Undergraduate Advising Resources

Pre-major students
Pre-Nursing resources

Major students
College systems and resources | Graduation

All Students

Academic advising

Who is my advisor?

All students have an assigned academic advisor on Buckeyelink. You can find the name of your advisor on your student center to the right of your current schedule in the box labeled “Program Advisor.”

How do I schedule an appointment with my advisor?

To schedule an appointment with your assigned advisor or peer advisor, please log in to Oncourse and select a time that works best for your schedule. Students who have challenges using Oncourse for scheduling an advising appointment may call the Office of Student Affairs and Success at 614-292-4041 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

How can my advisor help me?

Advisors do

direct and refer students to campus resources
provide information regarding University and College policy
facilitate Nursing 1100 to support new first year students
take appointments to support students with their questions
help students understand helpful tools like the Degree Audit, schedule planner and other features of Buckeyelink
provide resources related to the impacts of academic decisions (e.g. the impact of dropping or adding a course)
answer questions about College of Nursing applications, post-admission requirements and criteria to remain in good standing when a student asks for clarification
answer emails within two to three business days to provide support to students

Advisors do not

call or make contact with a campus resource on behalf of the student
receive mid-term grades or reports from all faculty regarding a student’s academic performance
select courses for students (note: we will construct a student’s autumn semester courses based on their preferences and credit earned in high school)
speak to the difficulty of a specific course
know how a course will be graded other than the grade scale listed in Buckeyelink
know the teaching style, preferences or strengths of specific instructors for a course
tell a student what course of action is best for them, however we will assist students in weighing the different factors to consider when making a decision

Scheduling and adding courses

How do I know what courses to take?

What should I enroll in next semester?

Students admitted to a degree or certificate-granting program at the College of Nursing may consult Beacon to find their curriculum plan. This will show students the order of nursing coursework that must be followed to complete their degree program. Note: Pre-Nursing or Pre-HW students do not have access to Beacon.
Students enrolled in Pre-Nursing or Pre-HW should refer to the prerequisite coursework outlined on the admission webpages to learn the required courses to enter into each major.
To learn which general education coursework and major courses are required for your degree, you can run a Degree Audit for your program.

Is it necessary to schedule summer courses?

Required summer coursework varies by major or certificate. Students admitted to a degree or certificate-granting major at the College of Nursing should consult Beacon to learn if their plan requires summer courses.
Students enrolled in Pre-Nursing or Pre-HW are not required to take summer coursework. Students may choose to take summer coursework if it helps align them with their desired application deadline. To learn more about deadlines for your desires program, please visit that program’s admissions page.

How do I add a course?

After the first semester of study at Ohio State, students have the responsibility to enroll in classes and complete the registration process on their own through BuckeyeLink. The University and the College of Nursing offers students resources to refer to when selecting and enrolling in coursework.

Enrolling in classes

This video demonstrates how to enroll in courses. For specific content, skip to:

1:06 - Using Schedule Planner
5:20 - Sending items from schedule planner to "shopping cart"
7:10 - Complete the process of registration (proceeding to steps 2 and 3 on the Buckeyelink page)
8:02 - Schedule courses by using Buckeyelink and individually searching them
11:42 - Knowing if a course is waitlisted or closed
13:15 - Finding and contacting your advisor

Searching for specific general education (GE) courses

Log into Buckeyelink with your name.# and password
Go to class search
Update term and campus
Leave blank the section and course number
Click on Additional Search Criteria
For students who started at the University prior to Autumn 2022, are expected to complete the legacy GE
- Select course attribute - General education legacy
- Select course attribute value of which GE you’re trying to fulfill
For students starting Autumn '22 and after
- Select course attribute - General Education-New
- Select course attribute value of which GE you’re trying to fulfill
If you wish to see entirely online options, choose mode of instruction - Distance Learning. If you wish to see courses offered in any mode of instruction, you would not have a selection for this portion.
If you wish to see courses only offered in specific sessions, update the “session” section. Ex: If you only want to see courses offered session 2, you would select the session drop down and select session 2. If you would like to see courses offered at any length/time in the semester, you may leave this field blank.

