Online campus frequently asked questions | School of Politics and Global Studies

General questions:

New and prospective students:

Transfer students:

Academic success and concerns:

Other questions:

Where can I find the cost for and information on ASU’s tuition and fees?
Where can I find information on obtaining financial aid? Do advisors help with that too?

General questions:

Q: How do I make an appointment with an academic advisor? (top)

A: If you are an admitted political science major, you can schedule an advising appointment online through your MyASU page. Please go to “Academic Support Team” and click on the “Academic Advising” link. Then click on “Schedule an Advisor Appointment” in the popup window. Just follow the instructions and answer the questions. You’ll be able to select the appointment day and time most convenient for you from those available over the next two weeks. Most online students are advised by phone. You will call 480-965-8563 on your appointment day and time.

All appointments are shown based on “Arizona time,” i.e., Mountain Standard Time. Arizona does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

You will receive a confirmation number and your advising appointment will be shown on your MyASU page as a reminder.

If you are a prospective student or a current ASU student in a different major, you can access the online appointment scheduling system here. If you have trouble accessing the electronic scheduling system, please call 480-965-8563. If no one answers, please leave a message and we will call you back. Appointments cannot be made via e-mail.

Q: How should I prepare for my advising appointment?(top)

A: Please have access to the Internet during your appointment. If you have transfer work from out-of-state or private institutions, make sure that your coursework has been evaluated (http://asu.edu/transfercredit). You should review your Degree Audit Report (DARS) prior to the appointment and write down any questions you have for your advisor. Please have the DARS and your My ASU web page pulled up on your computer when you call.

Once an appointment has been made, please review the appointment on your MyASU page and pay special attention to the Details link.
If you must cancel your appointment you may do so using the Advising Appointment Details link on your MyASU.

Q: What is DARS, and how do I access it?(top)

A: DARS stands for Degree Audit Reporting System and is an online curriculum checklist that allows you to track your progress toward degree completion. For instructions on how to request and read a full DARS report, please see the following instructions. We also suggest that you review the following page concerning your degree audit.

Q: I’ve been able to access my DARS report, but I’m not sure I understand it. What should I do?(top)

A: Please schedule an appointment with an academic advisor. Your advisor will go over the report in detail and address your questions and concerns. If your transfer courses display in the electives category at the bottom of the report, it may mean that you have not yet had your coursework evaluated for General Studies. Your advisor may recommend that you submit some of your transfer courses for evaluation to the ASU Transfer Credit Guide: http://asu.edu/transfercredit.

Q: What is Political Science?(top)

A: Political science is the study of how citizens interact with their governments and how governments at all levels formulate policies to serve their citizens. The major offers a variety of courses and opportunities to study politics and policies at the local, national and global levels. The major aims to provide students with the tools and skills necessary to link theory with real-world problems and issues.

Q: What courses do I need to take as a Political Science major?(top)

A. All Political Science students must complete (SEE DARS for specific course options):

One course in American Politics and Public Policy
One course in either Comparative Politics or International Relations
One course in Political Theory
One course in Political Research Methods
BS students must also complete one course in Political Statistics
BA and BS students are required to complete political science electives. Students should choose these electives in consultation with an advisor.
BA and BS students are required to complete political science electives. Students should choose these electives in consultation with an advisor.

New and prospective students:

Q: I’ve been admitted to the Online Political Science degree program. What is my next step?(top)

A: If you are a transfer student with coursework from non-Arizona institutions or private colleges within Arizona your advisor will review your transfer credits with you and may recommend that you request an evaluation of some of your courses through the Transfer Credit Guide at https://transfer.asu.edu/credits. You will be contacted by e-mail when the evaluation is complete. You may make an advising appointment on your MyASU page via the Advising link in the My Programs and eAdvisor section.

If you are a first time freshman, or if all of your transfer coursework is from public institutions in Arizona, your next step is to set up an appointment with an academic advisor. Your advisor will review your transfer credits with you and explain how the credits apply to your ASU degree.

Q: What is the difference between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Political Science?(top)

A: The curriculum differences are:

All Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees offered by ASU’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences require intermediate proficiency in a non-English language. Intermediate proficiency can be demonstrated by completing the fourth semester level language (the 202 class for most, but not all, languages) course with a grade of C or better, or by exam.

If you already have some amount of proficiency in a language and wish to continue with that language, you may need fewer than four courses to fulfill the requirement. ASU offers online placement exams for French, German and Spanish here. These exams are used to determine your current level of knowledge in the language and do not award any credit. Rather, they inform you as to the level of language in which you will be the most successful.

Bachelor of Science (BS) majors are not required to take a language. Instead they must take four other courses not required for the BA degree. These courses are: POS 401 Political Statistics, an extra POS upper division elective, and two Science and Society courses. Please see this link for information on the science and society requirement: https://clas.asu.edu/resources/science-society.

The website is important in that it 1) lists potential courses each semester that fulfill the requirement; 2) explains when classes may double count and; 3) indicates the specific criteria for selecting courses that meet the requirement (pay particular attention to Learning Goals.)

