The Department of Criminology has moved to a cohort-based approach to advising. Please refer to the Academic Progress tab in PAWS to identify your advisor. All criminology students are encouraged to meet each semester with their advisor. You will receive instructions from your advisor on how to schedule an advising appointment. Prior to attending your meeting with your advisor, you are required to have your shopping cart populated with your course selections for the upcoming semester.
Academic Advisement
Your academic advisor plays an important role in designing and realizing an enriching college experience that will prepare you for life’s opportunities and challenges. From experience and training, faculty members know of the best learning opportunities on- and off-campus, how to combine The College’s signature experiences into your program of study, and various rules and procedures of The College.
Preparing for an advising session
Prior to meeting with your assigned advisor:
- View your enrollment appointment in PAWS
- Run your Academic Requirement Report on PAWS
- Search for classes and fill your PAWS shopping cart. You can view Criminology course descriptions in PAWS or here.
- Use the validate feature to check for prerequisite issues.
- Prepare a plan for all of your remaining semesters at TCNJ
- Check the major and minor requirements in the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Consider asking questions about issues beyond the semester, such as adding an academic program or plans after graduation. Make a plan of what courses you would like to take in all of your remaining semesters at TCNJ, trying to work in enriching opportunities such as study abroad, the Washington Center, a second major, minors or internships. The most rewarding earning experiences require some planning. For guidance on how to prepare better for your advisement session and plan your academic career, see the “Advising” links on the School of Humanities & Social Sciences website.
When you place courses in your PAWS shopping cart, be sure to hit the “validate” button to make sure you have met all prerequisites. Plan alternatives for major courses, College Core courses, and electives so that you can register quickly. If you are thinking about adding a concentration, double major, or a minor, run a “What If” report in PAWS. The report will show your academic requirements as if you formally added the concentration/major/minor. It is a very useful tool!
Recommended course sequences for first, second, third, and fourth-year students also may be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin and on the Criminology website.
Holds on your account
Please check and clear all holds on PAWS well in advance of your registration window and frequently. Holds will keep you from registering for next semester’s courses! There are several different types of holds and some might require time to clear. Your advisor can only lift advising holds after you have attended an advising meeting.
Transfer credit
Make sure any and all transfer and test credit is on your PAWS unofficial transcript or transfer credit pages, as this will affect your registration window, course selection, and the advice that you receive for academic planning. Do not miss your first available registration appointment window on PAWS, as you may be closed out of your preferred courses.
Closed Classes and Waitlist
If the course that you are attempting to enroll in is at its full capacity, you may request to be waitlisted. Records and Registration provides full instructions on their website.
Add/Drop deadline
Remember that the Add/Drop deadline comes quickly in the semester. After the deadline has passed, you can withdraw from a course but your transcript will show a grade of “W,” or a “WF” if you withdraw later in the semester. For more information on registration deadlines, see the Academic Calendar. Information on all TCNJ policies can be found in the “Policy Manual” on the Records and Registration website.
Overload requests
Did you know that students can take 5 classes a semester if they meet eligibility criteria and students can overload more than once?
The standard semester academic load at TCNJ is 4 units per semester but students may take up to 4.5 units without permission. If you wish to take more than 4.5 units, please note the following conditions:
- There is no limit to the number of overload semesters.
- Students who have earned 8 units at the college and maintain a 3.3 cumulative TCNJ GPA may request an overload for a maximum of 5 course units.
- First-year students, with less than 8 TCNJ earned units, may apply for an overload to take an intensive language after than have a TCNJ GPA. Transfer students need to wait until they have a TCNJ GPA before applying to overload.
- You must have been at TCNJ for at least a full academic semester.
- We do not approve overloads for the Winter Term or the Mini-Summer Term. Also, be careful of transfer credit, you cannot take one TCNJ Winter class and one community college winter class as this would require overload permission.
- Complete the Overload Interest Form to apply.