Adding classes with multiple components

Some courses have multiple required components a student must enroll in. (Examples of this include: lecture, lab, clinical and recitation)
Courses that require multiple components will indicate that in the class details. SIS will also not allow you to enroll in the course without designating all the required components.
Sometimes a course will have one lecture time and multiple recitations or labs. In this scenario, students will need to select the available lecture, and then choose from the available labs.
If multiple components are required, students do not have the option of enrolling in only one of the components. For example, students cannot just enroll in the Biology 1110 lab, they must also enroll in the lecture.

Adding courses after stated deadlines

The university institutes specific deadlines which may prohibit students from modifying their class schedule. The deadlines are based on the length of the session or term. In autumn and spring semesters, classes may be offered in 14-week intervals or during sessions, broken into seven-week intervals. The first session runs from the start of the term until week seven. The second session runs from the mid-point of the semester to the end of the term.

Students wishing to enroll in a course past university stated deadlines must complete the following processes. Please be advised additional fees may be assessed by the university for completing the registration process late. Questions related to university fees can be directed to the BuckeyeLink Office.

14-week classes and first 7-week session classes

Please refer to Important Dates Document for specific deadlines

In order to enter a course after the first Friday of the 14-week semester or first session, students must seek written permission of the instructor to enroll in a course.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
- Once the Course Enrollment Form is complete, submit the completed form to your assigned academic advisor by email.
- The form must be submitted to your academic advisor by 5 p.m. on the second Friday of the 14-week semester/first session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.
To enter a course after week two of the semester, students must seek the permission of the instructor and chairperson from the department offering the course.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
- The course instructor will provide the name and contact information for the department chair. The chairperson must sign the Course Enrollment Form.
- If permission from the instructor and chairperson is obtained, forward the completed form to your academic advisor no later than 5 p.m. on the third Friday of the 14-week semester/first session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.
To enter a course after week three of the semester, students must seek the permission of the instructor, chairperson from the department offering the course and the College of Nursing.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
- The course instructor will provide the name and contact information for the department chair. The chairperson must sign the Course Enrollment Form.
- Once permission is obtained by both the instructor and department chairperson, you must complete the College of Nursing Curriculum Petition Form.
- All required documents must be submitted to your assigned academic advisor no later than 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the 14-week semester/first session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.

Second 7-week session courses

Please refer to Important Dates Document for specific deadlines.

In order to enter a course after the first Friday of the second session, students must seek written permission of the instructor to enroll in a course.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
- Once the Course Enrollment Form is complete, submit the completed form to your assigned academic advisor by email.
- The form must be submitted to your academic advisor by 5 p.m. on the second Friday of second session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.
To enter a course after week two of the second session, students must seek the permission of the instructor and chairperson from the department offering the course.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
- The course instructor will provide the name and contact information for the department chair. The chairperson must sign the Course Enrollment Form.
- If permission from the instructor and chairperson is obtained, forward the completed form to your academic advisor no later than 5 p.m. on the third Friday of second session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.
To enter a course after week three of the second session, students must seek the permission of the instructor, chairperson from the department offering the course and the College of Nursing.
- Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
- The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
- The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory
- The course instructor will provide the name and contact information for the department chair. The chairperson must sign the Course Enrollment Form.
- Once permission is obtained by both the instructor and department chairperson, you must complete the College of Nursing Curriculum Petition Form.
- All required documents must be submitted to your assigned academic advisor no later than 5 p.m. on the fourth Friday of the second session. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.

