Department of General and Basic Studies

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Alison Blevins, Director

Academic Advising

Advisors: Albarado, Coleman, Darbeau, Guidry, Welsh

General and Basic Studies provides academic advising to its member students and serves as an initial contact point for first-time freshmen through our Orientation and Peer Leader programs. All first-time freshmen are advised in Basic Studies based on their chosen major, with the exception of freshmen who have chosen to pursue the Associate Degree of Nursing. Additionally, associate and bachelor degrees are offered in General Studies for students who have a broad range of interests and are seeking a diverse curriculum.

Students in General and Basic Studies are given a sound basis for understanding academics as well as general knowledge about the University. Our Basic Studies advisors guide students in major selection and counsel them on matters that may affect their academic progress, especially in regard to University policies and procedures.

Students who have declared a major will be advised by Basic Studies until a minimum of 12 hours and a cumulative 2.0 GPA have been earned. Students with less than a 2.0 GPA will remain in Basic Studies until a maximum of 24 hours is earned. Once 24 hours are earned, students will be transferred to their major department.

Students who have not yet declared a major will be advised in Basic Studies until 24 hours are earned. These students will be coded as “UND” for degree and “BSTU” for major in the student information system and will be advised according to the core curriculum listed in the catalog. It is the responsibility of the student to notify the academic advisor as soon as a major has been selected. Once the advisor has been notified and the major is changed in the student information system, the student will be subject to the regulations of the catalog in effect at that time.

Orientation

Matthew Welsh, Coordinator

Orientation is designed primarily for first-time freshmen and covers programs and policies of the University, which will assist freshmen in adapting to the University environment and in becoming a part of the university community. Orientation is a corequisite for Freshman Foundations 101 (FFND 101), a course designed to assist first-year students in succeeding at the University by developing skills and attitudes necessary to achieve their educational and personal goals. ORIN 101 and FFND 101 form the basis for student success at McNeese State University.

Five Orientation programs are scheduled during the summer for students who will be first-time freshmen in the fall semester. Information and the dates of the five conferences are included with the letter of acceptance to the University. Students must register in advance for the date that they plan to attend Orientation. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Freshmen who register for Orientation are assessed a $30 fee to cover the cost of supplies and lunch.

The Learning Center

Alexis Albarado, Coordinator

The Learning Center is located in Kaufman Hall, Room 329, and is open Monday through Friday. Free academic assistance is offered in various subject areas including Mathematics, English, and some Natural Sciences. Individual tutoring sessions are available on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointments are necessary.

Associate and Bachelor of General Studies

The Associate and Bachelor degrees in General Studies with concentrations in Arts and Humanities, Applied and Natural Sciences and Behavioral Sciences are broad based, interdisciplinary programs that offer students the opportunity to develop critical thinking and cultural awareness through an individualized course of study. Students who wish to pursue either of these degrees concurrently with another degree or as a second degree will not be permitted to apply the major hours from the primary degree to the concentration area in the General Studies curriculum. Coursework used toward a minor can only be applied to free electives and core components of the General Studies curriculum. In addition, no more than 21 hours in a single subject area will be used toward graduation.

Subject Area Blocks

Students pursuing either the Associate or Bachelor degree in General Studies must choose one of the following blocks for the Concentration Area. For the Bachelor degree,the two remaining blocks must be used as Enrichment Areas.

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