University of Minnesota
Department of Geography, Environment and Society
geog@umn.edu
612-625-6080


Department of Geography, Environment and Society's home page.

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Advising

Welcome to the Department of Geography, Environment and Society (GES) Advising Website!!!!!

 

My name is Jeanette Simmonds, and I am the advisor for a number of CLA programs related to Geography, Health, the Biological Sciences, and the Environment. We also have two great Peer Advisors:, Michael Southwel for our Geography programs and Morgan Jahnke for our BSE program.

Our Undergraduate Advising Office assists all undergraduates majoring, minoring, or interested in Geography, as well as students who are pursuing a Biology, Society, and Environment major (B.A.) or an undergraduate minor in Public Health.

New at GES Advising: SUMMER Advising Schedulewill be posted on Thursday 5/23

DROP -In Advising This Week: Wednesday 5/22: 2-4pm only

Fall 2013 Class Guides:

BSE Course List (Fall 2013) BSE_courselist_fall2013

Geography Course List (Fall 2013) GEOG_Courses_Fall%202013_Final

Geography SUMMER Course List (Summer 2013) GEOG_Courses_SUMMER%202013

Senior Project Planning Workshops for BSE Majors*

Tues May 7th 12:00-1:30

Mon May 13th 4:00-5:30pm

Tues May 14th 5:30-7pm

Registration Required (See below!)

*Location: All SPPWs held in 445 Blegen (West Bank)

To Register: Send an email to geogadv@umn.edu at least two days prior to SPPW date.

Subject = Attend SPPW

Body of Email: 1) Name; 2) Student ID; 3) proposed graduation semester; 4) date and time of workshop you plan to attend.

 

**NEW DROP IN ADVISING TIMES POSTED FOR MARCH and APRIL 2013! Standard drop in advising hours will be held Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Fridays in March and April (see schedule below). Advising by appointment has been discontinued (except in special circumstances) so plan ahead to attend drop-in hours!

***New: Geography Senior Project Instructions: Geography_Senior_Project_Pathways_2013 (PDF)

BSE Senior Project Instructions & Guidelines BSE_Senior_Project_Pathways_2013 (PDF) & 2 xcr senior project info sheet (see Section E).

Undergrad Public Health Minor Information Sessions

Students interested in declaring the Undergraduate Public Health minor should email pubhadv@umn.edu. We are developing an online information session to better serve you. In the meantime, you may declare your minor during drop-in advising hours in Sociology (with Bobby Bryant) or in GES (with Jeanette Simmonds).

CLA Undergraduate Minor in Public Health: Application Form: PubH_minor_declaration_form_03_2013 (PDF).

CLA Undergraduate Minor in Public Health: Course descriptions:PubH-minor-courses-march-2013 (PDF).

Senior Project Planning Workshops for BSE majors (see advising schedule "D")

All BSE students should attend a Senior Project Planning Workshop. Find out what your options are...find out how to make your senior project an experience that will get you to grad school in environmental studies, medical or dental school, or prepare you for the job market in your career of choice! The sooner you attend a SPPW, the more choices you'll have and the more useful your senior project will be for job, grant, and graduate school applications!!!! Students at Sophmore & Junior standing are ESPECIALLY encouraged to attend! Attendance at a SPPW is required prior to meeting with Jeanette individually to discuss the senior project requirement. (Check back in April for upcoming workshops.)

Geography students should schedule an appointment with Jeanette or come to drop in hours for a one-on-one discussion about your senior project plans at least one semester prior to when you plan to begin your senior project. If you are just beginning to think about your options, please email geogadv@umn.edu to request a Special 30 minute Senior Project Appointment! (subject line: GEOG Senior Project 30 min appt request; body of email: a) Student ID; b) major/track (e.g., BA/GIS); c) intended semester of graduation (e.g., Sp 14); d) A list of at least 3 one- hour time slots that work for you (check calendar that these aren't during dropin advising hours!).

Please Scroll down to the Section you have questions about. For further information on specific programs see: http://www.geog.umn.edu/ugrad/ (and left links).

A. **New Students--Interested in one of our majors or you want to declare a major or minor?

B. **Questions about the Senior Project Requirement? **Faculty Supervising BSE projects go to Section E.

C. Advising Contact Information

D. CALENDAR: ADVISING Hours, Information Sessions, Workshop SCHEDULE and other information about how to contact the GES advisor

E. Biology, Society, and Environment (BSE) Major Program Planning and Information

F. Spring 2013 Course offering Guides

G. College & Special Programs Advising

H. Special Opportunities

A. **New Students--Interested in one of our majors or you want to declare a major or minor?

Prospective (not declared) Geography majors and undergraduate GIS minors, Geography minors and CLA Public Health minors should come to Drop-Ins. Check out the Geography Only Drop-In Hours with the Geography Peer Advisor on Monday, Wed, and Friday afternoons!

