The advising program guides students in developing meaningful educational plans compatible with a student’s personal values, goals, and career plans for a life of Christian service and leadership. Committed to providing students the information, resources, and assistance needed to accomplish these goals, HSU recognizes that ultimately the responsibility for making decisions about educational plans rests with the student.
About The Academic Advising Center
Academic advising for degree planning, scheduling classes, and registration
Providing options for changing your major
Assistance for transfer students
Advising students on academic suspension regardless of major
Counseling for students considering withdrawal from HSU
Answering questions concerning any academic policy or procedure
The Academic Advising Center serves all undergraduate students! We view one-on-one personalized advising as a core part of the Hardin-Simmons University experience. We serve all of HSU’s students with equal enthusiasm, providing extra assistance where necessary including for the following students:
Undeclared undergraduate students
Transfer students without a major
Students considering a change of major
Students seeking academic accommodations
Student Resources
It is important that every student knows their academic advisor. If you’re not sure who yours is, follow these instructions:
HSU’s Foundational Curriculum seeks to integrate the premise of a liberal arts education and the promise of the Christian life by:
Introducing students to disciplines of intrinsic worth that improve the mind and heart, providing not only understanding but the ability to live a humane life, and…
Offering opportunities to understand Christ’s promise of liberation and transformation of the mind and way of life.
The process of meeting with your advisor regularly to plan your courses and evaluate your career options.
Registration
AFTER meeting with your advisor, you can log into HSU Central (specific dates are available from the Registrar) and add classes to your schedule for the upcoming semester.
Semester Credit Hour
A measurement of class time. If you enroll in a 3-hour course, that class meets three hours a week. Full-time students must enroll in at least 12 credit hours per semester.
Major
The area of focused career preparation. (30 or more credit hours)
Minor
The support area or second interest area. (18 or more credit hours)
Degree
The certification level you choose. (B.A. Bachelor of Arts or B.S. Bachelor of Science)
Prerequisite
A course that must be completed prior to registering for another, upper-level course. Prerequisites can be found in the HSU catalog.
The HSU guide which includes important dates, regulations, degree worksheets, course descriptions and contact infor- mation.
GPA (Grade Point Average)
A number ranging from 0.000-4.000 that indicates your college performance level.
4.0 = Straight A’s
3.0 = B Average
2.0 = C Average
1.0 = D Average
0.0 = F
You can use the GPA calculator on this page to help you.
Instructor Office Hours
Faculty holds office hours each week which are listed in their course syllabi. Get to know your professors, especially your advisor. They can be crucial in guiding you to the right academic resources, making career decisions, and in many other situations.
Syllabus
A detailed explanation of the course in which you are enrolled, written by the instructor. It includes faculty contact information, assignment descriptions and deadlines, test dates, and expectations.
Foundational Curriculum
The set of core classes which all HSU students must fulfill to graduate.
Degree Audit
The process of examining your academic record to determine if you have met all the degree requirements. Contact the Registrar’s Office for a Degree Audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
All HSU students must meet with their advisor before they can be cleared to register for classes.
Not necessarily, but it definitely helps. Making an appointment ensures that your advisor will be in their office when you go and you will receive your advisor’s full attention. Don’t wait until the week before school starts to see an advisor. Many classes are closed at this point which can cause delays to your degree plan.
Academic advising is more than just creating a schedule of classes. Advisors can help you decide between class options, choose a major, and connect you with other campus resources. Feel free to discuss your goals/plans with your advisor and ask any questions you may have. Advisors are here to help you make the most of your HSU experience.
Declaring a degree is not synonymous with declaring a major. To declare a degree, all students are to confer with their advisor and decide on a major, minor (if applicable) and a degree ( BA, BS, BBS etc) and submit an Application for Declaring a Degree no later than the completion of 30 semester credit hours. The form is available from the Registrar’s Office, 1st floor of the Sandefer Memorial building.
Pick up the Application for Declaring a Degree from the Registrar’s Office (first floor of Sandefer Memorial). The form will need to be signed by the advisor in the NEW major. Then, return the form to the Registrar’s office.
Stop by the Registrar’s Office (first floor of Sandefer Memorial) and pick up the Schedule Change Form. Then have the form signed by the professor of the class you want to drop as well as your advisor. Then return the form to the Registrar’s Office.
The HSU catalogs are an excellent source of information! You can find answers to all your questions and more including:
Academic calendar and important registration deadlines
Office contact information
Cost of attendance and scholarship requirements
Every degree plan requirement that HSU offers
Course descriptions and prerequisites, as well as semesters, offered
And much, much more
Each degree has a worksheet listing all the required courses which can be found on the Degree Worksheets page. If you are not yet decided on a major, you should use the Foundational Curriculum Worksheet (the core classes everyone must take).
Be sure to bring a list of the credit you plan to bring in from Dual Credit programs or AP exams. While we can only accept the credit from an official transcript, it is still helpful for your advisor to know. Also, make sure to let your advisor know about any extra-curricular or work related obligations you have.