page banner

COSAM » Departments » Student Services » Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Academic Advising:

Q: Who will be my AU COSAM Academic Advisor?

A: Academic Advisors in COSAM are determined by your major and last name, the breakdown is as follows:

All pre-health declared or undeclared majors (all BMSC, UNSM, and pre-health IBIO and MBMB, except Pre-Vet):

Last names A-C:  Ms. Anna Traylor, 239 SCC, amt0042@auburn.edu

Last names D-Hon: Mrs. Anna Allen, 239 SCC, acj0018@auburn.edu

Last names Hoo-Ma: Mrs. Katie Cooper, 239 SCC, khc0009@auburn.edu

Last names Mc-N: Mrs. Meredith Powell, 239 SCC, maj0007@auburn.edu

Last names O-Sa: Mrs. Christia Stein, 239 SCC, cms0191@auburn.edu

Last names Sb-Z: Mrs. Anna Burchett, 239 SCC, amb0052@auburn.edu

All non pre-health BIOL department students (IBIO, CONS, GENE, ECEB, MCCM, MARB, and all Pre-Vet):  Ms. Valerie Tisdale, 101 Rouse, vct0002@auburn.edu

All CHEM, BCHM, LBSC & MLSC majors: Mrs. Meredith Powell, 239 SCC, Maj0007@auburn.edu

All MATH department majors: Mrs. Christia Stein, 239 SCC, cms0191@auburn.edu

All GEOG, GEOL, ESYS, and PHYS majors: Mrs. Katie Cooper, 239 SCC, khc0009@auburn.edu

 

Q: Where can I find my advisor?

A: Pre-health, CHEM, GEOS, MATH, and PHYS advisors are located in 239 Sciences Center Classrooms Building (SCC). We are on the 2nd floor right off the elevator to your left through the double doors. Feel free to stop by anytime Monday-Friday from 7:45-11:45am or 12:45-4:45pm.

The BIOL department advisor is located in 101 Rouse Life Sciences Building.

 

Q: When is it necessary for me to schedule an appointment with my advisor?

A: In general, appointments are not required to see an advisor. Students are welcome to drop in and visit. However, it is possible that your advisor will not be available if you drop in. If it is important that you see an advisor at a specific time or you plan to drive to Auburn for a visit, please call or email an advisor to be sure that time is convenient. For preliminary or final graduation checks, appointments are required. Preliminary checks should be held one year prior to graduation. Graduation checks require careful work to be sure they are accurate. Please give us ample time to ensure that your graduation check is correct. Please use Advise Assist for an appointment.

 

Q: What is a course substitution and why might I need one?

A: A course substitution is a form that is required if you receive permission to deviate from your curriculum model.  It must be completed by your academic advisor and signed by the department head as well as the dean.

 

Q: Do I need a Plan of Study?

A: A plan of study is required for Applied Math and Physics majors.  To obtain a Plan of Study form, you must meet with your academic advisor.

 

Q: What is a Peer Advisor and how can they help me?

A: The COSAM Peer Advisors are a select group of COSAM juniors and seniors that serve the students of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.

 

Q: What forms originate from the COSAM Student Services office?

A:

  • GAP
  • Overload Request
  • Course Substitution

 

Q: How do I find out important deadlines?

A:  You will often be reminded of important deadlines via email, so be sure to check your email on a daily basis. Other important deadlines can be found on the academic calendar each semester.  Some of the most common deadlines are:

  • 5th class day- last day to add classes on your own on AU Access; $100 fee enforcement begins tomorrow for each course you drop and runs through the 15th class day.
  • 15th class day- last day to drop a course with no grade assignment.
  • Final Drop Date (http://www.auburn.edu/main/auweb_calendar.php)- last day to withdraw from a course with no grade penalty. A “W” will be assigned.

 

Prospective Students:

Q: I want to come visit your College and meet with a COSAM Advisor to ask questions. How do I set that up?

A: Please visit aub.ie/visitcosam to make an appointment to set up an information session. You can also arrange a campus tour through Admissions, auburn.edu/admissions.

