Advising Resources

Undergraduate Academic advising

Barbara Sabath, the CS academic adviser, uc@cs.pdx.edu, provides advising to undergraduates as well as community college students preparing to transfer and post-baccalaureate students intending to earn a second bachelor’s degree. She can answer your questions about preparation for and the requirements of the CS major. Direct your questions about University resources, academic challenges, internships, scholarships, graduation, petitions, and most other University forms to her. She also provides advising on the 3+2 program in Bioinformatics in which PSU partners with OHSU.

Barbara is available as follows:

For quick questions (drop-in): M-F, 9-10 am, 1:30-2:30 pm
For scheduled appointments: M-F, 10-11:30 am, M-R. 2:30-4 pm

DARS

A key resource for students is the Degree Audit Report or DARS. A DARS report lists all the graduation requirements for a particular major which includes transfer coursework as well as PSU courses. For online tutorials and instructions on how to read and run your DARS report, view this link: http://www.pdx.edu/registration/dars

Faculty Advising

Faculty advisers offer their expertise, knowledge, and experience in the field of computer science. Share with them your questions about CS careers, elective choices, grad school selection and preparation, budding research interests and any problems you encounter in CS at PSU. Juniors, seniors, and post-baccalaureate students who are accepted for admission to the CS program will be assigned a faculty adviser the fourth week of their first term. You should make a point of seeing your adviser your first term as an admitted CS major for an initial consultation. Students who will be inactive (i.e., not taking any classes at PSU) for a term must file a leave request with the CS Office in order to retain their adviser. Students may file a maximum of one leave request per year.
Your CS adviser is particularly useful in helping you interpret the CS requirements for your degree. However, if you are depending on this interpretation, make sure that you get it in writing (usually in the form of a "Substitution/Waiver of CS Requirements") and that it is added to your file in the Computer Science Office. It is also important to know when not to consult your faculty adviser because someone else is more appropriate.

For information about a specific course, see the course's instructor.
For information about University degree requirements, rules, exceptions to rules, forms, etc., consult the PSU Bulletin. If the Bulletin is not clear, you may check with the Undergraduate Advising and Support Center (UASC) at 503-725-4005.

The PSU Bulletin is the absolute authority for all regulations.
Students are responsible for knowing the rules, regulations, and requirements in the PSU Bulletin. Ultimately, the responsibility of ensuring that you have completed all requirements for your degree is yours. Your CS adviser and the advisers at the Undergraduate Advising and Support Center will help you interpret the requirements that are in the PSU Bulletin. Their role is not to "approve" or otherwise construct a program of study for you. An approved program of study can be found in the PSU Bulletin under the section on CS.

UASC Advising

The Undergraduate Advising and Support Center (UASC) provides academic advising to the following students: newly admitted and newly enrolled students (after they have attended an Orientation session); co-admitted students and prospective transfer students; students on academic warning, probation or dismissal; and students who have not yet chosen a major.
What to expect from a UASC adviser:

An explanation of PSU's general education and degree requirements
Information about PSU policies and procedures
Help with exploring majors and advice about appropriate introductory courses
Referrals to other campus resources and services
Suggestions to increase your academic success

Visit http://www.pdx.edu/uasc/academic-advising-uasc for more information, hours and appointments with an UASC adviser