MA Students Major Professor and Advisory Committee Students will be assigned a temporary advisor for their first year of study. By the first day of Spring Break of the first year of the M.A. program all MA students must select a Major Professor. In consultation with the Major Professor, the student will form a committee of at least two other graduate faculty members. Ph.D.students Major Professor and Advisory Committee Students will be assigned a temporary advisor for their first year of study. By the first day of Fall Break of the second year of the Ph.D. program, all Ph.D. students Advisory committees are responsible for planning and approving a student's program of studies in collaboration with the student. They advise on crucial research skills and other requirements, oversee the doctoral portfolio and oral exams, approve dissertation topics, review the completed dissertation, and sanction the student's defense of their research. Course Registration deadlines Advising Forms You will be permitted to register after your temporary or official advisor has signed the yellow advisement form and you have submitted it to the Graduate Coordinator Assistant. Yellow advisement forms can be obtained in the main office. After you are cleared to register by the Graduate Coordinator Assistant and Academic Advisor, you will then register online, using Athena. It is important to remember that getting advising slips, making an appointment with your advisor, and registering are all your responsibility. Graduate students must register for at least 3 credit hours for two of the three semesters during the academic year, with some exceptions for some UGA employees. If you cannot enroll for two of the three semesters, you should seek a leave of absence. You are strongly encouraged to meet with your temporary or official advisor early to plan courses to register for in a subsequent semester. If you do not turn in your registration forms by these deadlines, revisions to your teaching schedule based on conflict due to your desired courses will no be possible. In-department seminars and courses are generally determined at least a semester in advance; sometimes schedule adjustments will occur the semester before the course is offered. As for out-of-the department seminars, the best way to shop for them is by using Athena. You may also want to check the UGA Syllabus System to locate sample syllabi. Please contact the Academic Advisor/Undergraduate Coordinate Assistant if you need to register for a seminar on a Wednesday or a Friday that conflicts with the Monday colloquium time. Advising Form Deadlines Fall Semester: March 15 Spring Semester: October 1