Adding a course that requires additional permissions

Enrolling in more than 18 credit hours

Per university policy, students are required to seek college permission to enroll over the 18-credit hour limit. To obtain College of Nursing permission, please complete the following steps:

Complete the College of Nursing Curriculum Petition Form
Submit the completed College of Nursing Curriculum Petition Form to your assigned academic advisor by email. Please be mindful of the registration deadlines set by the university.
The College of Nursing will review the petition and render a decision one to two 1-2 weeks following the submission of the form.

Please be advised additional fees may be assessed by the university for exceeding the 18 credit hour limit. Late registration fees may also be applied, depending on the date of the enrollment transaction. Questions related to university fees can be directed to the BuckeyeLink Office.

Enrolling in a closed course (exceeding the class enrollment limit)

Per university policy, students are required to seek instructor permission to enter a closed course. To obtain instructor permission please complete the following steps:

Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
Once the Course Enrollment Form is complete, submit the completed form to your assigned academic advisor by email. If you do not have an advisor assigned on Buckeyelink, email con-advising@osu.edu.
The form must be submitted to your academic advisor according to the registration deadlines set by the university. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.

Please be advised late registration fees may be assessed depending on the date of the enrollment transaction. Questions related to university fees can be directed to the BuckeyeLink Office.

Enrolling in a course that requires permission or for which you do not have the required prerequisites

Students may need permission to enter a course if they do not meet the prerequisites for the class, or the course description specifically states permission is required from the instructor to enroll in the class. Prerequisites may include a course or courses you must complete before enrolling, enrollment in a specific major or minor, or a certain rank based on completed credit hours. To obtain instructor permission, complete the following steps:

Students must contact the instructor by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructor.
The name of the instructor is listed in the Class Schedule.
The contact information for the instructor can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
Once the Course Enrollment Form is complete, submit the completed form to your assigned academic advisor by email.
The form must be submitted to your academic advisor according to the registration deadlines set by the university. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.

Please be advised late registration fees may be assessed depending on the date of the enrollment transaction. Questions related to university fees can be directed to the BuckeyeLink Office.

Enrolling in a course at a regional campus

Ohio State-Columbus students planning to enroll in a course at a regional campus must seek permission from the advising unit at the regional campus. Follow these steps to obtain permission:

Reach out to the academic advising unit for the regional campus via email.
Include in your email:
- Your name, student ID# and major
- The course you wish to enroll in, including department and course number as well as section.
If you receive this email consent, forward to your assigned academic advisor on Columbus campus to enroll you in the course.

Enrolling in a course with a time conflict

If you wish to enroll in a course that conflicts with another course on your schedule, you must receive permission from both instructors. Complete the following steps to obtain permissions:

Students must contact the instructors of the two courses that conflict by email for written permission. Please send the Course Enrollment Form to the instructors.
The instructor’s names are listed in the Class Schedule.
The contact information for the instructors can be obtained through the Ohio State directory.
Once permission is obtained from both instructors and the Course Enrollment Form is complete, submit the completed form to your assigned academic advisor by email.
The form must be submitted to your academic advisor according to the registration deadlines set by the university. The advisor will enroll you in the course if you complete these instructions by the deadline.

Dropping courses

Who do I contact if I want to drop a course?

If you are interested in dropping a course and it is prior to the “W” deadline, you may do so yourself via Buckeyelink. Review the registration deadlines here.

Things to consider when dropping a course

Will dropping this course put me below full time status?
- If so financial aid, housing and more could be impacted. Contact the BuckeyeLink Office to learn the implications of dropping below fulltime.
Is this course a prerequisite for a course I need next semester or for a major application?
- If so, you may want to speak with your academic advisor before dropping.
Will dropping this course delay my graduation due to the lockstep nature of my program?
- For lockstep programs such as the Traditional BSN and HW programs, dropping a required major course may increase your time to graduation and affect future semesters' curriculum plan. If you plan on dropping a required major course, you should reach out to your academic advisor.
If after dropping the course you remain full time (12-18 credit hours), you will not receive a refund for the drop. Contact the BuckeyeLink Office to learn more about refund deadlines.
Is this course needed for graduation, such as a general education course?
- If so you will want to make sure you enroll in another course that fulfills that requirement prior to graduation.
More information related to impacts of dropping a course can be found here.

