Advising

Who is my advisor?

A critical part of your education is knowing who your advisor is. You can determine who your advisor is by following these simple steps:

Log into Pirate Port
Open Degreeworks
Your advisor’s name is listed in the top block along with your other information. You can click your advisor’s name to access his/her email address.

Advisor Roles:

Discuss major requirements and assist in course selection
Provides accurate and timely information
Discuss academic goals and ways to meet them
Make referrals when necessary (academic, career, and personal)
Be knowledgeable of campus policies and procedures (or be able to find the necessary information)

Advisee Roles:

Know who your advisor is and how to contact them!
Check ECU e-mail on a regular basis
Be familiar with the undergraduate catalog, major requirements, ECU website
Come prepared to advising sessions (questions, research, etc)
Review your Degreeworks page prior to your appointment
- If your Degreeworks page is blank remember:
  - Degreeworks is not compatible with Google Chrome
  - Always use Firefox to view Degreeworks
Communicate with your advisor as needed (problems, concerns, questions, etc.)
Make appointments and keep it!
Take responsibility for your academic progress!

Tips for a successful advising appointment:

Don’t wait until the last minute! Set advising appointments in advance.
Come prepared! Review your Degreeworks (use Firefox browser) before your advising appointment. Bring questions as well as a list of courses you would like to take for the following semester(s).
Inquire about research, study abroad, and internship opportunities.
Be on time! Faculty advisors do much more than advise. If you are unable to make your scheduled appointment, please notify your advisor with as much notice as possible.
When emailing advisors include essential information such as name, Banner ID, course information (subject code, course number, and section number), and registration error (if applicable).
PIN code: record your PIN code in a secure location (example: cell phone notes) that will be easy to access.
Find your registration day and time

Intended Majors

As an intended Biology or Biochemistry student you are first advised by a professional advisor in the Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences Academic Advising and Resource Center (AARC); click on the link for more information about general advising and their contact information.

Incoming Freshmen: During orientation, you will attend a group advising session. Students who need to modify their schedules will work with advisors during this time. While you will get a chance to meet most of our professional advisors, you will not know who your assigned advisor is during orientation. Your advisor will be assigned within a few days after orientation.

Incoming Transfer Students: You will be advised for a minimum of one semester by a professional advisor in the AARC. After you meet the requirements to declare you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in our department.

Second Degree students: You need to schedule an appointment to meet with Dr. Tim Christensen, Director of Undergraduate Advising in Biology Undergraduate Studies, by emailing christensent@ecu.edu. Please indicate in your email that you are a second-degree student seeking an advising appointment. You will need to bring an unofficial copy of your transcript to your advising appointment.

Biology

Biochemistry

Requirements to Declare

You can officially declare BS-Biology or BS-Biochemistry once all the following criteria have been met.

Successful completion of a minimum of 32 semester hours
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
Successful completion of the following courses:
- BIOL 1100 and 1101
- BIOL 1200 and 1201
- CHEM 1150 and 1151

Declared Majors

After you meet the requirements to declare your major, you will be assigned to a biology faculty advisor, and are considered “declared” within your majors. Each faculty member maintains their own calendar; therefore, you must schedule all appointments with your faculty advisors directly.