Advising

Academic advising is an essential part of the student experience at Towson University. Read more to learn about the advising resources available for pre-nursing and nursing students.

The Department of Nursing provides academic advising for pre-nursing and nursing students. Every student has access to a dedicated staff or faculty advisor. This page provides an overview of the protocol for advising assignments, role of the advisor, and degree completion planning resources for all pre-nursing or nursing students.

All incoming first-year students will be assigned to an advisor as part of the First Year Experience (FYE) program. All other pre-nursing and nursing students are assigned to a major advisor. Your major advisor will be a staff or faculty member of the Department of Nursing. Read more to learn how your major advisor will be assigned based upon your program standing (pre-nursing or admitted to the major) and where you are in your academic career.

Pre-Nursing Advising

The advisor assignment for pre-nursing students depends on whether you are a new or continuing student and how you have selected your pre-nursing major. All students are assigned an advisor in their first term at TU. Advisor assignments do not change unless you've completed the FYE program, changed your major, or are admitted to the nursing program. 

After the FYE program, all pre-nursing students are advised by our academic advising specialist for pre-nursing. If admitted to the major, you will be re-assigned to a faculty or staff advisor based on your major option (basic/pre-licensure or degree completion).

Pre-Nursing Advisor Assignments

All new freshman students are paired with an FYE advisor for their entire first year. While FYE advisors are assigned according to your initial major, all FYE advisors are trained to provide accurate advisement and guidance based on a student's academic requirements and university policies. The FYE program and advisor assignments are overseen by the Academic Advising, Retention, and Completion (AARC) Office. The Department of Nursing cannot make any changes to a student's FYE advisor assignment if they change their major to pre-nursing during their first year.

New students transferring to the university must attend Transfer Student Orientation prior being assigned an advisor. During orientation, you will meet with a Department of Nursing faculty or staff advisor to build your schedule for the first term. After attending transfer orientation, you will be assigned to our academic advising specialist for pre-nursing students.

Students with a bachelor's degree in another field who still need to complete prerequisites for nursing admission may be eligible to enroll as a second bachelor's pre-nursing student. If you are considering this option, please review the University Admissions information about second bachelor's programs and policies before applying.

When you enroll as a second bachelor's pre-nursing student, University Admissions will notify the department of your enrollment and send your transcripts for review. You will be assigned to our academic advising specialist within 1-2 weeks of your enrollment and transcript review.

The Department of Nursing is notified by Records & Registration when a student declares pre-nursing as their major. If you change your major to pre-nursing or add it as a second major, your advisor assignment will be updated within a week.

This does not apply to students in the FYE program.

Students who are returning to the university after a break in attendance must reenroll before they can be assigned an advisor. Once the Reenrollment Office processes your reenrollment application, you must contact the department to request an advisor. To request an advisor after reenrolling, contact the department at ; you must provide your TU ID number in the email.

Nursing Major Advising

Students admitted to the nursing major are assigned to a nursing major advisor at the start of your first term. Advisor assignments will vary by major option. Nursing advisors are assigned within the first two weeks of classes. Your advisor assignment typically remains the same throughout the major.

Nursing Major Advisor Assignments

All students in the basic/pre-licensure major option are advised by a nursing faculty member. Students will be assigned to their faculty advisor based on their campus of attendance (main TU campus or USM Hagerstown Center).

Students in the Associate-to-Bachelor's (ATB) or Registered Nurse to Bachelor's of Science (RN-BS) degree completion option are advised by professional advising staff within the Department of Nursing. Advisor assignments will vary depending on a student's degree completion option (ATB or RN-BS) and the partner community college for ATB students.

Advising & Registration

Advising Holds

Students are required to meet with their assigned advisor each term prior to registering for their next term's courses. Academic advising holds are applied by the AARC Office each fall and spring. These holds block students from registration and students will not be able to register for courses until they meet with their advisor.

Course Permissions

Registration in any nursing course requires department permission. Nursing course permissions are assigned by the department. Students should refer to the Student Handbook for the registration procedures for basic/pre-licensure or degree completion option students. Handbooks ca be found in the program's Blackboard community sites.

Degree Completion Plan

Academic advisors also help students complete and file their Degree Completion Plan (DCP). A DCP is required for all students with a total of 45 earned units or more (including transfer credits). The DCP provides students with a road map to graduation while taking into account their individual needs and recommended/required course sequences.

DCP Resources for Basic/Pre-licensure Students:

DCP Resources for Degree Completion Option Students

Students in the ATB or RN-BS options will collaborate with their advisor to complete and file a DCP form unique to their plan of study.