Advising

Purpose of Advising

The primary purpose of the faculty advisor in the Earth Systems coterminal MS and MA programs is to help guide the academic development of their advisees. Faculty advisors help advisees design comprehensive, rigorous, interdisciplinary curricula that enable each student to acquire mastery of their chosen field(s). MS coterm students may choose to conduct research and write a master’s thesis under the guidance of their coterm advisor or another pre-approved advisor on academic council. Earth Systems staff members can provide additional guidance on selecting courses, navigating policies and degree requirements, preparing for future employment, and exploring professional pathways.

Expectations

All candidates for coterminal master’s programs in Earth Systems (MS and MA) must secure an academic advisor before applying to the coterm program. Coterm advisors must be members of the Academic Council. Each student is expected to meet with their advisor at least once per quarter to discuss degree progress and new course selections. Students must obtain their advisor’s signed approval on their course plan each quarter, as courses taken may differ from the original course plan submitted with the coterm application. The final curriculum must stay true to the scope and rigor of the initially approved curriculum, even if some of the individual courses change.

Because Earth Systems is an interdisciplinary program with no faculty, the program relies upon faculty in related departments to advise its students. This is particularly important for coterm students who are embarking on advanced studies and need the expertise of their advisors for curriculum planning and academic development. The program greatly appreciates this advising support, and the Earth Systems staff is available for any questions and to help however we can.

Review: Coterm Advisor Guidelines. opens in a new tab

See the Graduate Advising for a statement of university policy on graduate advising.