Advising Office

We Want You to Succeed

Our commitment to you is right in our name: Student Success! To demonstrate that commitment, we work with both students and faculty to provide a rewarding advising experience, ensuring that students are on track to achieve their individual academic goals and meet the University's overall academic requirements. 

Academic Success Forms

Registrar Forms

Undergraduate Advising

Our office coordinates academic advising for undergraduate students through the following:
  • Assigning advisors to incoming freshman
  • Assisting students in changing their advisor
  • Advising undeclared students
  • Training faculty advisors
  • Administering the Advising Survey
  • Presenting to UNIV 100 classes about the advising process
If you have questions about the advising process, please contact us or stop by our office.

Be sure to follow the tips below to prepare for the advising and registration process.

Ultimately, you are responsible to know the requirements of the academic curriculum to complete your program. Your advisor can be a tremendous resource in the process.

What to bring to your advising session:

  • This information is provided in the MarywoodYOU Portal:
    • Curriculum Guide
    • Registration Form
    • Schedule of Course Offerings
  • Tentative schedule of classes you would like to take, keeping in mind core requirements and requirements of your major (If you are undeclared in your major, you will want to select only core courses. If you have one or more majors in mind, keep in mind the required cores for these majors when making your selection)
  • List of alternate courses in the event that first choice classes close before you register
  • Marywood University Catalog, preferably from your freshman year
  • Information on your personal schedule - work hours, athletics etc.
  • Any questions or concerns about coursework, academic and career plans, internships
  • Field placement information for all students with education component

Things to do before your advising session:

 checkmark Review the curriculum guide of courses you have already taken found on the MarywoodYOU portal.
 checkmark

Review the Undergraduate Department course sequence for your major program of study. If you are undeclared in your major, review the core requirements. Keep in mind possible majors you are considering.

 checkmark Draw up a tentative schedule of classes for the semester. Include both core and major courses if appropriate.
 checkmark Review the Marywood University catalog, especially prerequisites and descriptions for courses.
 checkmark Check the Marywood University Registrar website to see what courses have closed.

Students are expected to be familiar with academic policies and procedures, graduation requirements, and course restrictions as printed in the Undergraduate Catalog.

At Marywood University, we believe a thoughtful approach is important to selecting an academic program of study. For this reason, the University has developed the FOCUS program - Finding Opportunities and Careers in Undergraduate Studies.

The FOCUS program has three equally important components which are all designed to help you make an informed decision about your choice of academic program.

  1. Academic Advising
    Specially trained advisors work with the unique needs of FOCUS students by preparing individualized advising plans.
  2. University 100
    In close collaboration with the Office of Career Services, special sections of this required freshman course are designed for FOCUSstudents.
  3. Peer Mentoring
    Through a mentoring program, upperclassmen help acclimate FOCUS students to university life. Peers serve as a resource to students by answering questions, referring them to services, or just by listening.

If you are unsure of your academic and career direction, Marywood University will provide you with helpful resources through the FOCUS program and the Office of Retention and Advising in order to help you find your way and succeed.

The Office of Retention and Advising and the Department of Psychology and Counseling have worked together to form the Personal and Academic Success Services (PASS) Program.

This program is free to Marywood students. It provides counseling and assessment services to students who are experiencing academic difficulties and/or problems with adjusting to University life. Services are provided by graduate students in Marywood's Mental Health Counseling program under the direct supervision of counseling program faculty.

Here are some tips to help you be successful:

You will face many adjustments during your first semester at Marywood University. Here are some tips to help you make a successful transition to college:

  • Be prepared to possibly change your major
  • Attend class
  • Know the course syllabus
  • Don't procrastinate
  • If you need help, get it early
  • Practice good time management
  • Study!

Academic success may require making repeated adjustments while working toward your degree.

    Making the Most of the Advising Process

    Each Marywood University student is assigned an academic advisor to provide information and guidance in selecting, planning and completing their academic program. The adviser helps the advisee to understand the relationships among the courses, programs, undergraduate research opportunities, internships, study abroad programs, and other academic experiences provided by the university. Here are some dos and don'ts for a successful advising experience.

