Semester Planning
Semester Planning is a cycle you will grow accustomed to over your four-years at SMU. Enrollment for each of your eight semesters oftentimes takes on a pressing nature. The importance of securing interesting and appropriate coursework can cloud the bigger picture of your four-year plan. Be sure to pay attention to the details of the upcoming semester, but always keep in mind how the coursework you choose in that semester will affect the direction you take from there.
Successful semester planning should be very complementary and similar to your four-year planning. Follow these steps and you should have a productive time planning the upcoming semester:
- Know yourself
- Print and use your DPR (Degree Progress Report)
- Explore SMU and the Advising Website
- Use your catalog to investigate major and minor areas, admission requirements for majors, degree plans, and course descriptions
- Use the course descriptions in your catalog to verify sequencing and prerequisite issues
- Plan and prioritize two to three courses that apply toward possible majors and minors
- If you are undecided about a major, make sure you are taking coursework that you think could possibly lead to a major
- Use your DPR to evaluate what General Education Curriculum requirements need to be fulfilled
- Research SMU’s Study Abroad Programs and consider how the available courses affect your current enrollment planning
- Meet with your adviser regularly to go over your plans and directions.
- Meet with your adviser to fill out and sign an Enrollment Request Form
As you plan your semester enrollment, think of your curriculum as divided between three areas of credit: major, GEC, and elective/minor. Make every attempt to distribute your semester’s coursework between these three areas in an evenly distributed manner.
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