Course offerings are now available for the spring semester, and Ohio University Bobcats are free to meet with their advisors to start planning their new class schedules. Students can visit their Degree Audit Reporting System report, which analyzes degree requirements, in their student center, and view which course credits they still need for their studies.
Some students may still be acquiring their BRICKS, a general education requirement implemented by OU in 2021. The university requires most students to take courses related to their studies in the BRICKS program, with a minimum of 38 credit hours across five categories: Foundations, Pillars, Arches, Bridges and Capstone.
In addition to their BRICKS requirements, students must also complete major-specific courses and electives to meet graduation requirements.
Before meeting with an advisor to plan a schedule, Brady Laux, a junior studying music production and recording industry, said it’s best to look over what courses you need. Laux met with his advisor two weeks ago to discuss his spring semester schedule and said they got everything outlined and ready for his course enrollment date.
To prepare, Laux said he looked through his DARS report before his appointment and decided what classes he wanted to take. That way, he could get the ball rolling and maximize his time in his advising meeting.
“You can go in and really tinker with things, instead of having to worry about getting things started,” Laux said. “I mean, the appointment is only 30 minutes, so by the time you figure out certain things, if you don't have (your schedule) set up, then your appointment is basically wasted.”
Tyler King, a junior studying film production, also met with his advisor recently and lined up his courses for next semester. He said that before choosing classes with his advisor, he went to the OU website and the schedule planner to look at classes and got recommendations for courses from his peers.
“There were a couple of classes they advertised through email, so I just looked at classes through that,” King said. “But people … like the upperclassmen, will just tell you what classes they recommend.”
Cassidy Kappus, an undecided freshman, has not met with her advisor yet but said she has a couple of classes in mind for next semester. Kappus said she looked through a list of courses handed out in her learning community and chose classes that align with what she may want to major in.
“DARS was pretty helpful for me and also the learning community leaders,” Krappus said. “I felt comfortable asking them stuff, too.”
Savannah Rardon, a freshman studying health services administration, said she met with an advisor during her learning community last week. She said DARS is a little confusing to her, but her learning community leader and advisor explained it thoroughly and assisted in creating her schedule.
“I definitely need to see the advisor again,“ she said. "It was much easier, because they were the ones telling me, ‘if you take this class, it'll work for this, this and this.' (Without an advisor), I would be worried I'd pick a class that wouldn't really fulfill enough requirements.”
Rardon said she chose between class options by estimating how hard they would be and how many credit hours they covered.
Students looking to plan their schedule for the spring semester should contact their advisor or set up a meeting to plan out a routine that works best for them. Students can find their advisor in their student center and schedule an advising appointment via Handshake.
