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Undergraduate Advising

For general questions, please first contact the Graduate and Undergraduate Administrator, Natalie Swabb 412-648-2400

The director of undergraduate advising for History of Art and Architecture and Architectural Studies majors as well as students pursuing the Preservation Minor is Dr. Gretchen Bender, 219 Frick Fine Arts

New majors should contact Natalie Swabb immediately so they can be included in all departmental correspondence, gain access to the courseweb site that is used for advising purposes,  and to determine when orientation sessions are being held.

Students can set up an individual advising appointment with Gretchen Bender here.

Advising – Who to See:

Individual Advising

It is important for all majors to meet individually Dr. Bender at least once every semester. Schedule these appointments early as they fill up quickly!  At these meetings, she is available to discuss the following, and more:

  • longer term (multiple semester) academic plans
  • setting individual academic and professional goals
  • independent research and honors thesis projects
  • academic assistance and difficulties
  • research opportunities
  • internship opportunities
  • Univeristy Honors College opportunities
  • developing your resume
  • studying abroad
  • preparation for graduate school and professional work
    • how to prepare over several semesters to be a good candidate
    • how to find programs that are a good fit
    • drafting a statement of purpose or cover letter
    • seeking letters of recommendation and references
    • portfolio development, when applicable
  • questions and concerns about the  undergraduate curriculum in the department and the two programs (HAA and Architectural Studies)
  • NOTE: all students must also work closely with the career services office, early!

General Advising Questions:

Natalie Swabb, in the main HAA office, room 104, is available to answer general questions on an as needed/walk-in basis (412-648-2400, njs21@pitt.edu):

  • How to have advising holds lifted
  • How to set up an individual advising appointment
  • When to attend a group advising session
  • Assistance with using the departmental advising community site in Courseweb/Blackboard
  • Major requirement clarification and updating your checklist
  • General procedures for getting internship credit
  • Obtaining permission numbers for restricted HAA courses
  • How to use departmental and university web resources to get the information you need

The Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Dean’s Office – Student Records, 140 Thackeray, 412-624-6480 or 412-624-6776, or walk-in:

  • Processing withdraw forms – please note semester deadlines for this!
  • Processing Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education (PCHE) paperwork to take courses at other area universities and colleges during the academic year
  • Changing your anticipated graduation date in peoplesoft
  • Questions about processing incoming transfer credit from prior universities or colleges, or from courses taken elsewhere over the summer or during study abroad
  • Assistance with “best fit” – how to apply courses students have taken toward certain general education requirements
  • Confirmation, as students approach graduation, that their general education requirements are satisfied
  • How to determine how many non-Arts and Sciences credits are and can be applied toward the minimum needed for graduation
  • Assistance with the graduation application.  Note – each student who seeks to graduate must complete a graduation application in the prior semester by the set deadline!  

When to see an Assistant or Associate Dean

ALL DECLARED MAJORS SHOULD CONSULT THE DEPARTMENTAL ADVISING ORGANIZATION SITE IN COURSEWEB/BLACKBOARD FOR UPDATED NEWS, INFORMATION, AND ALL NEEDED RESOURCES PERTAINING TO ADVISING.  On courseweb.pitt.edu, go to “Organizations” and then click on “ARTSC DEPT ADVISING ORG HAA”). New majors should contact Natalie Swabb in the main HAA office (room 104, 412-648-2400) to make sure they have access to this site.