What is the difference between a drop and a withdrawal?

A course is considered to be “dropped” if a student disenrolls from a course prior to the date where a “W” is assigned. When a course is dropped, there is not a notation on the transcript for the drop. Students may drop themselves from a course.
A course is considered “withdrawn” if a student wishes to disenroll from a course after the last day to drop without a “W” has passed. Students must request help from their advisor to withdraw from a course as you are not able to complete this process yourself via Buckeyelink.

How do I drop a course?

Before the fourth Friday

You can drop classes online yourself during the first four weeks of each semester, but it is strongly recommended that you seek advising before dropping a class.
You can drop classes using the Buckeyelink website prior to the fourth Friday of the semester. Follow the steps below.

Make sure you are aware of all consequences related to dropping this course. You may need to reach out to additional campus offices to learn more.
Log on to Buckeyelink by entering your Ohio State username and password.
Click “Drop a Class”, choose the term and year for which you are currently enrolled, then click the “Continue” button.
Select the course(s) you wish to drop.

Once a course is dropped it cannot be undone. Ability to re-add a course depends on course availability, time of semester, and other factors.

Between the fourth Friday and the 10th Friday

Make sure you are aware of all consequences related to dropping this course. You may need to reach out to additional campus offices to learn more.
Email your academic advisor outlining the course you wish to drop and that you are aware of the academic and financial implications of the drop.
Your advisor will drop the course on your behalf, please note this may take one to two business days depending on volume of requests.
Verify the course has been dropped by going on Buckeyelink.

After the 10th Friday

You are only able to drop or otherwise modify your enrollment after the 10th Friday by having a petition approved by Undergraduate Studies. If you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that led to this need to drop, please email your academic advisor for assistance.

Do I have to add a course if I drop a course?

If you wish to remain full time and dropping the course would place your credit hours for the semester below 12, you may consider adding a course(s) to maintain full time status.
Students may wish to consider tuition and fees and important dates when deciding if they would like to add a course in place of the dropped course.

What does a “W” mean?

A “W” is assigned to a course that has been withdrawn. “W”s are grade neutral and do not impact your GPA. Information on “W” and other grades on a students record can be found here.

How will dropping a course affect me financially?

This will depend on a myriad of factors specific to each student. To learn how it could impact you, contact Buckeyelink.

What is the difference between grade forgiveness and a “W”?

Grade forgiveness is when a student repeats a course and has submitted the paperwork required to utilize the grade forgiveness policy. This policy allows the second grade earned to be calculated into the student’s GPA. The first attempt remains on the student’s transcript, and only the second attempt is calculated into the student’s GPA. This policy is not automatically applied and students should reference this webpage to familiarize themselves with this policy before submitting a petition.
A “W” is a grade assigned to a course from which a student has withdrawn. More information on how a “W” impacts a GPA can be found here.

What should I do if I am struggling in a course?

Please note that the following information is general guidance. Students should consider all factors related to their personal situation before making a decision. The tips outlined below provide information related to University and College policy, but ultimately each student must make the decision that is right for them.

How do I get help if I'm struggling in a class?

Talking to the instructor or TA of a specific course should be the first step for a student experiencing difficulty in a course. Each instructor should have listed office hours during which they are available for student support. Some may require appointments or only be available at specific times, so be sure to reference your course syllabus for more information.
Seek tutoring if it is available. There may not be centralized tutoring resources for every department. Reach out to the department teaching the course to learn if such services are available. The College of Nursing does not offer tutoring for prerequisite coursework.
If you are struggling with more general academic success skills, you can reach out to The Dennis Learning Center for support and academic coaching and workshops.
If your challenges are related to mental health, you can seek support from our embedded counseling support at the College of Nursing or Counseling and Consultation Services.