 

Q: What majors are offered in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM)?

A: A list of majors as well as what courses are required for each major in COSAM can be found on our Curriculum Models page.

 

Q: I have AP/ IB credit, how do I know what course credit I will receive at AU?

A: An Advanced Placement (AP) Credit Table is available here. You can see what credit you will receive according to which test you took and the score you earned.

 

Q: I am interested in taking courses before attending Auburn and/or while attending Auburn, how can I tell what courses will transfer?

A:  A list of transferrable courses can be found on our Transfer Equivalency Table. If you are unable to find the specific institution or course you’d like to take, you should contact your academic advisor based on your last name and major for further help.

 

Q: Can course credit from another institution apply towards my degree at Auburn?

A: Yes, with approval, course credit from another institution can apply towards your degree progress at AU as long as transferred credits do not exceed the following:

  • No more than ½ of your degree can be from a 2-year institution
  • No more than ¾ of your degree can be transfer work
  • No more than ½ of your major courses can be transfer work

 

Pre-Health Program:

Q: If am a pre-health student, what things should I be doing to stay on track and prepare for professional school?

A: The following pre-health information sheets offer helpful tips and timeline information for pre-health students.


Q: I plan to apply for professional school, where can I find out more information about the Pre-Health Program?

A: An abundance of information can be found on the COSAM Pre-Health webpage.  You can also schedule an appointment with your academic advisor or with the Pre-Health Counselor, Mrs. Katy Crider, if you have any additional questions.

 

Q: Is Pre-Med a major?

A: Pre-Med or any of the other “Pre-s”, are concentrations, not majors. You should declare your major by the time you have earned 60 credit hours, and that major (for example, Biomedical Sciences) will be your degree listed on your diploma.

 

Choosing a Major/Minor:

Q: What majors are offered in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM)?

A: A list of majors as well as what courses are required for each major in COSAM can be found on our Curriculum Models page.

 

Q: What minors are offered in the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM)?

A: COSAM offers minors in Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Physics, and Statistics. For the full list of minors and their requirements please see our AU Bulletin.

 

Q: I am interested in a major in COSAM, but what I can do with that major other than professional/graduate school?

A: A list of majors along with employers, employment areas and employment information/strategies can be found through the AU Career Center. They also offer this resource to help with career options for your particular major: “What Can I Do With This Major?”. The career center also offers walk-in hours, appointments, job fairs and more to help you once you attend AU. 

How do I change my major: 

Q: I want to change my major. How do I do that?

A:  In order to change your major to another college, visit aub.ie/majorchange to complete the process.

 

Core Curriculum Requirements:

Q: What courses count as Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences?

A:  A list of acceptable CORE courses is available here.  

 

Transfer Credit/Transient Info:

Q: I am interested in taking courses before attending Auburn and/or while attending Auburn, how can I tell what courses will transfer?

A:  A list of transferrable courses can be found on our Transfer Equivalency Table. If you are unable to find the specific institution or course you’d like to take, you should contact your academic advisor based on your last name and major for further help.

 

Q: Can I take courses at another institution while at AU?

A: Yes, you can take courses at other institutions while at Auburn as long as you complete a transient form on AU Access and do not exceed the following:

  • No more than ½ of your degree can be from a 2-year institution
  • No more than ¾ of your degree can be transfer credit
  • No more than ½ of your major can be transfer work

 

Q: If I have taken credit from another institution, how do I transfer that credit to AU?

A:  In order to receive credit for coursework taken from another institution, YOU must have your official transcript sent from that institution. This is not an automatic process- you must request that it be sent. If you are an undergraduate students at Auburn, please have your transcripts sent to the following address:  Auburn Office of the Registrar, 152 South College St. Auburn, AL 36849. You can also have them emailed to transfer@auburn.edu.If you have not yet attended Auburn as an undergraduate or are an incoming student, please have your transcripts sent to the following address: Office of Admissions, 1550 East Glenn Ave, Suite 1210 Auburn, AL 36849

 

Scholarships/Financial Aid:

Q: Does COSAM offer scholarships?

