic advising program on the USF campus where they will take all or the majority of courses. Newly admitted students and readmitted Former Students Returning receive Orientation/Academic Advising/Registration instructions from the USF Office of Orientation.