Division of Undergraduate Academic Services

The Division of Undergraduate Academic Services is a primary source of academic support for students, faculty, and staff. The division coordinates and offers academic programs and services designed to enhance the academic experience of ASU undergraduate students. The goals of the division are to play a major role in student retention, provide students the support necessary for successful completion of their first year and beyond, and offer students learning experiences that complement those provided by other academic units.

The division includes these units:

ACADEMIC COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SERVICES - Back to Top

Academic Community Engagement Services (ACES) supports community-based learning activities for service learning and work-study eligible students. For more information, call 480/727-6382.

Service Learning Program - Back to Top

Students who enroll in Service Learning Program credit-bearing internships participate in academically based service activities that

1. lintegrate and enhance academic curriculum and community experiences;
    
2. meet community-identified needs;
    
3. foster civic responsibility;
    
4. support reciprocal learning; and
    
5. include structured reflection time.
    

The Service Learning Program and associated departments offer ASU freshmen through graduate students the opportunity to develop a sense of shared mission and community with their classmates as they provide educational support and enrichment to a diverse group of Phoenix-area children through adults in structured, supervised environments. These service internships can be “linked” to many different discipline areas. Most service learning students provide after-school tutoring or lead children in hands-on science and math activities. Footnote 34 denotes service learning sections in the Schedule of Classes.

America Reads / America Counts - Back to Top

America Reads. Through the America Reads program, Federal Work-Study students are paid to work one-on-one with academically at-risk children in the community. The term “at-risk” describes children (grades 1–3) who live in low-income acres and are likely to drop out of high school. The goal of the America Reads tutoring program is to increase each child’s literacy skills to grade level. In the after-school programs, tutors assist children with homework as well as create fun, hands-on activities to exercise academic skills. Tutors also assist preschool children in developing early literacy skills and their parents in learning English.

America Counts. Through the America Counts program, Federal Work-Study students are paid to work with academically at-risk children (grades 1–3) in the community to increase math scores and comprehension. In these after-school programs, tutors assist children with homework as well as create hands-on activities to teach math concepts in a fun way.

Jumpstart Arizona - Back to Top

Jumpstart Arizona is a Federal Work-Study program that pairs college students with preschool children who are struggling in Head Start classrooms. Jumpstart Arizona Corps Members can earn a salary and an education award as they help children build the skills needed for a successful future in school.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMS - Back to Top

Campus Match - Back to Top

Campus Match is a first-semester fall program that gives freshmen the opportunity to attend classes in small learning communities according to their academic interest. Students choose a “cluster” of classes from a wide variety of offerings. Each cluster is limited to 25 students who enroll in and attend classes together. All students attend a weekly peer-led seminar that facilitates their social and academic adjustment to the university.

Academic Success at the University Courses - Back to Top

The purpose of the UNI courses is to assist first-year, transfer, and reentry students in making a successful transition to the university. Students learn university resources, policies and procedures, study skills, values and goal setting, human diversity, academic and career planning, and other skills.

Summer Bridge - Back to Top

Summer Bridge is a program designed to assist first-semester freshmen in making the transition from high school to university life. Summer Bridge is a five-week program that provides a full academic curriculum in conjunction with a rich student development experience. The program assists participants in acclimating to campus, accessing student support programs and services, and enhancing classroom and personal skills.

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) - Back to Top

Curriculum Development and Support. WAC Curriculum Development and Support is designed to assist in enhancing the quality of writing and critical thinking skills of university students.

WAC specialists consult with faculty on methods of developing and integrating writing assignments into course content. The specialists also provide customized in-class writing workshops designed to assist students in researching and responding to writing assignments.

Writing Center. The Writing Center provides students with one-on-one and group tutoring in writing skills. Rather than proofreading or editing students’ writing, the Writing Center teaches students the skills they need to improve their writing processes and products.

BACHELOR OF INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES - Back to Top

The Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies (B.I.S.) program is intended for the student who has academic interests that might not be satisfied with existing majors. Building on two academic concentrations (or one double concentration) and an interdisciplinary core, students in the B.I.S. take an active role in creating their educational plans and defining their career goals. The B.I.S. emphasizes written communication, versatility, and critical thinking--skills desired in the 21st century workplace. Self-assessment and appraisal of opportunities to support academic and career goals are key elements in the core courses.

At ASU Main, students must first complete the B.I.S. Cyber Workshop found at www.asu.edu/duas/bis and then meet with an academic advisor before declaring the B.I.S. major. For more information, visit Academic Advising Services in UASB 129 or call 480/965-4464. For information about the B.I.S. at ASU East, see ASU East, see “Interdisciplinary Studies—B.I.S.”

