Undergraduate Advising
All new majors are urged to contact Gretchen Bender for an individual appointment.
For general advising questions please contact:
Natalie Swabb
Secretary of Undergraduate & Graduate Studies
Department of History of Art and Architecture
Frick Fine Arts 104
412-648-2400
The director of undergraduate advising
for all history of art and architecture and architectural studies majors as well as students pursuing the Historic Preservation Certificate is:
Dr. Gretchen Bender
Department of History of Art and Architecture
Frick Fine Arts 219
412-648-2394
Appointments
Group Advising appointments are conducted every fall and spring semester, beginning around the third week of the term. All majors are encouraged to reserve a seat for themselves in one of these group, pre-registration advising sessions. Students should print out a copy of their transcript and bring it to the meeting. (Click here for instructions on how to print out your transcript.) In these meetings, departmental and University requirements, new course offerings, and registration information and procedures are discussed. Individual checklists are provided to each major which detail how each student is progressing towards the completion of University and major requirements. In addition, students are encouraged to ask questions regarding internships, the honors major, study abroad opportunities, graduate schools, and career plans. A sign-up sheet will be available in the main office, room 104 Frick Fine Arts, in the early weeks of the fall and spring terms. It is very important that you keep your advising appointment and that you come prepared for each meeting. Please give at least 24 hours' notice if you must cancel a meeting! Call 412-648-2394, or leave a message at 412-648-2400. Your registration form can be processed only after you've already attended a group preregistration appointment.
Course registration
Following the preregistration group appointment, students should have the information necessary to complete their registration forms. Registration forms will be distributed at the group advising sessions. You have two options regarding course registration:
- You can acquire Gretchen Bender’s signature on a registration form at a group advising meeting and then take the form yourself to Thackeray for processing once registration begins, OR
- You can leave your completed form (including your signature and Peoplesoft ID number, all CRN #s for the courses you wish to take and their times, locations, and alternate courses) with Emily Lilly in FFA 104. Registration forms are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Please include contact information—a phone number or e-mail address—on your registration form! Completed registration forms can be turned in as soon as the course schedules are posted on the main Peoplesoft website. To search for classes, students should visit “View Schedule of Classes” on the my.pitt.edu website. For course descriptions, visit the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate page.
For more information on how to register click here.
Adding/Dropping a course
If you need to make a change to your schedule after initial registration, you must come to 104 Frick Fine Arts in person and speak with Natalie Swabb.. Natalie will process add/drop requests for majors. If you are unable to come to 104 Frick, you must go to Thackeray and fill out and process their add/drop forms with the main University registrar’s office.
Other resources
Keep in mind that the undergraduate advisor is principally a resource for you. Please feel free to visit if you have more general questions or concerns you wish to discuss. (The undergraduate advisor does not exist solely to help you register for courses.) Your advisor is happy to discuss career and departmental concerns with you as well as provide general academic advice and assistance. Your advisor can also provide you with information and advice regarding:
• Internships
• Study abroad opportunities
• Departmental honors and awards
• Career development
• Graduate school applications
To set up an individual meeting, contact Gretchen Bender at ghb1@pitt.edu.
General advising information
- Full-time study is considered enrollment for 12 to 18 credits per term. Students in Arts and Sciences may not exceed the 18-credit limit without written permission from the dean of Arts and Sciences.
- All students must complete a “Related Area” requirement by pursuing a second major, a minor, completing a certificate program, or at least earning 12 credits in a discernible grouping outside your major field.
- Each student can take up to one course per term at an affiliated Pittsburgh Council for Higher Education (PCHE) institution. This includes Carlow College, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham College, Community College of Allegheny County, Duquesne University, LaRoche College, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Point Park College, and Robert Morris University. Note: you must be enrolled full time at Pitt to cross-register at another institution. Also, if you are in the final term of your senior year, it may not be advisable to enroll through PCHE so as to avoid delays as graduation nears. See your advisor if you want to consider this option.
- Majors in both history of art and architecture and architectural studies are encouraged to consider studying abroad and pursue coursework in foreign languages.
- No more than 60 credits can be taken in courses in any one department.
- A student may take no more than 18 credits of the 120 required for graduation outside of Arts and Sciences.
- A graduation application must be filled out in the A&S office, 140 Thackeray, by the end of the term prior to the term in which the student intends to graduate (i.e., if you intend to graduate in the spring, you must fill out this application by the end of the fall term). Contact Gretchen Bender for specific dates regarding this deadline if you plan to graduate soon!