Selecting an Advisor

You are responsible for finding a major advisor when you declare a major in Political Science – or a double or combined major – usually in the second semester of your sophomore year, or any time thereafter. Your major advisor is the professor with whom you plan the courses you will take according to your interests in order to fulfill the requirements for the College and the major. Your major adviser need not be someone in your particular subfield of interest (if you have one) nor need it be someone you already know through a class.  You have a major advisor from the moment you declare your major until you graduate, including during any semester of study abroad, though it need not be one and the same person.

To select your major advisor, please do the following:
 

Check the directory of Political Science faculty and select anyone who is NOT listed as being on leave or unavailable for advising. Some faculty members may have filled their advising quota already. If this is the case, they will inform you via email that they are unavailable to be your advisor.

Introduce yourself to the faculty member who you would like to have as your advisor, either by emailing them, stopping by during their office hours or by making an appointment. All you need to send them is a brief email stating that you are declaring the major and would like them to serve as your advisor. No other information is necessary. If they are available to advise you, obtain an email from them stating that they can serve as your advisor. Submit the online Major Declaration form and upload that email along with it. 

Due date: Take the steps above by the Major Declaration deadline, typically March 1. If you have questions, please reach out to your Class Dean.

Changing an Advisor:

You may change your advisor by submitting this form through Slate.