Advising

 

CDM Academic Success Center

DePaul Center
1 E. Jackson Blvd.
Suite 8500
Chicago, IL 60604

Hours
Monday through Thursday, 9am to 5pm (virtual and in‐person)
Friday, 9am to 5pm (virtual only)
(312) 362-8633
advising@cdm.depaul.edu

Scheduled appointments are strongly encouraged and may be set in BlueStar. Although we will offer in-person appointments, we also encourage students to select an online meeting. We are unable to offer walk-in appointments.

CDM Advising

Advising in the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media

Academic advisors can assist you with progression toward degree completion, navigating university technology and resources, course selection and registration issues, and many other things. We encourage students to meet with their academic advisors regularly as they move through their program.

The Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media provides both staff (also known as academic) and faculty advisors to help students successfully complete their degree requirements and prepare for their careers and graduate study.

Both types of advisors can address questions about major/minor and graduation requirements. However, you can think of the difference between these advisors as a difference in perspective and scope.

  • Staff Advisors
    • Offer a broader perspective.
    • Have expertise in how to successfully fulfill major/minor and graduation requirements and navigate the degree process; can help build an optimized schedule each term.
    • Possess in-depth knowledge about college and university policies and procedures, your degree progress report (DPR) and transcripts, and the wide range of resources and extra- and co-curricular experiences available to students.
    • Make changes to your record that are approved by deans and faculty advisors.
    • Sign forms for financial aid, international students and transfer students.
  • Faculty Advisors
    • Are experts in your major field.
    • Assist with long-term planning of your academic program. They know the wide variety of careers available to majors, which particular courses will be best for you, and how to most effectively choose and prepare for specific graduate programs and careers.
    • Can help you evaluate how well your skills and abilities fit with the field and your goals. In addition, they have extensive contacts in the field and can foster your professional development in your academic area of interests.
    • Consult on prerequisite inquiries and approve necessary overrides; approve changes that occur within your chosen major.

Appointments with both your staff and faculty advisor can be made in BlueStar in Campus Connect.

FAQ

FAQ

How do I search for and enroll in classes?

The Class Search and Enroll PDF includes a step-by-step guide to managing your classes on Campus Connect.         

Which classes do I pick next?

CHECK YOUR DPR(see how)
Your degree progress report tells you which courses you have already taken and how many requirements you have left to take. Visit the CDM website to determine the faculty recommended sequencing. On our site you will want to hover over ACADEMICS, select UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS, select BACHELOR'S DEGREE PROGRAMS and then check the CURRICULUM AND REQUIREMENTS page for your program and/or concentration.         

How should I balance my schedule?

TAKE AN EVEN SPLIT
Most programs can benefit from an even split of liberal studies courses to your major courses. If you have added a minor, you may want to replace one of your liberal studies requirements with a minor course. Always prioritize enrollment in your major courses before anything else, as they may not be offered every term. Major courses also have a prerequisite structure.         

How do I transfer credit?

Undergraduate students may take courses at another college/university with approval from an academic advisor provided they are NOT yet bound by the University Residency Requirement.         

Graduate transfer credit is not widely accepted. However, in certain circumstances and with the approval of the student's faculty advisor it will be considered. A maximum of 2 courses may be transferred from another graduate program at the graduate level.         

Undergraduate residency policy reference         

Graduate student transfer policy reference         

Where are my additional credits?

CONTACT TRAC@DEPAUL.EDU
The Transfer Articulation Center is responsible for posting credit to your DPR. They can update you on how courses will or will not apply to your DPR.         

Can I submit a portfolio?

CONTACT ART@DEPAUL.EDU
Students who wished to be waived from an art requirement must contact the art department. If approved, your academic advisor will make changes to your DPR.         

Should I join a waitlist?

BE SMART ABOUT IT!
Joining a waitlist requires that you wait for someone else to drop the course in order for a seat to open up. There is no guarantee that this will happen. First year students have plenty of options for open classes. If you really want a waitlisted course, it is best to use the SWAP feature before you join. Schedule all open classes and then set up to be swapped into the course you want, if a seat becomes available.         

How can I meet an advisor?

SCHEDULE ONLINE USING Bluestar.
Go to the “Appointment Scheduling” tab on this page for additional information.         

Why aren’t my classes on D2L yet?

Faculty have up until the week of classes to open their online portals. Just keep checking back. Also, feel free to reach out to the instructor for clarification. Email addresses are in the directory shortcut.         

Can I drop classes?

Please check the academic calendar for deadlines. Be sure to talk to Financial Aid/Student Accounts about how this may affect your funding.         

Ask an advisor, if you need more clarification!         

Can a course be taken as pass/fail?

Yes. However, students should be aware of the pass/fail policy that pertains to their situation and understand that there may be multiple policies and multiple deadlines for those policies. Speaking with an academic advisor prior to selecting any pass/fail option is always advised.         

Undergraduate student pass/fail policy reference         

Graduate student pass/fail policy reference          

COVID-19 temporary P/D/F policy reference         

I see a course on the plan of study that is not on my DPR. Can I take it?

Students are encouraged to enroll in courses as required by their declared degree plan and to reference their Degree Progress Report (DPR) regularly. If requirements change, then students may elect to update to a newer curriculum by speaking with an academic advisor who will make the update. Changing to an older curriculum requirement term is not allowed. Students must obtain approval from their assigned faculty advisor for any course substitutions in the major field of study.         

What if a class I registered for has been canceled?
  • Go to BlueStar and run a Degree Progress Report to see the remaining classes you need to take.
  • See if one of those courses is offered in the current or upcoming quarter.
  • If not, contact your faculty advisor to determine the appropriate substitution.

Staff

Appointment Scheduling

Related Information