Should I drop the course?

If you feel you are unable to be successful in the course, see this section for information related to dropping a course.
Each department oversees available tutoring for their respective courses. The College of Nursing does not offer tutoring for prerequisite coursework.

Grade forgiveness

Please see this page for information related to the Grade Forgiveness Policy at Ohio State.
Grade forgiveness requires a petition submitted and approved by the deadline to be used. Grade forgiveness is never automatically applied.

Changing or adding to your plan of study

How do I change my major to one outside the College of Nursing?

If you are currently a Pre-Nursing or Pre-Health and Wellness student
- Students wishing to change out of the Pre-Nursing or Pre-Health and Wellness major should contact the advising department of the major they wish to change into to learn more about their process and requirements. As major change processes, admissions and prerequisites vary by department and major, College of Nursing advising is not able to change a student’s major to another major outside the College of Nursing.
If you are currently an admitted major student
- If you are currently admitted to one of our majors at the College of Nursing, please speak to your current academic advisor before changing majors. Some majors like the traditional Bachelor of Science in Nursing or Health and Wellness, require that students re-apply to the program if they wish to return in the future after electing to change out of the major. As such, it is important to speak with your College of Nursing advisor before switching majors.

How do I learn more about a different major?

To learn more about a major, start here to see a list of all the undergraduate majors at The Ohio State University. Each major is listed by name, has a brief description, and a link to learn more about the major. Once you read the information on this webpage, if you are still looking for additional information, accessing the department’s webpage and reaching out to their advising or recruitment teams would be a great next step!

How do I to add a minor? What are the minor requirements of X program?

If you are interested in a minor but are not sure which one may be a good fit, you can access a list of all minors offered at the University here.
- Clicking on the name of a minor will bring up a minor sheet. A minor sheet contains information related to the minor, outline of required coursework, and information to contact the minor department for more information.
- When you decide a minor may be a good fit, your next step is to reach out to the minor department to schedule an appointment to learn more about the curriculum and fill out any potential needed paperwork through that department. At this appointment it is also helpful to ask questions like:
  - Do any of the required minor courses overlap with the general education curriculum?
  - Are certain required courses offered only in specific semesters? E.g. Is a required course only offered in the spring semester? This is important information to be aware of when planning.
  - Are there any prerequisites required for the minor coursework you should be aware of? Do some of the courses need to be completed in a specific order?
  - Any questions about exceptions, alternate options, or other similar questions related to the minor curriculum must be discussed with and approved by the minor department. The College of Nursing cannot approve any petitions related to minors outside our College.
- Once you meet with the minor advisor and plan your coursework, you can complete the College of Nursing minor form and the minor will be added to your account in three to five business days.
- Once a minor is added to your account, it should appear at the bottom of your Degree Audit below your major and graduation requirements. If after three to five business days you do not see your minor on a newly run Degree Audit, please contact your advisor for support. Note: You will need to run a new Degree Audit once you adjust your schedule. Schedule changes are not reflected in previously run audits.

How do I add a certificate?

To add a certificate offered in the College of Nursing, please complete the relevant form on Beacon. Please note as a current undergraduate student you may only be eligible to add certain certificates due to admissions requirements.

University resources

The below resources may be helpful to you during your time as an Ohio State student. If you need additional support in connecting to resources, please contact your academic advisor.

Resource links

Pre-major students

Pre-Nursing resources

Where can I find information on the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) application?

You can find more information on the BSN admissions page including information on prerequisite courses, timelines and minimum eligibility requirements.

What if I have to add or drop a prerequisite course?

Students should be aware that adding or dropping a prerequisite course may impact their eligibility for consideration of their desired major. Please consult the admissions page for the program you are applying to in order to fully understand prerequisite course requirements and deadlines for completing those requirements. You may also consult with your academic advisor.