A: Yes, COSAM does offer scholarships.

 

Q: Who should I talk to about financial aid?

A:  Student Financial Services is located in Mary Martin Hall and they can answer questions regarding Financial Aid.  You can also visit their website.

 

Q: Who do I talk to about my scholarship?

A:  The Office of University Scholarship is located in the Quad Center.  You can also visit their website. If your scholarship is from COSAM, you need to speak with Mr. Will Blakeley, 239 SCC or web0020@auburn.edu.

 

Undergraduate Research:

Undergraduate Research:

Q: How do I obtain undergraduate research experience?

A: Before you delve into undergraduate research, you should figure out what you are interested in. Have you taken a class that sparked your curiosity? Is there a professor whose research sounds fascinating to you? Special topics courses or upper-division seminars can provide insight into an area of research, and may help you connect with possible research mentors. The Office of Undergraduate Research has this helpful website that outlines the process of obtaining undergraduate research opportunities: http://www.auburn.edu/undgres/getstarted.php.

 

Q: Do I have to be an upperclassman to do undergraduate research?

A: Absolutely not! You can start research as early as your freshman year. Start approaching professors asking if you can assist in their labs or on their projects - you might start by performing basic lab techniques or researching articles, but you'll learn how to research early and make valuable connections with possible research mentors.

 

Q: How can I stay informed about research opportunities and events?

A: There are plenty of ways to get involved in research on Auburn University's campus. First, subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated about research opportunities and events. You can also take a research course, reach out to your professors and peers to find a research project, join SGA's Undergraduate Research Board, attend a research event, or apply to become an undergraduate research fellow.

 

Q: What are undergraduate research ambassadors?

A:  Undergraduate Research Ambassadors aim to create an intellectual community on Auburn’s campus by offering students a peer advisor to individually assist them in the process of becoming involved with research. Being students experienced in undergraduate research, the Ambassadors strive to provide each student with advice on getting started in the research process, working with a mentor, writing proposals and abstracts, applying for funding, and making the most out of their research experience. Applications to serve as an Undergraduate Research Ambassador go out each spring.  

 

Q: Must I complete research only in my major or field of interest?

A: No, you do not! There are options outside of COSAM that you may pursue, but be sure to discuss this with your assigned Academic Advisor first.

 

Q: What kind of time commitment will research require?


A: You will be expected to work 2-3 hours per week for every 1 hour of credit.  Generally the hours that you work will be quite flexible.   Those of you in the Biomedical Sciences curriculum are required to take 2 credit hours.

 

Grades/GAP/GPA:

Q: What is the difference between AU GPA, transfer GPA, adjusted GPA, and cumulative GPA?

A: Your AU GPA is determined strictly by courses taken while at AU. Your transfer GPA is determined solely by courses taken outside of AU. An adjusted GPA reflects some type of adjustment, such as a GAP. Your cumulative GPA is combination of both your transfer and your AU GPA.

 

Q: What is the GAP policy?

A:  GAP stands for Grade Adjustment Policy and this adjustment can be used on D, F, WF, or FA grades. You have 3 GAPs available and if you GAP a course that is required for your major, you must repeat it at AU. GAP does not erase a grade from your transcript and is often not accepted by financial aid, scholarship and professional/graduate schools.  See your academic advisor for additional information.

 

Registration:

Q: This is my first semester to register for classes since CWE/SOS, what do I do?

A:  Typically, registration for the summer and fall semester is during April and registration for the spring semester is during November. Each semester, immediately preceding registration, the peer advisors hold a registration workshop to answer any questions you may have about registration and help you with completing your registration worksheet. Specific details are announced via email. Additional information about COSAM registration is available here.

 

Q: How do I add/drop classes?

A: We encourage you to first come directly to our office in room 239 Sciences Center Classrooms Building to speak with a peer advisor for one-on-one help with adding and dropping classes.

 

Q: I want to register for a class, but I’m not sure if I need any other classes before I can take it?

