First Year Seminar
RAP Sheets, Checklists, Advisers and
Scheduling
Academic Advisers
• Every incoming student at Behrend is assigned
an academic adviser
• Help you explore majors, schedule, complete
graduation requirements and activate intent
to graduate
Advisers, continued
• Your academic adviser can be found on eLion:
https://elion.psu.edu/
• You should meet with your adviser at least twice
a year (October/November and March)-for
scheduling
• If you are unsatisfied with your adviser, you can
switch
Scheduling-When?
• Scheduling normally takes place in October/November
(for Spring) and March (for Fall)
• Based on number of credits:
– http://registrar.psu.edu/academic_calendar/calendar_index.cfm
• Schedule of Courses is available online for browsing:
– http://soc.our.psu.edu/?CFID=11137529&CFTOKEN=88411262
• Consult with your adviser to make sure you’re taking
classes that count toward your graduation requirement!
– RAP Sheets and Checklists are helpful tools
RAP Sheets
• Recommended Academic Plan Sheet
• Provides a recommended outline of:
– Which classes to take
– In which order to take classes
– Roughly how many credits to take per semester
• Can be found on the Math homepage
– http://www.pserie.psu.edu/academic/science/degrees/math/in
dex.htm
Checksheets
• Used in addition to RAPs
• Not used by all departments
• More helpful in keeping track of graduation requirements
than RAPs
• Broken up into two sections
– General education requirements
– Major requirements
• Can be found on the same page as RAP sheets:
– http://www.pserie.psu.edu/academic/science/degrees/math/index.ht
m
Checksheet-General Education
Requirements
• Every Penn State student is required to take a
minimum of 45 general education requirements
• Broken up by subcategories:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
GWS-General Writing and Speaking (9)
GQ-General Quantification (6)
GN-Natural Sciences (9)
GA-General Arts (6)
GH-General Humanities (6)
GS-General Sciences (6)
GHA-General Health and Physical Activity (3)
FYS (1 credit)
General Education RequirementsGWS
• 9 credits required
• Must include at least one Writing Across the
Curriculum course (signified by a W on the
schedule)
• For Math and Math Ed majors, these credits
are satisfied by Engl015 (or 030), Engl202, and
Math311W
General Education Requirements-GQ
• Most majors require 6 credits
• Math Majors (of any option) requires 8 credits
• Generally speaking, these are a student’s
math courses
• Students that intend to be MATH MAJORS
must take and pass MATH 140 and MATH 141
(Calc I and II) WITH A C OR BETTER to satisfy
these credits
General Education Requirements-GN
Non-Education Majors
• Have 3 options to complete
Science requirements:
Chemistry, Biology, or
Physics
• 9 credits are required
• At least 8 credits must be
from the same field (ie: two,
four credit Chem courses
and one miscellaneous
course)
Education Majors
• Can take any 9 credits of
science; no stipulation on
the level of the course OR
area of the coursework
• Must take at least one, 4credit course (ie: at least
one science course with a
lab)
General Education RequirementsGA-GH-GS
Math Majors-Non-Business and
Non-Education Majors
• These credits are yours to
fulfill using any appropriate
electives in which you’re
interested
Business and Education Majors
• Business Option: You MUST
take Econ 102 and Econ 104
to satisfy your GS credits
• Education option: You MUST
take Psych 100 and EdThyp
115A to fulfill your GS
requirements
General Education Requirements-GHA
• Requires 3 credits
• Typically, these are a student’s gym classes
• Lots of options:
– Nutrition classes (3 credits each)
– Skiing
– Bowling
– Ballroom dancing
General Education Miscellaneous
• Rather than doing 6 GA credits, 6 GH credits,
and 6 GS credits, a student can do a 3-6-9
course substitution
• At least 3 Gen Ed credits must be designated
as an IL (International Cultures)class
• At least 3 Gen Ed credits must be designated
as a US (United States Cultures) class
• YOU CANNOT USE THE SAME CLASS TO
FULFILL BOTH REQUIREMENTS!
Requirements for Declaring a Major
• In order to formally declare yourself as a MATH
major you must meet the following
requirements:
– 2.00 CGPA*
– Have taken and passed Math 140 and 141 with a C or
better
– Have completed at least 45 general education credits
Major Coursework
Other Scheduling Stuff:
Examples:
• Once you declare your major,
MOST math options take the
same upper level math courses
•
•
•
•
• Please note, some courses are
only offered during certain
semesters! Plan your schedule
accordingly!
•
•
Every Fall – MATH 312, MATH 455
Every Spring – STAT 401
Fall of Even Years – MATH 427, MATH
428, MATH 455, MATH 465, STAT 462
Spring of Odd Years - MATH 421,
MATH 436, MATH 449, STAT 461, one
of either MATH 426 or MATH 497
Fall of Odd Years - MATH 412, MATH
435, MATH 455, STAT 414
Spring of Even Years – MATH 310,
MATH 429, MATH 456, MATH 482,
one of either STAT 464 or STAT 466
Noteworthy Coursework
Business Option AND
Actuarial Certificate:
• You must complete ACCTG
211 OR your ECON
sequence before you are
permitted to take FIN 301
(not concurrently)
• Enroll in ENGL202C as a
junior
Math Education Majors:
• You must complete PSYCH
100 and EDPSY014 in the
falls prior to entrance to
major.
• You must complete
EdThyp115A, CI280, and
CI295 in the springs prior to
entrance to major.
• Enroll in ENGL202 A or B
Ready to Graduate?
• How can you be sure you have the right number
of credits and the right combination of credits to
graduate?
– A degree audit
• Can be found on eLion
– All credits must be in correct location (otherwise, see
advisor and department head)
– Minus signs will turn into plus signs when
requirements are met
Assignment-Stuff to do Now
• Log into eLion and look up your adviser’s
name
• Email your adviser to schedule an
appointment (do this NOW!)
• During your appointment:
– Introduce yourself!
– Ask for a copy of your major option’s RAP sheet
and/or checksheet (this MUST be signed by your
adviser to receive full credit)
Assignment-Stuff to do Later(ish)
• Prior to the end of class on Thursday, September
25th, you must submit the following to Dr.
Mastroberardino:
– The copy of your RAP and/or Checksheet that has been signed by your
adviser
– A copy of your schedule
– A classification of each one of your current courses (example: If you’re
enrolled in Math 140, you’d tell me that Math 140 satisfies 4 credits of
your GQ General Education Requirement)
• Consult the schedule of courses if you’re not sure:
http://soc.our.psu.edu/search.cfm
• This assignment is worth 15 points
Questions?