You’ve heard the expression: two heads are better than one. We know just how true that is. Advising is a collaborative experience where students and advisors focus on the long view while overcoming any potential obstacles. This relationship requires participation and involvement from both parties. Ultimately, you are in control so your advisor is always mindful that you are ultimately responsible for your educational experience.

What You Can Expect From Your Advisor? They will:

• Provide knowledge of requirements, policies, rules regarding curriculum, graduation requirements, and academic integrity
• Encourage and guide you to define clear, realistic educational plans
• Accurately explain procedures and deadlines
• Help you navigate the University community while teaching you to utilize the resources for yourself
• Assist you in learning how to work with University faculty and staff
• Be accessible via email and appointments
• Listen carefully to questions, concerns, and issues
• Treat you with respect

What your Advisor Can Expect From You? You will:

• Read university, school, and department guidelines to ensure you know your roles and responsibilities
• Schedule advising and registration appointments (define each appointment) and be prepared
• Ask questions
• Be organized and active in your academic progress including course planning, academic progress, exploring career options and graduate school
• Follow through with referrals and utilize suggested resources
• Make your own decisions
• Be on time
• Be respectful 

If something comes up at a time when you don’t have a scheduled appointment, you may see the drop-in advisor during virtual drop-in. Drop-in advising is designed to schedule appointments, answer quick questions, and drop off paperwork. Typically, these touchpoints last less than five minutes. This helps ensure quick service to all students with walk-in type needs – even as you run between classes. If you need to meet with your advisor for a more complex situation, please schedule an appointment.

Students are generally pleased to learn that course registration can be completed online. Still, to keep you on track, University policy states that students must meet with an academic advisor for a pre-registration appointment* prior to being able to self-register. The Registrar’s Office places a registration hold on all student accounts until you have met with your advisor for that appointment. So, remember: see an academic advisor for a pre-registration appointment to be able to self-register each semester.

*If you are a dual or double major, you may, but are not required to, meet with both departmental advisors.

Individual pre-registration appointments

Available to all psychology majors.

This option is ideal for first-term majors. All pre-registration appointments are scheduled for 30 minutes. During this time, you review degree progress and discuss any concerns you may have and ongoing academic planning. Following that meeting your advisor will remove your advising hold. 

Self pre-registration review

This option is ideal for continuing students who met with their advisor in a previous term, are aware of remaining requirements and who have discussed post-graduation plans. 

The deadline for you to submit the self pre-registration form in the Psychology Advising Office is the Thursday before enrollment dates begin. Please email your advisor if you prefer this option.  

If you are studying abroad, simply email your advisor directly.

The process for acquiring a permission number for a psychology course, in the psychology department is as follows:

• Consent to enroll in a course must be obtained from the instructor teaching the course and must be in written, email form.
• If you have acquired consent from a psychology faculty member, forward that email to psyadvis@pitt.edu; the consent document from the instructor must indicate:

1. the name and number of the psychology course, 
2. the PeopleSoft 5 digit Class Number (e.g., Psychopathology, PSY 0205, 12114),
3. the student’s full name and PeopleSoft #, and
4. the reason for the consent (closed class, prerequisite, etc.).

Once you have obtained the necessary consent, forward that entire email consent to psyadvis@pitt.edu and a permission number will be generated by the drop-in advisor who will email you a permission number to use for self-enrollment. 

A note for CGS post-bac and/or guest students

If you have taken a pre-requisite (PSY 0010 Intro to Psychology) at another institution you will need to provide our office with a copy of your transcript. We do NOT have access to the transcripts you submit to CGS. If you are not able to provide us with a copy of your transcript (through either method listed above) you will need to obtain permission from the instructor to waive the pre-requisite.

Please view the Undergraduate Announcements regularly for important information about upcoming events such as workshops, presentations, panel discussions, and deadlines.

The Advising Office will send an e-mail every Friday during the fall and spring terms (biweekly in the summer) that includes announcements of courses, undergraduate and post-graduate employment opportunities, directed research opportunities, and more from the department, university and even across the country. These Undergraduate Announcements are also posted on our website at all times.