Academic Advising

This page will answer most of your advising-related questions. Be sure to check out all of the tabs at the bottom of the sheet.
Link: https://go.ncsu.edu/efyfaq

Advisors will host online, drop-in Q&A sessions where you can ask your questions and hear questions from other students.
Zoom Link: https://go.ncsu.edu/efyadvising

We have developed a series of advising modules to ensure you have the information needed to make informed decisions about your fall schedule. 
Link: https://wolfware.ncsu.edu/ (“Projects” tab)

Students use MyPack Portal to access all of their academic records, personal information, degree planner, Enrollment Wizard, financial records and more.
Link: https://mypack.ncsu.edu/

In an effort to ensure you are registered in the appropriate courses, placement/skills assessments are offered – and some required.
Link: https://newstudents.dasa.ncsu.edu/firstyear/placement/

New Student Programs offers an orientation session in June specific to Summer Start students and their families. Go to Summer Start Orientation to learn specific details about dates, times, cost, registration, lodging, parking, accommodations, and more.

Once students have signed up to participate in Summer Start, the College will initiate virtual academic advising via e-mail with each student about their preferred courses. Summer Start in conjunction with the College’s advisors will enroll students into summer courses on their behalf prior to orientation. Therefore, to facilitate academic advising and course registration, participating students must check their NCSU e-mail account every day and respond to both phone calls and emails from NC State in a timely manner.

Otherwise, the College has the same expectations of participants in the Summer Start’s NSO as the rest of our new first-year students as described below.

NC State offers Math and Chemistry placement assessments, which are free and available online. These placement tests should be completed prior to registration so the College of Engineering is able to suggest appropriate pre-engineering courses.

The College highly recommends that all incoming students follow the New Student Checklist from New Student Programs to prepare for orientation. In addition, below is the College of Engineering’s checklist for new students to prepare for advising and orientation.

Every student must:

• Report all test scores from Advanced Placement (AP) and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) Program to NC State – Request that each testing agency send all scores to NC State. Undergraduate Admissions does not accept AP or IB scores from high school transcripts. A full list of the AP/IB credit policies recognized by NC State are available online at Undergraduate Admissions.
• CHEMISTRY: Complete the chemistry placement exam by May 17 – All engineering curricula include CH 101 General Chemistry. No student will be allowed to enroll in CH 101 at NC State without having taken the Chemistry Placement Exam (CPE).
  • If you have not earned college-level credit for CH 101, you MUST take the Chemistry Placement Exam. It is recommended that you do so by May 17th, but the exam will remain available. 
  • If you have received credit for CH 101/102 through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or college transfer, you feel confident in your abilities, and you know you will not retake CH 101 here at NC State, you do not need to the to take the CPE.
  • If you have never taken a chemistry course at the high school-level, you should enroll in CH 111, Preparatory Chemistry.
• MATH: Complete the ALKES math placement assessment by May 17 – All engineering curricula include a three-part calculus sequence of MA 141 Calculus I, MA 241 Calculus II, and MA 242 Calculus III.
  • If you have not earned college-level credit for MA 141 (calculus 1), you should take the ALKES Math Placement Assessment. It is recommended that you do so by May 17th, but the exam will remain available. This assessment can place students into MA 141 (calculus 1) or MA 108 or MA 111 (pre-calculus). If you are currently enrolled in an AP math class, your AP exam scores will not arrive prior to NSO, so by completing the math placement assessment, you can still register in a math course prior to NSO while awaiting AP scores to be reported. Once AP scores are posted, you can adjust your schedule with the guidance of an academic advisor.
  • If you have received an AP score, IB credit, or other college level credit for calculus 1 (MA 141) and you wish to move forward into MA 241 or MA 242 (as prerequisites allow) you do not have to take the math placement assessment. If you are waiting on an AP score, we recommend that you take the assessment. If you have multiple placement indicators, the College will honor your highest level of placement. Students cannot register for an upper-level math class (MA 241  or higher) unless they have reported transfer credits.
• Send all official transcripts from high schools, colleges, and universities to NC State’s Undergraduate Admissions for transfer credits. College-level credit cannot be awarded from a high school transcript. If you’ve taken college-level courses via dual enrollment, be sure to have your college/university send an official transcript to NC State. Once transfer credits are posted, students can adjust their schedule with the guidance of an academic advisor.
• Complete the online advising modules. These advising modules will be available to you beginning Thursday, May 23. Completing these modules will take between 2 and 4 hours; they are housed on an NC State platform called Moodle, in a project space called “Engineering First Year Advising & Registration.” Moodle is a site that houses course web pages that you’ll also utilize in the fall. Completing these modules will give you all the information you need to confidently make changes to your fall schedule. If you have successfully completed your advising modules by May 30th, your advisement hold will be released prior to your enrollment date in early June, giving you access to make changes to your fall schedule as early as possible. If you complete the modules after May 30th your advising hold will be released within 3 business days of the completion date.
  • To access the “Engineering First Year Advising & Registration” Moodle site:
    1. Go to NCSU WolfWare at https://wolfware.ncsu.edu/
    2. Click on “My WolfWare”
    3. Login with your Unity ID and password (for more information see “Access Your Unity Account”)
    4. You should now see the “My WolfWare Home Page,” which defaults to current classes; click on the “projects” tab to the right of the “current” tab
    5. Click on “Engineering First Year Advising & Registration”

