Academic Advising

Undergraduate Advising for Full-Time Students

At SJU, academic advising responsibilities for traditional undergraduate students are shared between faculty advisors and the Undergraduate Advising Support staff. In this shared model, advisors and the advising staff have distinct roles in the advising process but work collaboratively to help students succeed academically, develop educational plans that are consistent with their life goals, and benefit fully from their college experience. Faculty advisors focus primarily on mentoring and academic/career planning related to the student’s major. They also serve as mentors to guide the intellectual development of students. Undergraduate Advising Support provides generalized support for students including help with the transition to college, course registration, and general education course selection interpreting/understanding University policies and navigating university procedures.  

Undergraduate Advising Support is an especially important resource for students during their transition to Saint Joseph’s University and for help understanding the registration process. First-year students, in particular, are expected to participate in the academic portion of Orientation and other workshops designed for first-year students. These workshops cover topics like academic planning for general education courses, major requirements and registration procedures. Undergraduate Advising Support is the primary advising resource during the summer before transition to the faculty advisor in the first semester.

Incoming first-year and transfer students who have declared a major are assigned an advisor in their major. Incoming students who are undeclared are usually assigned an advisor in their division (e.g., Social Science, Humanities, Natural Science) or College (e.g., Haub School of Business, School of Health Professions, School of Education and Human Development). Once they have declared a major, these students are assigned to a faculty advisor in that major. 

All students are encouraged to develop a relationship with their advisor and to meet with them throughout the school year. With exceptions for select majors in the junior and senior years, all students are required to meet with their advisors at least once each semester for guidance related to registration for the following semester and to obtain their PIN for registration. Students also are encouraged to meet with their advisors at other times to review their academic progress and discuss  plans for experiential education opportunities, graduate school, and/or careers.

In the second semester of junior year, students are expected to meet with their faculty advisor to review course requirements completed and course requirements not yet fulfilled for their bachelor’s degree. This review is necessary to ensure that the proper set of courses will be taken in the senior year and that graduation can occur at the expected time. Although faculty advisors and Undergraduate Advising Support provide information and counsel, it is ultimately the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have completed all of the requirements for their degree.

SJU Undergraduate Advising Support maintains two offices on the University’s Hawk Hill campus:  the William F. Leahy Advising Office in Mandeville Hall 150 and the Barbelin Advising Office in Barbelin Hall 117. Although we do not maintain an office on the University City (UC) Campus, we are available to meet with UC students via Zoom or phone. Students may direct questions to Undergraduate Advising Support at sjuadvising@sju.edu.

Undergraduate Advising for Part-Time Adult Learner Students

For most undergraduate adult learner students, advising is provided by professional advisors in Undergraduate Advising Support. The following majors are assigned a faculty advisor within their academic department: English & Professional Writing, Elementary Education Prek-4, and Child and Family studies.

The role of an advisor:

• Assist with orienting the student during their transition to Saint Joseph’s University;

• Review how transfer credits will apply to degree requirements and assist with developing an academic plan for completing requirements for graduation;

• Inform students of scholarship opportunities and various campus resources that promote student success;

• Support students in long-range educational and career planning; and,

• Direct students to opportunities and resources that will enrich their education, including honor societies, internships, etc.

Advising appointments are available for all undergraduate adult learners, in-person or via email, zoom session or phone. The student is responsible for planning a program of courses that satisfies all degree requirements. Students are encouraged to review DegreeWorks and their curriculum worksheets carefully before selecting courses to make sure they have the prerequisites or proper background for each course. All students are encouraged to talk with an advisor to review course selections prior to registration each semester. 

Undergraduate Advising - Lancaster Location

Undergraduate students at the Lancaster location are advised by professional advisors in the Undergraduate Advising Support Offices through a holistic developmental philosophy. Undergraduate students are assigned their advisor, based on their program of study, at the outset of their time at the University.

Through the advising process, advisors help students:

• Manage their transition to Saint Joseph’s University

• Develop an academic plan to complete program requirements for graduation

• Assist students with interpreting and understanding academic policies, processes, and procedures

• Equip students with the tools and resources that are available to help them succeed

• Identify opportunities and services that will enrich their education

Note that graduate students and students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program are assigned a faculty advisor within their program of study. Undergraduate students in the Nursing program are also assigned a faculty advisor at the outset of their clinical coursework. A student can find their advisor’s name and contact information by viewing their Student Profile in the Nest.  

Graduate Advising for the College of Arts & Sciences and School of Education and Human Development

The Graduate Program Director of each academic program is responsible for the academic administration of the unit graduate program(s) and academic advising and mentoring of students.

Graduate Advising for the Haub School of Business

Students enrolled in graduate-level programs such as MBA, MS or a Graduate Business Certificate may contact our advising team at sjumba@sju.edu. Please visit our website for more information: https://www.sju.edu/offices/advising/centers/graduate-business-advising.

Preparing for Health Professions School

Students preparing to enter a doctoral level program in the health professions such as medicine or dentistry typically major in one of the natural sciences. It is also possible to major in humanities and social science areas and still fulfill the minimum requirements for all health professional schools, however students need to show proficiency in the natural sciences to be a strong candidate for admission. The minimum course requirements for most medical, dental, optometry, veterinary, and podiatry schools include one year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics, all with labs. Additionally, a semester of coursework in biochemistry, statistics, and calculus is strongly recommended or required by most health professional programs. Although schools establish these minimum science requirements for admission, it is strongly recommended that students take additional advanced level science courses to enhance their background and to show that they can manage advanced science work. Courses that explore the sociological, psychological, philosophical, and ethical aspects of healthcare delivery—the human dimension—are also strongly encouraged.

The Health Professions Advisory Committee reviews the credentials of students applying to health professional schools and provides the composite letter of evaluation from the University; further information can be found here.  Additionally, Brianna Metzger, Associate Director of Pre Health Advising, is available to counsel students on course selection, preparation for the standardized admission exams, and procedures to follow when applying to health professional schools. 

Pre-Physician Assistant (Pre-PA)

Get a complete, real-world understanding of what it means to be a physician assistant  at Saint Joseph’s University. Students admitted to the "Pre-PA" pathway within the health sciences major will have the required prerequisites for the SJU PA program embedded in the curriculum.  Students will be prepared for graduate education while also receiving a well rounded undergraduate learning experience.  Students can earn two degrees in 5 years; a Bachelor of Science in Health Science (BSHS) and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS).  

Choose from an accelerated, three-year track or a traditional, four-year undergraduate track to earn a health science degree. If you meet all progression requirements inclusive of direct patient care hours and a completed application,  you’ll be granted an interview for admission to our graduate physician assistant program.  

Refer to the Health Sciences program for curricular details and the Physician Assistant program for information about the MSPAS.