First year students will be assigned a temporary advisor when they start the program. By spring break of the first year of study, MA students should secure an official advisor (a.k.a "major professor"). You should work with your official advisor in making decisions about your Program of Study. 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. 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. Course Registration deadlines 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 are a returning student, you must turn in your registration form (the "yellow sheet") for fall semester courses to the Graduate Coordinator Assistant no later than March 15th. If you are registering for spring semester classes, you must turn in your registration form to the Graduate Coordinator Assistant no later than October 1st. 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.