Q: How do I take the math placement exam?(top)

A: If you already have a transfer course that fulfills the mathematics requirement for graduation, you do not need to take the placement exam. The online math placement exam is available here:https://students.asu.edu/math. Please consider taking the practice test to prepare for the placement test. Your scores will take 72 hours to process in the computer system, and after that time, you will be able to enroll in the appropriate math course based on your score. Note that your placement exam score will expire after one calendar year.

Students who want to enroll in MAT 270 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I must earn appropriate scores on both the regular math placement test and the advanced placement test.

Q: How do I take the language placement test?(top)

A: Students who want to take French and Spanish language courses should take the online language placement exam to determine which course in the sequence is appropriate for the student’s level of knowledge. We recommend students take a screen shot of their results should they need additional assistance in determining language placement. Students who have questions about their placement or their results should contact the School of International Letters and Culture.

Q: What about placement for first year composition (English)?(top)

A: If you already have transfer work that has been accepted toward the first year composition requirement, you do not need to submit placement scores. ACT or SAT scores are used for placement in first year composition courses. If you have not taken the ACT or SAT, and still need to take first year composition courses, you will need to take the ACCUPLACER exam. For more information on ACCUPLACER, including how to take the exam locally, please see https://uoeee.asu.edu/exam/accuplacer.

Q: Can I pursue a minor along with my degree? What about a double major? How do I declare a minor or a second major?(top)

A: Yes, you may pursue a minor and/or a concurrent degree (double major), so long as the minor or second major is also available through ASU Online. To declare the minor, you need to set up an appointment with an advisor in the unit offering the minor. For concurrent degrees, you need to have appointments with advisors from both degrees and submit a petition to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (this petition can be submitted electronically). You must have earned at least 30 semester hours before declaring a concurrent degree. You must also have an ASU GPA that places you in good academic standing. Please review the Concurrent Degree Checklist.

Q: Which minors are available through ASU Online?(top)

A: A list of all available online minors can be found online at the following website:https://webapp4.asu.edu/programs/t5/MinorsCertificates/undergrad/true?init=false&nopassive=true. Once at this page, just click on the link that says “Online”. ASU Online is growing rapidly, so additional minors may be available in the near future. By clicking on individual minors it is possible to see requirements for the minor and how to contact an advisor for the program.

Q: Which concurrent degrees are available through ASU Online?(top)

A: A full list of undergraduate degrees offered by ASU Online is available here:http://asuonline.asu.edu/degree-programs/undergraduate.

Transfer students:

Q: How did my previous coursework transfer to ASU?(top)

A: If you are a transfer student with coursework from non-Arizona institutions or private colleges within Arizona your advisor will review your transfer credits with you and may recommend that you request an evaluation of some of your courses through the Transfer Credit Guide at http://asu.edu/transfercredit. You will be contacted by e-mail when the evaluation is complete. You may make an advising appointment on your MyASU page via the Advising link in the My Programs and eAdvisor section .

All Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and CLEP official exam scores as well as transcripts showing dual enrollment and other college credits must be mailed to:
Undergraduate Admissions, Arizona State University PO Box 870112, Tempe, AZ 85287-0112

ASU students changing their major to or adding a concurrent degree in Global Studies or Political Science will have their transfer credits reviewed by an advisor.

Q: I need course descriptions and/or syllabi in order to have my transfer courses evaluated. Where can I find them?(top)

A: Course descriptions can generally be found on the website of the institution that offered the course. Search for a course catalog on the site, and look for course descriptions within the catalog. Alternatively, there is a web site called College Source Online (http://www.collegesource.org/) that has catalogs for most universities within the United States.

If you did not save the syllabi from your previous courses, you can often get them by contacting your previous professors and/or the department that offered the course. Quite often academic departments store syllabi for the courses they offer for several years. You can locate contact information for professors and departments on the web site of your previous institution(s).

Academic Success and Concerns:

Q: How many classes should I take at a time?(top)

A: This depends on your individual circumstances and on how much time you will be able to devote to coursework each week. Most ASU Online courses are offered in a 7.5-week format. These courses are fast-paced and intensive, covering the same material traditionally covered in a 15-week semester. You complete courses quickly, but you take fewer at a time. Political Science courses require extensive reading and writing, so most students find that these courses demand a significant time investment. In general, political science courses in the 7.5-week sessions require you to spend about 6 hours per credit hour per week on coursework. If you are enrolled in one political science course (3 credits), expect to devote about 18 hours per week to coursework. If you are enrolled in two political science courses, expect to spend about 36 hours per week on coursework. You can register for a maximum of 9 credit hours in each 7.5-week session (sessions A and B) and up to 18 hours over the entire semester (a combination of sessions A, B, and C). Courses in session C span 15 weeks. ASU Online offers very few courses in session C (primarily French and Italian language courses). The 15-week courses require a time investment of about 3 hours per credit hour each week. One course (3 credits) in session C will require about 9 hours of time per week.