Prospective (not declared) Biology, Society and Environment (BSE) Students must attend a BSE information and major declaration session prior to meeting with an advisor. See below for a schedule of upcoming information sessions and to reserve a seat. Due to high demand for the major, the BSE advisor cannot answer questions about major requirements or course equivalencies prior to students attendance at an Information Session. Once you've attended a session, we can meet individually to tailor the program to your interests and goals and answer any remaining questions!

B. **Questions about the Senior Project Requirement?

BSE majors: Please see documents posted below & plan to attend a "BSE Senior Project Planning Workshop". Dates of Upcoming SPPW's for Spring 2013: TBA (For location & registration info see Calendar (below).

Geography majors: Please see documents posted on Geography Specific pages (left links) & come meet with Jeanette during Drop-In Advising hours to discuss your senior project ideas and your registration options.

C. Advising Contact Information:

Email (preferred): geogadv@umn.edu; do not use jsimmond email!

Undergraduate Minor in Public Health students please contact pubhadv@umn.edu

Phone: 612-625-0133 (Jeanette Simmonds); Please note that I give priority to email contacts

Advising Office: Social Sciences Building, Room 523

Mailbox/Administrative Support: Social Sciences Building, Room 414A

For an introduction to the undergraduate Geography program, visit the Areas of Study and Degrees pages.

For program planning forms for all GES major and minor programs, click on the link to the left "Undergraduate."

The Undergraduate Catalog describes the Liberal Education Requirements and provides information for all undergraduates.

D. ADVISING SCHEDULE for Spring 2013 & BSE Info Sessions--updated March 15th:

GEOG only Drop-Ins: Open to all prospective and declared Geography majors & minors; No BSE or Pubh minor students

All Other Drop-In Advising Hours: All students welcome except new BSE students; all BSE students must attend an info session prior to attending a drop-in advising meeting**

**New Geography majors and minors may declare during any drop-in advising time, but suggest coming to GEOG only Drop In Times if possible (less waiting!).

Advising Appointments will only be made in exceptional circumstances and require documentation that schedule precludes attending Drop-In advising hours. (Expect 2-3 week wait when asking to schedule an appointment.)

ADVISING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2013 * MARCH AND APRIL HOURS*

Upcoming Events: Scroll down for BSE Info Sessions for new students and BSE Program Materials and Spring Drop-in advising schedule.

Scroll Down to view: BSE Info Sessions and Senior Project Planning Workshops... AND MORE!!!

ADVISING SCHEDULE FOR SPRING 2013

**Standard Schedule subject to change; changes will be posted at least 24 hours in advance when possible; Alerts will be sent to students UMN email.

**Students who do not receive listserv may email geogadv@umn.edu to confirm times.

Summer ADVISING HOURS will be posted May 23rd

New students BSE Majors please contact: geogadv@umn.edu to attend a BSE Info Session

Monday Drop-In Advising

TBA

Tuesday Drop-In Advising

TBA

Wednesday Drop-In Advising

Wed 5/22: 2-4pm

Thursday/Friday

TBA

Friday Drop-Ins

TBA
*GEOG ONLY HOURS: Declare the Geography BA, BS, minor, and GIS minor and plan courses with the Geography Peer Advisor. **Geography students may also schedule a 30 minute Senior Project meeting w/ Jeanette. Email geogadv@umn.edu Subject: Geog SP meeting Body of Email: 1) name; 2 student ID; 3) prefered time (list at least 3 x 1-3 hour timeslots if possible!)

ADVISING WORKSHOPS and Info Sessions!!!

Senior Projects--Geography Majors: Meet individually with the Geography Advisor during the first semester of your junior year to discuss the Senior Project Process for Geography Students.

See "Pathways to the Geography Senior Project" for useful tips for a successful senior project (See link above!). Review this document prior to meeting with Jeanette. Also see: http://www.geog.umn.edu/ugrad/senproject.html

Schedule a 30 minute appointment w/ Jeanette. Email geogadv@umn.edu Subject: Geog SP meeting Body of Email: 1) name; 2 student ID; 3) prefered time (list at least 3 x 1-3 hour timeslots if possible!)

