Academic Advising

Currently declared students have the following options for accessing advising support:

1. Student Advising Mentors: For assistance navigating UWT academic planning tools (including MyPlan, degree audits, time schedules, and MyUW), connect with the Student Advising Mentors online or in person: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/advising.
    
2. Email: You are always welcome to directly email your advisor with any questions you might have (advisor contact information below). If you are not sure who to contact, please email our main account at SIASadv@uw.edu. Please include your student ID number in your emails, and always send emails from your UW email address. 
    
3. Advising Appointments: Appointments can be scheduled using the links below. Students should prepare for their advising appointments by reviewing their academic records (degree audit, transcript, etc.), major requirements, and course offerings in MyPlan. When you schedule an appointment, your advisor is setting aside this time just for you. If you cannot attend your appointment, please cancel your appointment online or email your advisor as soon as possible. If you are over 10 minutes late for an advising meeting, you will need to reschedule. 

UW Tacoma pre-major students who have earned 45 college credits and meet their intended major's pre-admission requirements can reach out directly to an IAS major advisor to get declared and to address any academic planning needs.

UW Tacoma pre-majors who have not yet fulfilled their major's pre-admission requirements are invited to work directly with IAS major advisors if they meet any of the criteria below:

1. Have 40 earned college credits and have decided on an IAS major.
2. Have met with a pre-major advisor who has referred you to work with an IAS advisor.
3. Have 90 earned college credits and are considering an IAS major.

Advisor contact information and scheduling links can be found below.

Newly admitted UW Tacoma students with 40 or more transfer credits, who have declared in or are intending to declare an IAS major, should complete the following steps to prepare for registration and advising. 

1. Review your major requirements.
   • Science and mathematics students should also review the academic planning tools on the SAM Advising page. Students pursuing the Environmental Science, Mathematics, or Biomedical Sciences majors must watch the corresponding major orientation video and complete the action items outlined in the video.
2. Review MyPlan and Register.UW: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/registrar/registration#permalink-15488. These are tools you will use to plan for future schedules and to complete the registration process each quarter. You can also find registration tutorials on Youtube.
    
3. Make sure you have sent UWT all of your college transcripts. Because official transcripts can take a few weeks to be received and processed, please also have your current unofficial transcripts available to reference while meeting with an advisor. 
    
4. Meet with your advisor. Advisor contact information and scheduling links can be found below. Action items 1-4 must be completed before meeting with an advisor. Students are invited to start meeting with advisors on specific dates depending on the quarter in which they plan to start attending UWT. These dates are listed below. If needed, students can reach out to advisors before the dates below via email.
   • Autumn quarter - June 1
   • Winter quarter - October 25
   • Spring quarter - February 10

Incoming students with less than 40 transfer credits should start by working with a pre-major advisor in University Academic Advising.

Students who have not yet been admitted to UW Tacoma are invited to reach out to SIAS advisors via email. Have questions about major requirements, prerequisites, transfer courses, etc.? Find the advisor for your intended major below. 

For admissions related questions, please reach out to Office of Admissions. 

Post-baccalaureate (sometimes called "fifth-year") is a matriculated status (degree-seeking), reserved for students who are working toward a second bachelor’s degree. Only a small number of applicants are admitted each year as post-baccalaureates because the university’s primary commitment is to undergraduates who are completing their first degree. If you have completed or will complete an equivalent four-year bachelor’s degree before enrolling, you must apply as a post-baccalaureate student.  

You are strongly urged to contact the academic program you are interested in before applying to UW Tacoma. Each major has its own requirements and prerequisites, so it is very important that you discuss your qualifications and academic goals with an academic advisor from the appropriate academic program. Whether or not previous coursework can apply toward graduation requirements is determined by program faculty and advisors.  

Please connect with the advisor for your program via email.  

Admissions

For questions regarding the admission and application process, please see the Post-baccalaureate Admissions from the Office of Admissions and reach out to them directly with any questions or concerns about the process. They can be reached at uwtinfo@uw.edu or 253-692-4742. 

Post-baccalaureate Registration  

As the university prioritizes students completing their first degree, post-baccalaureate students may have later registration times than standard undergraduates which can limit access to certain classes that fill up quickly.  

This is especially true in the Department of Science and Mathematics (SAM) as some introductory science and math courses may be restricted to undergraduate students during Registration Period 1. Review individual course listings in the time schedule for details. It should also be noted that any priority status in registration does not supersede registration restrictions. This means that spots in these courses are not guaranteed for post-baccalaureate students. 

Students hoping to return after an absence of more than one quarter (excluding summer quarter) should complete the returning student process outlined on the UWT Registrar's website. 

Students who have been dropped from the university due to low scholarship can petition for reinstatement. To be considered, the reinstatement petition must be submitted to your academic advisor three weeks prior to the start of the quarter. The petition will be forwarded to the department chair for review and, if approved, forwarded to the registrar's office for processing. Students who have not attended UWT for more than one quarter (excluding summer) will also need to complete the returning student process. 

If you have any questions please reach out to your assigned advisor.