Summer A and B sessions are only 6 weeks long. The maximum number of hours students may enroll in for summer semester is 14 semester hours with no more than 7 hours in session A and 7 hours in session B.

Q: What about textbooks?(top)

A: You can order your textbooks online through the ASU Bookstore. To determine which books are required for your courses, go to the “My Classes” box on MyASU and click on the link for “Books.” If you see the message, “No books are listed for this class,” you should contact your professor by e-mail to clarify the materials needed since this link is not always up to date. You can view your professor’s contact information in the “My Classes” box on MyASU. Most professors give assignments from the books right away, so please obtain your materials prior to the course start date.

Q: I am on academic probation and I have a registration hold for advising. How should I proceed?(top)

A: If your GPA places you below “good academic standing,” as defined by Arizona State University and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, you will be placed on academic probation and will have a hold on your account for mandatory advising. You must make an appointment and talk with an academic advisor before the hold will be removed. Prior to your appointment, you are required to complete the online Pre-Appointment Probation Homework: https://clas.asu.edu/advising-and-academic-services/disqualification-and-probation. Your advisor will assist you with strategies for academic success and together you will formulate a plan to return to good academic standing. This mandatory advising requirement must be completed each term until you reach good academic standing.

Q: When taking online classes, are there time management tips to set myself up for academic success?(top)

Avoid Time Management Mistakes as an Online Student
Online learning may be convenient, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Time management can be a big challenge for many online students. Online students can set themselves up for success by dodging the following common time management pitfalls.

Mistake 1: Keeping Family Out of the Loop
Before starting an online program, students should sit down with their family and explain that they will need time and space to do their school work – and maybe even a little help with chores, Jennifer Fraone, associate director of marketing and communications at the Boston College Center for Work and Family, told U.S. News.

Mistake 2: Not Sticking to a Schedule
Online students who don't designate specific times to do their school work – be it at night, during the morning or over the weekend – are setting themselves up for failure, experts say. Online students need structure, and a study calendar is a great way to create it, Christina Robinson Grochett, who at the time served as University of Phoenix's territory vice president for the Gulf Coast, told U.S. News for a 2012 article.

Mistake 3: Waiting Until the Last Minute
Waiting until the last moment to start a project or assignment is one of the biggest time management no-no's, experts say. The same goes for reaching out to instructors. "Don't wait until after 10 p.m. at night to send your teacher an email," said Twitter user Dr. T (Ph.D.)

Mistake 4: Wasting Time Online
One way to maximize your time is to only keep necessary tabs open while you're on the computer, @PenroseTutoring told U.S. News via Twitter. In other words, the more time students spend on Facebook or shopping online, the less time they spend getting work done.

Mistake 5: Not Logging into Class Often
Although it can be tempting to go days without logging in to class, doing so can help keep you on track. Checking into class daily makes school feel less overwhelming, and it prevents students from missing syllabus changes, Tamara Popovich told U.S. News for a 2012 article, when she was associate director of student services for ASU Online.

Mistake 6: Keeping Quiet When Behind
At some point in your online education, the odds are something will happen in your personal or work life that will put you behind in school. When this happens, students should tell their online instructors, who are often willing to work with students with scheduling problems, Sonya Raikar told U.S. News while pursuing an online Master of Public Health at George Washington University.

Mistake 7: Failing to Maximize Extra Time
Online students balancing work, family and school commitments should seize every moment to get ahead with their studies, experts say. It's a mistake not to see time spent waiting for the doctor or waiting in the car for kids as study opportunities.

Mistake 8: Working in a Distracting Environment
Online students should try to limit distractions so they can spend more time on their studies, experts say. That means finding a quiet, isolated place to do work.

Mistake 9: Not Writing Down Due Dates
One of the keys to being a successful online student is to keep a calendar with all deadlines, experts say. Patsy Deyo, who received her online Master of Science in nursing at George Washington University, told U.S. News being organized will help you stay on task.

Mistake 10: Not Prioritizing Your School Work
Although it's tempting to work out or spend time with friends, online courses should be a priority when students have free time, experts say. Mandee Parker, who took an online statistics course at Graduate School USA, told U.S. News she would place her books in key places around the house to make sure her school work was a No. 1 concern.

Tips by Devon Haynie, US News and World Report

Need a little extra help this session? (top)

Work with an academic mentor to stay or get back on track. Click here for instructions on how to schedule an appointment.

Other questions:

Q: Where can I find the cost for and information on ASU’s tuition and fees?(top)

A: Information on ASU’s tuition and billing policies can be found on this website:https://students.asu.edu/tuitionandbilling. There is a link on the left hand side of the page called “Tuition and Fees Schedules” that links to information on tuition amounts.

Q: Where can I find information on obtaining financial aid? Do advisors help with that too?(top)

A: Academic Advisors do not directly deal with financial questions. Contact information for Student Financial Assistance can be found at this website: https://students.asu.edu/contact/financialaid.