The College holds several New Summer Orientation sessions for first-year students in June and July. Students must register for one of the engineering-specific sections.

During the afternoon of your NSO session, all first-year engineering students will attend a welcome session, and an advising session where you’ll have the opportunity to ask any lingering questions you may have. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to attend other College of Engineering sessions where they can learn more about other programs and areas of interest within the College.

The following is a to-do list for students after attending NSO:

• Students will continue working towards registering for a fall schedule with 15-17 credit hours
• By mid-June, academic advisors will be assigned to each new student
• If students have any questions about academic advising and course registration, contact Office of Academic Affairs at engineering@ncsu.edu or 919-515-3263
• Review laptop recommendations for engineering students provided by Engineering Information Technology (ITECS).

You should visit the first-year writing placement chart to determine how you could be exempt from the first-year writing requirement (ENG 101) based on a standardized test score or transfer course credit from another institution submitted to NC State as part of their application process.

Students can earn credit toward completing the six pre-engineering courses in calculus, chemistry, and physics through Advanced Placement tests, transfer credits, other pre-college program options, or transfer equivalence.

• MA 141 – Calculus I
• MA 241 – Calculus II
• PY 205 – Physics for Engineers and Scientists I
• PY 206 – Physics for Engineers and Scientists I Laboratory
• CH 101 – Chemistry – A Molecular Science
• CH 102 – General Chemistry Laboratory

Students must complete each of the courses above with a grade of C or better to receive credit and advance toward acceptance into an engineering department. The links provided below at the end of this section can be helpful resources for prospective students.

Visit the College’s CODA page for more details and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

In addition to the Success courses listed above, students who start in engineering will be required to complete E 101 and E 102 with a C minus or better. E 115 is taken for credit-only so students are required to pass this course.

Newly admitted students to the College of Engineering must take both courses. Students transferring from other NC State programs are required to take E 115 or COS 100, but not E 101 or E 102.

Visit the College’s CODA page for more details and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs).

Students can earn credit toward completing advanced pre-engineering requirements through Advanced Placement tests, transfer credits, other pre-college program options, or transfer equivalence.

All engineering majors require the following courses in calculus and physics:

• MA 242 – Calculus III
• PY 208 – Physics for Engineers and Scientists II
• PY 209 – Physics for Engineers and Scientists II Laboratory

For most programs Students must complete the courses above with a grade of D minus or better to receive credit towards graduation for these classes.

The links provided below at the end of this section can be helpful resources for prospective students.

All students at NC State must demonstrate competency at the Elementary II level in a foreign language (FL* 102) as a requirement for graduation. There are several ways in which newly admitted students may have demonstrated proficiency for the College of Engineering in their high school academic record or earned credit opportunities. Academic advisors will cover this topic at New Student Orientation and help students decide whether or not they must take the foreign language placement assessment, which will be offered over the summer if needed.

