For College of Liberal Arts Students

Academic Advising

Hours:

  • Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. 

Need help? 

  • Email libarts@rit.edu
  • Visit the Office of Student Services, Liberal Arts Hall, 2nd Floor, during normal business hours. 

Our Passion is Helping You Find Yours.

As a student in the College of Liberal Arts, you have a team of people here to support your journey, including: 

  • Your COLA Academic Advisor: Helps keep you on track in completing liberal arts core curriculum, evaluate transfer credits, and ongoing resources to support your overall academic success. Available all year round. 
     
  • Your Faculty Mentor: Affiliated with your major department and deeply knowledgeable about your field of study, they focus on guidance related to your academic program. They also support your career goals and help with finding internships and/or co-ops. 
     
  • Your Career Services Coordinator: From RIT’s Office of Career Services, they’re with career exploration, co-op and internship search, job search, and ongoing professional development even after you graduate. 

Meet the Advisement Team

 

Advises for:

  • Liberal Arts Exploration
  • 4+1 Teaching Partnership Programs

Contact:

 

Advises for: 

  • Criminal Justice BS
  • English BS
  • History BS
  • Journalism BS
  • Philosophy BS
  • Political Science BS

Contact:

Marcia Beattie, Senior Academic Advisor
585-475-5855,

 

 

Advises for: 

  • Liberal Arts Exploration
  • Law 3+3, Pre-Law

Contact:

Jennifer Gaylord, Pre-Professional Studies Coordinator and Academic Advisor

 

 

Contact:

Kristy Mooney Graves, Associate Director Student Services
585-475-5611,

 

Advises for:

  • Advertising and Public Relations BS
  • Communication BS
  • Psychology BS

Contact:

 

Advises for: 

  • Applied Modern Language and Cultures BS
  • Economics BS
  • Humanities, Computing, and Design BS
  • International and Global Studies BS
  • Museum Studies BS
  • Public Policy BS
  • Sociology and Anthropology BS
  • Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies BS

Contact:

Academic Catalogs and Course Descriptions

RIT’s interactive academic catalogs include the curricular requirements for all graduate and undergraduate programs. A searchable course catalog is also available, which enables you to look for courses using keywords, subjects, GE attributes and perspectives, honors, NTID supported status, and more.

Top Tips for Making the Most of Your Advisement Resources

Schedule an appointment so you’ll have dedicated time together.

You can easily set up an appointment with your professional advisor through the Student Information System (SIS) or MyCourses using the Starfish icon. 

Thinking about changing your major or career goals?

As you have new experiences, both on and off campus, it’s natural for your interests to shift, which may alter your plans for your major or your career goals. Your advisor can help adapt your academic plan and figure out a timeline that keeps you on track for graduation.

Plus, advisors are excellent sounding boards as you consider a new major, focus on a different career path, and examine alternative options, and they can connect you to other RIT resources that can help you explore and land on the best fit for you. 

Beginning to worry about your academic progress? Reach out early.

Your academic advisor can help you figure out what to do to get back on track. From strategies for improving study skills and academic performance to connections with academic success resources, RIT offers a wide range of tools to help you excel.

Any question is a good question, so don’t hesitate to connect.

You don’t have to be experiencing difficulties to see your advisor. Think of your advisor as a partner for your entire RIT academic journey. Bounce ideas about your career goals, brainstorm about how to combine your major with minors or immersions, collaborate on planning your next steps, celebrate your achievements—your advisor is here and happy to help. 

Advisement Forms and "How to" Guides

Academic Advisement FAQs

If you are beginning your first year here at RIT, and you are coming to us without AP or transfer credit for a first year composition class, you will (seats permitting) likely be placed directly into UWRT 150.  

Directed Self Placement (DSP) is a process that provides information about the curricular options available to you that will aid in success with your First Year Writing experience.  

For example, if after taking the DSP survey and examining the course materials for 150, you feel you would like more training in some of the skills necessary for success in academic writing, we offer UWRT 100, a three credit, general education elective that will prepare you to meet the challenges of First Year Writing.

We also have intensive, one on one training and consultations available to you in our Writing Commons.  To find out how we can meet your needs, email wpe@rit.edu and/or take the DSP survey and view the UWRT 100 and 150 course materials at the website below.

Read more

 

This means that the course section has enrollment requirements in effect. Seats may be reserved for a particular program or minor which may either be temporary or permanent.

Please check the Student Information System (SIS) for the course criteria for enrollment. If you do meet the criteria and are still unable to enroll, please contact the Office of Student Services in the College of Liberal Arts for assistance.

In many circumstances, an instructor may be unable to accept additional students due to the size of the classroom and/or nature of the particular curriculum.

As class enrollment can fluctuate during pre-registration and drop/add periods, please add yourself to waitlist and continue to monitor SIS for openings that will permit you to be waitlisted and/or enrolled.

  1. Log in to SIS and click on the My Academics link on the left side navigation bar.
     
  2. Once you enter that menu, select the link that says Declare/Change Immersion.
     
  3. Select an immersion from the drop-down menu and click submit.
     
  4. You will receive a confirmation message that the immersion has been added to your student record.
     
  5. Generally, students should declare an immersion by the end of their second year of study. 
     
  6. If you need assistance with choosing an immersion, talk to an advisor.

  1. Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss adding an optional minor to your academic plan.
     
  2. Once your advisor approves, you'll need to complete the Minor Authorization Form. This form requires signatures from both the minor advisor and the head of your home department.
     
  3. Make sure the form is completely filled out and signed before you submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Check the RIT directory website

Or, you can also call 585-475-2444 for more information.

 

See an advisor when you have questions regarding

  • a liberal arts double major, minor, or immersion
  • changing your program to a liberal arts major
  • pre-law, counseling, or becoming a teacher

Links to Helpful Resources