The combination of areas of concentration gives students flexibility in creating a unique program to accomplish individualized academic goals. These combinations illustrate a range of examples:

1. lanthropology and religious studies;
    
2. communication and small business;
    
3. communication and sociology;
    
4. dance and exercise science/physical education;
    
5. economics and Spanish;
    
6. environmental resources and geology;
    
7. environmental resources and political science;
    
8. justice studies and political science;
    
9. nonprofit/youth agency administration and theatre; and
    
10. psychology and women’s studies.
     

Basic Requirements - Back to Top

The B.I.S. requires 120 semester hours. The major is composed of a 12-semester-hour core and a minimum of 36 semester hours in two concentrations of at least 18 semester hours each or in one double concentration. Throughout the core sequence, the student assembles a portfolio including self-assessment of progress toward career goals and an evaluation of key educational and personal activities that may apply. All core courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.

Other Requirements - Back to Top

In addition to the basic requirements, students must complete all university requirements, including First-Year Composition and General Studies. Early advising is recommended to facilitate selecting courses that may apply to both the General Studies requirements and the areas of concentration.

Declaring the B.I.S. Major. Completing the B.I.S. Cyber Workshop (located on the Web at www.asu.edu/duas/bis) and then receiving academic advising from Academic Advising Services are required before being approved to declare the B.I.S. In addition, the student must

1. lcomplete at least 45 semester hours of university credit;
    
2. earn a cumulative G.P.A. of at least 2.00;
    
3. complete two courses in each concentration with a minimum grade of “C” before enrolling in BIS 301; and
    
4. complete the university mathematics and First-Year Composition requirements.
    

All incoming students and continuing students with a minimum GPA of 2.00 who do not meet the above requirements are placed in a pre-B.I.S. major until the requirements have been met.

Approved Concentrations - Back to Top

Each concentration requires a minimum of 18 semester hours, with a grade of “C” or higher. A minimum of 12 of these hours must be in upper-division courses. The concentrations—shown in the “B.I.S. Concentrations” table—are mostly based on existing minors or certificate programs and should represent academic interests that the student wishes to integrate into a meaningful program. Concentrations based on minors or certificates with fewer than 18 hours have additional semester hours required. Complete information on each concentration is available by visiting Academic Advising Services in UASB 129 or by accessing the B.I.S. Web site at www.asu.edu/duas/bis.

A minimum of three semesters is required to complete the core sequence. BIS 301 is taken first and is the prerequisite to BIS 302. BIS 301 and 302 are prerequisites to 401 and 402, which may be taken concurrently; however, BIS 401 is a corequisite or prerequisite for 402. To enroll in BIS 401, a student must apply for the course during the semester before desired enrollment.

ASU EXTENDED CAMPUS - Back to Top

The College of Extended Education was created in 1990 to extend the resources of ASU throughout Maricopa County, the state, and beyond. The College of Extended Education is a university-wide college that oversees the ASU Extended Campus and forms partnerships with other ASU colleges and the Division of Undergraduate Academic Services to meet the instructional and informational needs of a diverse community.

The ASU Extended Campus goes beyond the boundaries of the university’s three physical campuses to provide access to quality academic credit and degree programs for working adults through flexible schedules; a vast network of off-campus sites; classes scheduled days, evenings, and weekends; and innovative delivery technologies including television, the Internet, and Independent Learning. The ASU Extended Campus also offers a variety of professional continuing education and community outreach programs.

For more information, see “ASU Extended Campus” or access the Web site at www.asu.edu/xed.

ADVISING SERVICES - Back to Top

DUAS Academic Advising Services - Back to Top

DUAS Academic Advising Services provides advising for a diverse group of students, including all undeclared or no preference majors, B.I.S. and pre-BIS majors, and students in transition who may be changing majors or transferring to ASU.

Academic advising is a partnership between the student and the advisor. Each has a mutual investment in the advising and its outcome. Good academic advising is the foundation for successfully completing a bachelor’s degree.

Academic advisors assist students in selecting a major by suggesting complementary choices among the offerings in the General Studies curriculum. Advisors also encourage students to explore and identify majors consistent with the students’ interests, values, and goals. Advisors help students understand university academic requirements, policies and procedures.

DUAS Academic Advising Services is located in UASB 129 and can be reached by phone at 480/965-4464. The Web address is www.asu.edu/duas/cas.

Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) - Back to Top

DARS is an online tool that provides students with consistent, accurate information regarding their academic requirements. Through this system, a degree audit is produced that matches a student’s completed courses against degree program requirements. The audit allows students to assess their progress toward their degree or to determine how their earned credits would apply if they were to pursue another degree program. Undergraduate students may obtain a degree audit on the Student Online Services Web site: www.asu.edu/sos. Degree audits are processed hourly.

GENERAL STUDIES - Back to Top

All students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program must satisfy the General Studies requirement. For more information, see “University Graduation Requirements” and “General Studies.”

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