    Do

    • Take advantage of the opportunity to talk with your advisor even though you've talked with friends.
    • Share information about educational and career goals. Report any problems & talk about important successes or failures. Your advisor needs this information to help you.
    • Keep your own personal records about questions or concerns,including grades, special actions, etc., and bring them with you when you see your advisor.
    • Be assertive. Ask questions. Acquire the information you need to take final responsibility for course scheduling, program planning, and the successful completion of all graduation requirements.
    • Keep your own notes. Remind your advisor of what you talked about at your last meeting.
    • Take responsibility for reading about those rules and requirements which affect you. Most of them are published in the university and department handbooks.
    • Prepare ahead of time by reviewing the master schedule of classes, reviewing requirements and giving careful consideration to questions you have about academic and career plans
    • Become knowledgeable about the relevant policies, procedures, and rules of the university and your academic program. Ultimately, you have the responsibility of know the requirements to successfully complete your academic degree at Marywood University.

    Don't

    • Come to advising sessions unprepared.
    • Avoid academic advisement as long as possible.
    • Wait until registration periods to see your advisor.
    • Mislead or withhold information from your advisor.
    • Assume your advisor has all of your records.
    • Assume your advisor will tell you automatically everything you need to know.
    • Assume your advisor will remember what you talked about from one appointment to the next.
    • Assume that only your advisor needs to be familiar with the university rules and regulations.

    Selecting a course of study is a "major" decision and can cause much anxiety for college students, but the good news is that there are people you can talk with and specific things you can do that will help you make career and academic choices.

    Here are a few tips for specific actions that you can take to make your decision.

    • Make a plan.
    • Use the FOCUS program
    • Visit the Career Services Office to research career options.
    • Talk with a staff member in the Office of Retention and Advising
    • Talk with faculty and students currently enrolled in programs you are considering. 
    • Talk with people currently working in the field you are considering.
    • Gain experience through career shadowing, volunteering, part-time positions and internships.

    Web Sites

    Graduate Advising Information

    Each Marywood University matriculating graduate student is assigned an academic advisor whose role is to:

    • Provide information and guidance in planning and completing an academic program
    • Assist in the registration process
    • Act as a mentor to the student
    • Provide career planning and expectations
    • Inform student of departmental expectations
    • Monitor the academic progress of the student
    • Plan for the appropriate closure experience (internship, professional contribution, thesis, etc.)

    Graduate students who have not yet been formally accepted into a graduate program, or would like to take courses for enrichment, should seek academic advisement from the Office of Retention and Advising by calling (570) 340-6043.

    With your goals in mind, use the following resources can help to answer questions about academic advising and to make the most of academic advising sessions:

    • Registrar's Office
    • Graduate Admissions Office
    • Career Services 
    • Graduate Catalog

    Graduate courses can be taken for enrichment purposes. Students can take between six to nine credits for enrichment purposes depending on the department.

    Students who wish to take graduate courses for enrichment should review the graduate catalog to determine which courses are best to take.

    It is important to note that taking enrichment courses does not guarantee acceptance into a graduate program. Also, students taking courses for enrichment purposes are not eligible for financial aid.

    If you would like to register for graduate courses for enrichment, please call (570) 340-6043.

    Core Curriculum

    Living Responsibly in an Interdependent World

    View in Catalog

    One of the central goals of the University’s Mission Statement is to "teach students to live responsibly in a diverse and interdependent world." Marywood’s undergraduate Core Curriculum plays an essential role in providing a foundation in the Catholic intellectual tradition. Students will be empowered to make connections among ideas and experiences, across the curriculum and co-curriculum, to synthesize and transfer learning to new situations and beyond campus.

    Our integrative Core Curriculum engages students through a variety of courses in the traditional liberal arts as well as the professional disciplines. Core courses are intentionally designed to help students develop a set of skills, such as critical and creative thinking, moral and ethical reasoning, effective communication, and intercultural awareness. Students will learn to adapt disciplinary knowledge and approaches to real-world, complex problems. 

    The Core Curriculum helps students develop intentional learning strategies through the use of metacognition–thinking about and reflecting on their own learning, skills, and processes--to identify areas of strength and struggle. These common teaching practices are interwoven throughout all Core courses and serve to increase students' capacity for self-awareness, agency, and life-learning.

    The Core requirements are designed to offer maximum flexibility, variety, and choice to all students. By integrating traditional liberal arts courses, major courses, and many paths to satisfying requirements, the Core strives to deliver a robust, common intellectual experience while at the same time being responsive to the varied interests and needs of students.

    More Information

    *These Core Requirements only apply to students that have matriculated Fall 2024* 

    See Core Curriculum Records for requirements prior to Fall 2024

    The Core Curriculum is composed of 40-42 credits, organized into five distinct categories or “themes.” 