What does EEOB stand for?

Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology

Where can I find more FAQs about Pre-Nursing?

More FAQs can be found here.

How do I change my major to something other than Pre-Nursing?

In order to change your major you will need to speak with an advisor from the new major/program. The SIS system does not allow the College of Nursing to change your major to a new program.
You will need to call the advising office (that offers your chosen program) to inquire about the major change process. The new department/major will change your major and assign you a new advisor.
If you are in the process of researching other programs, you can also reach out to the University Exploration Office.
The Exploration advisors have knowledge of all majors offered at Ohio State and they can provide further guidance.

What is my GPA? How do I calculate it or estimate it?

The grades a student earns in their coursework at Ohio State is averaged to provide a student with their Ohio State GPA.
Students can find their GPA on their advising report or their Degree Audit.
Students may project their GPA for a semester using a GPA calculator and inputting the courses they expect to earn and the credit hours for that course. For students interested in learning how long it will take them to reach a desired GPA, they may use this projection calculator. Please note these projections are an estimated guess.

How do I know how a course is graded?

The course instructor will provide the grading scheme for the class through the course syllabus. Different courses may have different assignments, evaluations and grading schemes. If students have questions about how a particular course is graded, they should consult the instructor for the course.

Major students

College of Nursing systems and resources

What is Beacon?

Beacon is a comprehensive student portal for currently enrolled students in a degree- or certificate-granting program. Pre-nursing and Pre-HW students do not have access to Beacon. Students can view personalized curriculum plans and find out information about program compliance status. Beacon also posts updates from College of Nursing related to academic deadlines, special events and leadership opportunities. Beacon can be accessed via web browser here or via iOS devices by downloading the app here. To log into Beacon, please use your Ohio State username and password.

Note: Your username format is name.#

What is a curriculum plan?

A curriculum plan is an order and timeline for enrolling in required coursework for your major or certificate in the College of Nursing. Students must follow their curriculum plan and take the nursing or health and wellness coursework in the semester, session and order outlined in Beacon.
Only students enrolled in the Nursing, RN to BSN, HW or College of Nursing certificate programs will have a curriculum plan.
It is important to look at your curriculum plan carefully as some courses are assigned a session as well as a semester. If a course lists 7W1, that means it must be taken in the first session of the term. If the course lists 7W2, that course would need to be taken in the second seven weeks of the term. Students must enroll in the correct session as well as semester according to their curriculum plan. Students enrolled incorrectly will be required to drop their currently enrolled courses and enroll according to their plan.

Can I change my curriculum plan?

Ability to change your curriculum plan and process to do so, if allowed, varies by program. Contact your academic advisor for more information. Please note some programs may not allow changes, or some changes may not be able to be accommodated.

What is the difference between my curriculum plan and Degree Audit?

Your curriculum demonstrates the order, semester and session in which your College of Nursing coursework must be taken.
General education courses may be taken any time before graduation.
Your Degree Audit includes all the required components of your degree and your progress on these components. Your Degree Audit is a helpful resource to see remaining degree components.
Use your Degree Audit to track your progress to graduation and remaining degree requirements.
Use your curriculum plan to note which semester and session your required nursing coursework must be taken.

How do I learn more about compliance?

Students beginning a new program at the College of Nursing can visit this page for compliance information.
Returning students can visit this page for compliance information.

Where can I find College of Nursing forms?

Common forms used in the College of Nursing can be found here.

Graduation

What courses do I need to graduate?

This information can be found in your Degree Audit.

What is the deadline to apply to graduate? How do I confirm receipt of my application to graduate?

Please visit our Applying to Graduate page for more information.
The page outlines steps to apply to graduate based on your enrolled program.

Graduation ceremonies

The College of Nursing organizes Convocation (spring semester event for College of Nursing students only)
The university organizes Commencement (every semester event for all Ohio State students)

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