A:  In order to find out prerequisites and corequisites for courses, you must look at the course description for that individual course, which can be found in the university bulletin at auburn.edu/bulletin or http://bulletin.auburn.edu/

 

Q: I’m trying to register for a class, but I keep receiving a pre-requisites/test score error, what does this mean?

A:  Typically this error means that you have not taken/received credit for a course that is a prerequisite or corequisite for the course you are attempting to register for. Check http://bulletin.auburn.edu/ to see if you have the prerequisite/corequisite course(s).  If you have the required course(s), you must call the department that houses the specific course for additional assistance.

 

Q: Who do I talk to about taking more credit hours that I’m allowed for a specific semester?

A:  In order to register for additional credit hours, you must complete a course overload form to be approved by your academic advisor and director of student services. This form is available in 239 Sciences Center Classrooms Building.

 

Q: I am interested in planning my schedule for the next few semesters, but I’m not sure when classes are offered, what do I do?

A: COSAM offers a Long Range Schedule (aub.ie/cosamlrs) that is helpful in planning your sciences and mathematics courses in advance.

 

Academic Help/ Resources:

Q: College is different than I expected and I need some help in my course(s), what are my options?

A: You have a number of options available to you. Meet with your instructor. All instructors offer office hours and will answer questions and provide you with course-related feedback, so take advantage. Individual departments keep a list of private tutors for hire if you are interested as well.  Lastly, Supplemental Instruction(SI), Study Smart, Study Partners and Academic Coachingare all resources available through Academic Support at no additional cost.

 

Q: I am interested in a major in COSAM, but what I can do with that major other than professional/graduate school?

A: A list of majors along with employers, employment areas and employment information/strategies can be found through the AU Career Center. The career center also offers walk-in hours, appointments, job fairs and more to help you once you attend AU. 

 

Q: How do I find out important deadlines?

A:  You will often be reminded of important deadlines via email, so be sure to check your email on a daily basis. Other important deadlines can be found on the academic calendar each semester.  Some of the most common deadlines are:

  • 5th class day- last day to add classes on your own on AU Access; $100 fee enforcement begins tomorrow for each course you drop and runs through the 15th class day
  • 15th class day- last day to drop a course with no grade assignment
  • Final Day to Drop (Auburn Academic Calendar) - last day to withdraw from a course with no grade penalty. A “W” will be assigned.

 

Veteran Educational Benefits:

Q: What do I do to begin receiving my VA Educational Benefits at AU?

A: You will need to meet with a VA School Certifying Official at the Veterans Resource Center(217 Foy) in order to begin the process. Then, contact your academic advisor in order to determine which classes you need.

 

Q: If I am receiving VA Educational Benefits, can I stop by my advisor’s office to have VA paperwork completed?

A: Yes, you can stop by your advisor’s office, but it’s best to leave your paperwork with your advisor to be completed and sent directly to the VA Office.

 

General Campus Info/Helpful Resources:

Q: I need to get in touch with someone on campus, but I don’t know the location or phone number?

A:  People Finder on the Auburn University website is a great resource to find on-campus locations and phone numbers. Common COSAM contacts are available here.

 

Q: How do I find out important deadlines?

A:  You will often be reminded of important deadlines via email, so be sure to check your email on a daily basis. Other important deadlines can be found on the academic calendar each semester.  Some of the most common deadlines are:

  • 5th class day- last day to add classes on your own on AU Access; $100 fee enforcement begins tomorrow for each course you drop and runs through the 15th class day
  • 15th class day- last day to drop a course with no grade assignment
  • Final Day to Drop (Auburn Academic Calendar) - last day to withdraw from a course with no grade penalty. A “W” will be assigned.

 

Q: I’ve seen some abbreviations used, but I’m not sure what they mean?

A:  Below are some of the commonly used abbreviations you will see used by the College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) as well as Auburn University:

 

Forms that originate in COSAM Student Services Office:

  • GAP
  • Overload Request
  • Course Substitution

 

 



Last Updated: 10/22/2021