Continuing Students
The College of Arts and Sciences is here to help you succeed. We offer a wide range of resources to suit your individual needs, whether you like popping over for a drop-in session, prefer one-on-one advice, or favor the energy of group advising. Explore our many tools and resources designed to level up your learning and make the most of your time here at UB!
To serve our students and help address various advising needs we offer three distinct advising options: daily drop-in option for quick questions, individual 30-minute appointments and group advising targeted for specific cohorts of students.
A group advising session will provide you with the most important information that you need to keep in mind at a specific time in your college career.
Attend Group Advising
Various group advising options are offered at different times of academic year. Check your UB email for invitations or call (716) 645-6883 to sign up for a group session that is right for you!
Offered every Fall semester
All first-year students are invited to small group advising sessions with their assigned academic advisor. These sessions are limited to 8 students where you will:
- share academic goals with your advisor
- learn to read an academic advising report
- discuss major requirements
- plan courses to register for in the following semester
Offered Fall and Spring semester
It is very common for students to change their major during their academic career, and advisors are here to support through any changes. In this session advisors will review:
- Factors to consider when changing major
- Other offices that can support you in changing
- Using the catalog to research other majors
- How to run a what-if academic advising report
- The process for changing your major
Offered Fall and Spring semester
Knowing what pathway courses to choose can be intimidating, but the College of Arts and Sciences Advisors are here to help every step of the way.
In these 45-minute workshops, students will:
- Learn how Pathways fit into the UB Curriculum
- Discuss questions to consider while making selections
- Understand Pathways options that may help meet academic goals
- Use the “Pathfinder Tool” to select pathways
Offered every Spring semester
Learn about ways to maximize your major focus on experiential learning including:
- study abroad
- internships
- undergraduate research
Students will leave the session with a plan for incorporating experiences into academic planning.
Offered every Fall semester
These sessions center on understanding how to monitor and impact your academic success. During these workshops students will:
- Develop an understanding of academic standings, grading policies, and grade point average at UB
- Practice recognizing academic trouble early
- Learn about resources at UB that support academic success and student wellbeing
- Create an action plan for getting back on track
Students are encouraged to attend an individual AIM for Success meeting after attending a group session.
Offered every Spring semester
Learn about how to prepare yourself for final semesters at UB. Each participant will receive a “Preparing for Graduation Checklist” to help stay on the right track! In these 45-minute workshops, students discuss:
- How to check graduation requirements
- Financial Aid and registration in final semesters
- The difference between degree conferral and commencement
- Resources to help you prepare for next steps after conferral
Course Schedule Viewer: Find Free Electives
Get a jump on planning your schedule. Use the Free Elective Course Schedule Viewer Tool to view courses with no enrollment requirements across the College.
Free electives are courses that have no enrollment requirements and typically fall outside of the required courses for your area of study. Some of the courses on this list could be free electives and UB Curriculum requirements. Check with your advisor to see how free electives can fit in with your graduation plan.
Once you've found courses you're interested in, talk with your advisor and head over to HUB to register for your next semester.
Change your Major or Minor
Submit the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form to request one of the following changes to your academic plan:
- Add a major, minor, or certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Drop any major
- Drop any minor
Changing your major video tutorial
Force Registration Requests
To request force registration into an open course that has restrictions, please complete the Force Registration Request form. Select the course, section, and appropriate reason for the request. Students may need to justify or provide supporting documentation for your request.
Before you submit your request, please check to see if the course you are interested in has a waitlist. If it does, please add yourself to the waitlist, and do not submit a force registration request. You cannot request force registration into courses with an active waitlist. It will be denied. If the waitlist is full, do not submit a force registration request. Speak with your academic advisor to discuss alternate course options. *You cannot request force registration into closed courses.
Credit Override Guidelines
Want to take more credits than usual in a semester? Here’s what you need to know..
The typical course load for undergraduate students during the fall and spring semesters is 15 credit hours. If you plan to enroll in more than 19 credit hours, you must obtain permission from an academic advisor.
Check out what you need to know before you begin.
Pro Tip
Always make sure that a current mobile phone number is listed in HUB, based on the advising option choosen, an advisor may call the number listed in HUB.