Senior Projects--BSE Majors:

1. Review "Pathways to the BSE Senior Project" (See link above!)

2. Attend a Senior Project Planning Workshop during the first semester of your junior year, or ASAP

Spring 2013 BSE Senior Project Planning Workshops (SPPW):

Senior Project Planning Workshops for BSE Majors*

Tues May 7th 12:00-1:30

Mon May 13th 4:00-5:30pm

Tues May 14th 5:30-7pm

*Location: All SPPWs held in 445 Blegen (West Bank)

Registration Required (See below!)

*Location: All SPPWs held in 445 Blegen (West Bank)

To Register: Send an email to geogadv@umn.edu at least two days prior to SPPW date.

Subject = Attend SPPW

Body of Email: 1) Name; 2) Student ID; 3) proposed graduation semester; 4) date and time of workshop you plan to attend.

For more Information: Also see documents posted in Section E (below).

Public Health Minor Info Sessions--Online info sessions coming soon!

Students interested in declaring the Undergraduate Public Health minor should send an email to: pubhadv@umn.edu

BSE INFORMATION SESSIONS...

ALL new & prospective BSE MAJORS MUST ATTEND A SESSION PRIOR TO MEETING WITH BSE ADVISOR!

YOU MAY DECLARE YOUR BSE MAJOR AT END OF SESSION **Location: Social Sciences (West Bank)

*PRE-REG REQUIRED*

To Register: Send an email to geogadv@umn.edu Subject = Attend BSE Info Session

Include in Body of Email: 1) Name, 2) Student ID, and 3) date and time of Session.

**All Info Sessions are in the Social Sciences Building (West Bank)

BSE Info Sessions May 2013**:

Wed May 1st:  3:00-4:00 pm

Tues May 7th: 4:15-5:15 pm

Fri May 10th: 2:00-3:00 pm

Tues May 14th 11:30am-12:30 pm

Wed May 15th: 3:30-4:30 pm

Fri May 17th: 12:00-1:00 pm

**Location: All Info Sessions held in Social Sciences Building 414A (Geography Office, West Bank)

E. Biology, Society, and Environment (BSE) Major Program Planning and Information

Spring 2013 BSE Core and Theme Elective Offerings: BSE_Spring_2013_Course_List(PDF)

BSE program planning form: BSE-F2012-Program_Planning_Form-080512 (PDF)

BSE Major Handbook (Fall 2011/Spring 2012-not updated, but good info)**: BSE_major_handbook%20edited_version-2011 (PDF)

BSE Senior Project Information sheet--for faculty supervisors: BSE%20Senior%20Project%20Instructions-Faculty-F(PDF)

BSE 2 extra credit option for Senior Project Information sheet: BSE-2ExtraCreditInfoSheet-Jan_2013 (PDF)

BSE Senior Project Instructions & Guidelines: BSE_Senior_Project_Pathways_2013 (PDF)

 

CAR Form: Certification of Alternative Registration (CAR) for BSE Senior Project: BSE_CAR_Form_BSE_Senior_Project_Fall2012F(PDF)

**Draft versions are provided to assist students who need immediate information. They are UNOFFICIAL, UNAPPROVED documents to assist you with planning if you have not met with the BSE advisor recently and need immediate information while the BSE advisor is on vacation. Final Versions of these documents will be posted by September 1. Please note that if you declared your major prior to Spring 2012, your major program requirements may be different than those listed. You should refer to the major program requirements of the term you Declared your major or see the BSE advisor for more information.

F. Fall 2013 Course offering Guides: preliminary guides available in early March (check back!)

**Geography Courses (Fall 2013) (pdf)

**BSE Courses (Fall 2013) (PDF)

**Public Health Courses (Fall 2013) (pdf)

G. College & Special Programs Advising

Geography and BSE majors are in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA). Its website provides information on advising and student services. CLA's "Steps to Graduation" offers a helpful year-by-year checklist and information about resources and opportunities for students.

One Stop provides college advising office contact information and links.

Other advising services are those provided by the CLA Honors and Martin Luther King programs.

H. Special Opportunities

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) "offers financial awards twice yearly to full time undergraduates for research, scholarly, or creative projects undertaken in partnership with a faculty member".

The Career and Community Learning Center (CCLC) offers community involvement programs, National Student Exchange advising, career and internship assistance, and other services.

Study Abroad

Study Abroad information sheet (PDF)