Q. What is the School of Theology Academic Advising Office and what role does the academic advisor play in my life at Fuller?
A. The Theology Academic Advising Office is staffed by professional advisors, all of whom have studied in the School of Theology. The advisors assist SOT students in the selection and structuring of master-level degree programs, while taking into account the personal, vocational and academic interests of each student. The advisors also facilitate students' progress toward degree completion by clarifying academic policies, coordinating waiver exams, processing transfer credit, and offering personal support for the duration of the student’s time at Fuller.
Q. How do I find out who my academic advisor is?
A. Please call the Advising Office at (626) 584-5425 or check the Advisor List binder in the Advising Office.
Q. What are ECD’s and where can I find them?
A. ECD’s are Expanded Course Descriptions written by the professor for the class he or she is teaching. It will give you an overview of the course expectations, required reading, and assignments. These become available around the 5th week of each quarter for the upcoming quarter. Hardcopies of the ECD's are available in the Advising Office and the library. ECD's are also available on the Seminary's web site. Use these links to view or print ECD's:
School of Theology ECD's, School of Intercultural Studies ECD's,
School of Psychology ECD's.
Q. How do I register for classes?
A. Begin by making an appointment with your advisor in the 5th week of the quarter. Refer to the
Student Handbook for further information on registration.
Q. How is my registration priority time determined?
A. This is determined by the number of units you have completed. See the
registration policies section in the Student Handbook for details.
Q. Do I need to do a Field Education internship for my degree?
A. Two Field Education internships are required for the M.Div. degree. An
internship can be done as an elective for the MAT
degree. The MACL degree requires two practica which can be done through
the Field Education office. Visit the Field Education Website or contact the Field Education office at 626-584-5377,
or at fielded@fuller.edu, for details.
Q. How many classes can I take on a pass/fail basis?
A. Please see the
pass/fail policy in the Student Handbook for a description of Fuller’s pass/fail policy, or ask your advisor.
Q. How long do I have to drop or add a class for the quarter or to change the grading status of my courses?
A. See the Academic Calendar for deadlines.
Q. Will changing my courses impact my financial aid award?
A. When making a change to your schedule that reduces or increases your overall number of units, please check with the
Financial Aid Office to determine the impact on your financial aid award.
Q. I need more time beyond the end of the quarter to finish my course work. What should I do?
A. Refer to the
Student Handbook, which describe under what circumstances and deadlines a student may apply for an Incomplete. Request
for Incomplete forms are available
online
or in the Academic Advising Office.
Q. I had an emergency that has either prevented me from registering/adding classes on time or from dropping a class within the stated deadlines. OR I had something else happen that impacts my studies and I’m not sure what to do—HELP!
A. In the event of any situation which has a negative impact on your studies, please make an appointment with your academic advisor as soon as possible. We can do more to help the sooner we are made aware of your circumstances! Please see the Student Handbook for a description of Fuller’s
petitioning process.
Q. What if I have a chronic illness or disability that negatively impacts my studies?
A. If you have a disability and wish to request academic accommodation, please
contact Access Services to discuss medical verification and recommendations for accommodation of your disability. When your request for accommodation has been approved, a quarterly academic accommodation plan may be developed in consultation with your academic advisor.
Q. I would like to take a couple of quarters off from my studies. What do I need to do?
A. You may take an extended absence of 8 consecutive quarters before needing to apply for reinstatement. Please the
Student Handbook for details. If you are currently receiving financial aid or if you have received financial aid in the past, you should consult with the
Financial Aid Office to determine how/if this will impact you.
Q. What other class options are available at Fuller?
A. Students may take Directed Studies (see the
Student Handbook for details by scrolling down to the Directed (Independent)
Studies description AND talk with your academic advisor). Students may also take
Individualized Distance Learning courses and
Fuller Online courses.
Please contact your academic advisor for details and limits on these types of courses.
Q. I want to change from one degree to another. What should I do?
A. Talk to your academic advisor and request a Program Status Change form.
Q. I took courses at another seminary that I would like to have evaluated for transfer credit. What should I do?
A. Requests for transfer of credit for approved graduate studies done at an institution accredited by
The Association of Theological Schools or a recognized regional or international accrediting agency will be evaluated on an individual basis by the Academic Advising Office. There are a number of factors to consider for transfer credit. If you would like your transcripts evaluated, have them sent to the attention of your academic advisor and bring a catalog or another form of course description to your advisor for the courses you want evaluated.