    Category One “Foundations” courses should be completed by year 2. Courses in Categories 2-5 can be taken concurrently or in any order provided any pre-requisites are satisfied. 

    While students can choose from a number of course options to satisfy requirements for Categories 2-5, all students are advised to check the current curriculum map for their program to verify if there are any program-required Core courses or semesters that specific Core courses must be taken. 

    All courses offered in a category must address at least one designated student learning outcome. 

    Core Categories

    DOWNLOADABLE PDF

    The Liberal Arts core is organized into five categories:

    Category 1: Foundations of Applied Liberal Arts

    Foundations courses prepare students to engage in college-level inquiry through practice in academic writing, critical thinking, examination of ethical issues, and immersion in a language and cultures different from their own. Students will also explore various belief systems and traditions. 

    Category 2: Written and Oral Communication

    Communication courses build upon the skills students develop in Foundations courses. Students gain valuable practice and competency in spoken/oral presentation skills, opportunities to enhance their written work with technology (such as visual or digital media) so that they can effectively articulate and express their ideas, arguments, and positions across a variety of professional and social contexts. Students also hone their academic writing skills through a second course in English writing or a discipline-focused writing course. 

    Category 3: Arts & Culture

    Arts & Culture courses engage students in the artistic, social, political, and historic contributions of numerous cultures, movements, and forms of human expression around the globe. Students hone skills that are widely applicable across professions, such as: critical and creative thinking, an understanding of aesthetics and artistic expression, the ability to analyze various works, texts, documents, media, and other cultural artifacts, and problem-solving in order to create new ideas or concepts, and the ability to apply insights and inspiration to real-world scenarios. 

    Category 4: Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning

    Scientific & Quantitative Reasoning courses develop competency in data analysis, numerical problem-solving, forming and testing hypotheses, and interpreting results. Further, scientific and quantitative concepts can be applied to disparate areas of knowledge, in order to evaluate or critique scientific and numerical claims, methods used, and conclusions offered.  

    Category 5: Values, Ethics, & Diverse Perspectives

    Diverse Perspectives courses deepen students’ understanding of complex cultural and societal issues through exposure to a wide variety of disciplines and topics that explore the appreciation of differences, unmet human needs, social justice work, and the empowerment of others. Moreover, they foster students’ capacity for empathy and reflection and ability to create personal and professional meaning in their lives and careers. 

    Core Attribute Courses

    Core Attributes are competencies that all students are expected to encounter and develop through the course of completing their Core and program requirements and may be delivered by any course or discipline. Therefore, they do not require additional courses or credits to be taken. Rather, over the course of their study, students should choose at least one attribute-designated Core or major course for each of the two Core attributes below:

    Attribute 1: Information & Digital Literacy (IDL)

    Courses with a IL designation teach students how to identify and analyze information sources and types, emphasizing issues of bias, perspective, credibility, and authority in research, professional, and personal contexts. Students learn and use a variety of research tools and resources in order to locate, evaluate, verify, and use information effectively and ethically. 

    Attribute 2: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

    Courses with the DEI designation engage students in theories, ideas, and concepts related to structural racism, allowing students to develop methods and approaches to remove unjust social structures and ensconced, systemic inequalities.

    As a result of their courses in the core curriculum, students will be able to:

    1. Demonstrate an awareness of and respect for the religious, spiritual, and moral dimensions of life;
    2. Develop a critical awareness of the whole self, as well as an understanding of the complexities of human persons in diverse historical and social contexts;
    3. Develop and evaluate thinking through quantitative, qualitative, and scientific reasoning; problem solving; and research;
    4. Respond justly and with empathy to social inequity – local, regional and global;
    5. Demonstrate effective communication skills, including skills in a second language at an appropriate level;
    6. Develop an aesthetic appreciation and critical understanding of the visual and performing arts and their cultural importance.

    The Core Curriculum addresses 12 distinct learning outcomes that develop competencies in essential and widely-applicable skills grounded in Marywood’s Mission and Core Values.

    Core Outcomes were developed from the nationally recognized LEAP Essential Learning OutcomesThe Middle States Commission on Higher Education's general education standards, and the credit requirements of the PA Department of Education and are regularly assessed. 

    2016-2024 Core Curriculum Requirements 

    Please see the Undergraduate Catalog for specific program requirements.