To learn more, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures provides foreign language requirements and placement information specifically for the College of Engineering.

Every NC State student must complete the GEP requirements to graduate. While this is not intended to be an exhaustive list, here are some ways newly admitted EFY students commonly satisfy GEP requirements using AP exam scores.

*GEP Additional Breadth courses may be either a Humanities, Social Science, or Visual Performing Art. Multiple Humanities or Social Sciences courses from the same discipline can be used to fulfill Additional Breadth.

**All engineering majors require microeconomics, which is used to satisfy one of two required Social Science courses.

The links provided below at the end of this section can be helpful resources for prospective students.

The various departments administer placement assessments for foundational pre-engineering courses that all engineering students must take. The College of Engineering does not oversee or control these tests in any way. However, as a courtesy, the College seeks to alert students to the placement assessments so that it may advise engineering students regarding the appropriate courses for their first semester. These departments (ex. Chemistry, Mathematics, etc.) may dis-enroll engineering students if they do not meet the minimum placement criteria.

You must meet minimum placement requirements to enroll in certain courses. These minimums have been established for student success. Data shows that students not meeting minimum placement criteria do not typically succeed in the course. Visit the websites for the Chemistry Placement Exam and the Math Placement Assessment for next steps if you want place into a higher-level course than what you have been placed.

Yes, you would still need to take the assessment according to the Math Department. Once completed, a score of 3 on the AP Calculus AB test allows you to enroll in MA 141. A score of 4 or 5 gives you credit for MA 141 and allows you to enroll in MA 241 (calculus two) if you like. You always have the option to decline placement if you feel more comfortable doing so.

A minimum score of 76 must be achieved on the NC State ALEKS Math Placement Assessment for you to enroll in MA 141. Therefore, the Math Department dictates that with a score less than 76 you should enroll in MA 111. To be eligible to enroll in MA 141 in the fall, you may retake the ALEKS Placement Assessment after spending time reviewing the support modules suggested for you by the ALEKS Assessment. Alternatively, you may enroll in a pre-calculus course over the summer elsewhere (credit must transfer into NC State as MA 108 or MA 111) or at NC State, assuming you are not expecting any AP Calculus exam scores to come in over the summer.

After taking the Placement Assessment and initially enrolling in a math course, you may earn placement in a higher level math course through AP calculus exam scores or transfer credit. However, not taking the Placement Assessment and instead waiting for transfer credit or AP credit to post to your account means possibly not enrolling in a math class until July or August when available seats can be scarce.

The College encourages any student who must take MA 111 to consider signing up for Summer Start so you can be prepared to enroll in MA 141 in the fall semester.

Yes, you should take the Math Placement Assessment seriously. This is a “Placement Assessment,” not a test. The difference is that a Placement Assessment is designed to determine what a student knows and what a student needs to work on. At the end of the assessment, a student will have a much better sense of their strengths and weaknesses in math through the calculus 1 (MA 141) material. Students then have a chance to brush up on topics that may have been forgotten or haven’t been practiced for some time.

Engineering students should, if qualified, begin in MA 141 or higher. Otherwise, it is recommended for you to enroll in MA 111.

The Summer Start program offers MA 111; completing this course would allow first-year engineering students to prepare to enter MA 141 Calculus I in the fall semester. Therefore, the College encourages first-year students who were placed into MA 111 due to their score to consider applying before the deadline to attend Summer Start.

Keep in mind, that if you feel you could place higher on the ALEKS Assessment, you may take the assessment again (up to four attempts total). To have access to the Assessment again, you must spend time reviewing support modules provided by ALEKS Assessment.

As the University credit website shows, NC State will award credit for CH 101 + 102 with various scores from AP exams and IB exams as well as transfer credit.  However, if there is any chance that you might choose to repeat CH 101 at NC State to improve your understanding of the material, you must take the Chemistry Placement Exam because you must take the CPE in order to register for CH 101 at NC State. For this reason, the COE strongly encourages ALL incoming first-year engineering students to take the CPE.

Yes. In May students will have access to an online advising website Engineering First Year Advising & Registration through an NC State platform called Moodle. In Moodle, students will work through online modules designed to help them understand their degree requirements, the registration system, and how to build a first semester schedule. In late May students will be pre-registered for their introductory engineering course and have other recommended courses added to their MyPack Degree Planner, based on their intended majore. If students have completed all of the advising modules and placement assessments by May 30th, their advising holds will be released and they will be able to make changes to their fall schedules on June 1st. For students that complete the modules after May 30th, their holds will be released within three business days of their module completion. After a student’s advising hold has been released they will be able to make changes to their fall schedule online through the first week of fall semester classes.

If students are participating in Summer Start, then the Summer Start program will help students register for their summer courses prior to orientation based upon course recommendations from a COE academic advisor. To begin the advising and registration process for Summer Start, it is important that interested students apply before the deadline and complete both the Math and Chemistry Placement assessments as soon as possible.

Check your NC State email address regularly. Be sure to take the placement assessment. Complete the College of Engineering’s advising modules; update your fall schedule (June), and check out New Student Program’s New Student Checklist.

To be sure your coursework appears on your NC State transcript, you must ensure that official reports and/or transcripts are submitted directly to NC State (from your previous institution, the College Board, etc.).  To understand what AP Tests and Scores will earn credit at NC State, check out this resource. To know which courses taken at another institution will earn credit at NC State, visit the Undergraduate Admissions’ website about transferable credits. Check out New Student Program’s New Student Checklist for detailed instructions.

No worries. While the lack of a score may prevent you in certain courses initially, as soon as the scores are reported to Undergraduate Admissions the registration system will allow you to make changes to your schedule at home. There will be many students that need to wait on scores, which usually become available between around July 5th. Check out New Student Program’s New Student Checklist for detailed instructions about reporting your scores.

Advisors are assigned between mid-June and New Student Orientation.

An Enrollment Appointment/Date is the first day and time that students can begin registering for the upcoming semester, but only after their Advising Hold has been lifted. For your first semester, your Advising Hold will be lifted by the College of Engineering after you have completed the required advising modules. In future semesters, you should arrange to meet with your advisor prior to your assigned Enrollment Appointment/Date.

Yes!  Consider participating in Summer Start or contact the Study Abroad Office about FYI Abroad in Buenos Aires or Prague! Contact Office of Academic Affairs for academic advising at engineering@ncsu.edu or 919.515.3263.

Summer Start is a residential program designed to assist new first-year students with the transition to our campus through five weeks of NC State courses and involvement opportunities during Summer II session.  Participating students will be advised by the College of Engineering to enroll in classes that satisfy degree requirements, which typically include pre-engineering courses as well as the General Education Program (GEP) courses. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities related to academic, social, recreational, or personal interests.  Examples include local trips to museums and parks, learning about campus traditions, time management and success workshops, and weekly cookouts.

Below are some examples of courses frequently taken by Engineering First Year students during Summer Start for a total of 6-8 credit hours:

• Sample Schedule 1:
  • A chemistry course (either CH 111 or CH 101 plus CH 102 for 3-4 credits) – All students must complete NC State’s chemistry placement exam before registration advising and enrollment can begin
  • USC 100: Transitioning to a Diverse Community (1 credit) – Satisfies GEP U.S. Diversity
  • GEP Course (1 or 3 credits) – One of either Humanities, Social Science, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Visual Performing Art or Health/Exercise Studies – See recommended, offered courses
• Sample Schedule 2:
  • Academic Writing and Research (either ENG 101 or FLE 101 for 4 credits)
  • USC 100: Transitioning to a Diverse Community (1 credit) – Satisfies GEP U.S. Diversity
  • GEP Course (1 or 3 credits) – One of either Humanities, Social Science, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Visual Performing Art or Health/Exercise Studies – See recommended, offered courses
• Sample Schedule 3:
  • A math course (either MA 111 or MA 141 for 3-4 credits) – All students must complete NC State’s math placement assessment before registration advising and enrollment can begin
  • USC 100: Transitioning to a Diverse Community (1 credit) – Satisfies GEP U.S. Diversity
  • GEP Course (1 or 3 credits) – One of either Humanities, Social Science, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Visual Performing Art or Health/Exercise Studies – See recommended, offered courses
• Sample Schedule 4:
  • A microeconomics course (either EC 201, EC 205, or ARE 201 for 3 credits) – Required for all engineering majors
  • USC 100: Transitioning to a Diverse Community (1 credit) – Satisfies GEP U.S. Diversity
  • GEP Course (1 or 3 credits) – One of either Humanities, Social Science, Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Visual Performing Art or Health/Exercise Studies – See recommended, offered courses

To learn more about Summer Start, visit go.ncsu.edu/summerstart. Please feel free to contact the Summer Start staff with any questions at new-students@ncsu.edu or 919.515.1234.

See the WMEP for page for more information.

The Study Abroad Office offers a program for incoming first-year students to study in Prague or Buenos Aires while earning 3 credit hours toward satisfying the General Education Program, which is required to graduate.

Visit the Study Abroad Office’s website to learn more about FYI Abroad.

Student Success GPS is a one-stop student success platform that students can access in two ways: either go to go.ncsu.edu/gps or open your GPS Mobile app. Alternatively, students can call 919-515-3263 to schedule an appointment with any advisor in Academic Affairs.

Scheduled appointments are typically for 15-30 minutes. To schedule an appointment with an academic advisor from the Office of Academic Affairs, do the following:

1. Go to Student Success GPS and login with your NCSU Unity ID.
2. Click ‘Schedule an Advising Appointment’ button.
3. Enter the reason for your appointment such as ‘Meet with Engineering Academic Affairs’ or ‘COE Advising.’
4. Select your advisor.
5. Select an appointment time (available openings will appear after you make a selection from the grid).
6. View confirmation details and click ‘Confirm.’

How to schedule an appointment in Student Success GPS on your web browser

How to schedule an appointment using GPS Mobile app

How to cancel a scheduled appointment in Student Success GPS on your web browser

How to cancel a scheduled appointment from the GPS Mobile app

Alternatively, students can call 919-515-3263 to cancel a scheduled appointment for advising.

Cheryl Tran

MAE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Andy Hale

*A shared engineering program with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at NC State

Dr. Lianne Cartee

BME Undergraduate Advising

*A shared engineering program with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Lisa Bullard

Dr. Bullard’s Advising Page

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Cecilia Townsend

myECE Undergrad Portal

Dr. Barbara Jasmine Adams

CSC Academic Advising 

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Cecilia Townsend

myECE Undergrad Portal

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Kanton Reynolds

ISE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Yaroslava Yingling

MSE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Cheryl Tran

MAE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Lisa Marshall

Dr. Med Byrd

*A shared engineering program with the College of Natural Resources at NC State

Meggie Metcalf (Students with last names A-L)

Heather Lyerly (Students with last names M-Z)

Center for Academic, Career, and Student Services (ACSS) – Advising in Wilson College of Textiles

*A shared engineering program with the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State

Cheryl Tran

MAE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Andy Hale

*A shared engineering program with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at NC State

Dr. Lianne Cartee

BME Undergraduate Advising

*A shared engineering program with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dr. Lisa Bullard

Dr. Bullard’s Advising Page

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Cecilia Townsend

myECE Undergrad Portal

Dr. Barbara Jasmine Adams

CSC Academic Advising 

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Cecilia Townsend

myECE Undergrad Portal

Dr. Tarek Aziz

CCEE Undergraduate Programs, including links to Advising Notes & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Kanton Reynolds

ISE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Dr. Yaroslava Yingling

MSE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Cheryl Tran

MAE Undergraduate Advising & Answers to FAQs

Lisa Marshall

Dr. Med Byrd

*A shared engineering program with the College of Natural Resources at NC State

Meggie Metcalf (Students with last names A-L)

Heather Lyerly (Students with last names M-Z)

Center for Academic, Career, and Student Services (ACSS) – Advising in Wilson College of Textiles

*A shared engineering program with the Wilson College of Textiles at NC State