Welcome to the CSAM Student Success Center

For CSAM majors, understanding course prerequisites and course sequencing is extremely important. Decisions regarding course selection for each semester should be made collaboratively with your department academic advisor to ensure you are meeting the correct requirements and remaining on track to graduate on time.

Academic advisors do more than work with students to plan their coursework each semester, however. Academic advisors support and partner with students helping them make informed decisions, develop appropriate goals in pursuit of academic success, and plan for the future. The relationship you develop with your faculty advisor is one of the most important relationships you will have throughout your academic career.

We want you to be informed, empowered, and proactive!

Contact

Administration

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Our Academic Advisors

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Working With Your Academic Advisor

The relationship between advisor and advisee is one of shared responsibility. Though you as a student are ultimately responsible for the choices you make in college, the University realizes that in order to make informed decisions, students need the mentoring and advice of academic advisors and others in the University community. Your academic advisor is your primary resource regarding academic issues, opportunities and programs and could perhaps be thought of as the coordinator of your educational experiences.

Your Responsibilities as a Student

  1. Take initiative to contact and schedule appointments with your advisor
  2. Prepare questions, have a schedule planned when meeting about registration
  3. Seek sources and gather decision-making information for academic and career success
  4. Ask questions until you understand policies, procedures and requirements
  5. Be aware of your major/program requirements and course prerequisites
  6. Follow University procedures for registration and schedule modification
  7. Know deadlines
  8. Keep your advisor informed of academic progress, course selection and your goals
  9. Keep a personal record of your progress towards your degree and have information accessible
  10. Participate and complete assignments for classes
  11. Check your Montclair State University e-mail frequently
  12. Inform your advisor or the Dean’s Office immediately whenever a serious problem (medical, financial, personal) arises

Your Advisor’s Responsibilities

  1. Clarify university policies, regulations, programs and procedures
  2. Be available to meet with students each semester
  3. Keep regular office hours and be adequately available to meet with students
  4. Assist students in developing an academic plan that satisfies degree requirements
  5. Be a responsive listener and refer students to appropriate support services
  6. Discuss students’ academic performance and the implications in their program
  7. Help students explore their interests, abilities and goals and to relate them to academic majors
  8. Be knowledgeable about career opportunities and refer students to Career Services
  9. Encourage students to participate in mentorships helping them become more independent and self-directed

Meeting with an Advisor

If you have a CSAM advisor listed on your Degree Works, then you can  make an appointment with an Academic Advisor through Navigate. Here are the directions on how to book through Navigate. If no advisor is listed on Degree Works, please visit our Live Chat feature, Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:30 p.m., or email csamssc@montclair.edu and we will help you schedule an appointment. Instructions on how to access the Zoom link will be provided once you have scheduled an appointment.

The relationship between advisor and advisee is one of shared responsibility. While students are ultimately responsible for the fulfilling requirements for degree completion, they should seek advising at least once a semester. Advisors help students make informed decisions, develop academic and career goals, and assist with planning for the future. Meeting with an advisor can also help you clarify objectives, choose courses, track progress, and make decisions supportive of graduating on time.

Locating Your Faculty Advisor

If you are a current student, your advisor is listed on DegreeWorks, which you can access through NEST.

Current Student Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Your advisor is listed in Degree Works. If you are a first semester CSAM student, then you will be assigned to an advisor in the CSAM Student Success Center (SSC), usually in August. If you have any questions, any SSC advisor can help you. For an appointment, please email csamssc@montclair.edu.

If you are a new transfer student, you may also reach out to SSC or your major department directly for a faculty advisor. Please see Step 2 for the contact list.

For the fastest response, please check to see if your advisor has listed their availability on Navigate. Here are the directions on how to book a meeting. If not, then you may email them directly or check the website for their office hours. When emailing for an appointment, please include a large time frame or several options when you are available. Professional advisors are available year-round. Faculty advisors are off during the summer and winter breaks and therefore may not respond to email until classes are in session.

Virtual Drop-in hours are available Monday-Friday with hours that vary during the week. CSAM students are able to view the schedule in Navigate.

Students may also reach a professional advisor through csamssc@montclair.edu and Live Chat during office hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Click here for the Directions for Drop-in. Please use your MSU email for access.

  1. Make an appointment with your academic advisor at least a month in advance of registration.
  2. Check for HOLDS. If you have any holds then this will prevent registration.
  3. Know your registration time which goes by credits already earned and NOT in progress.
  4. Review these links: Understanding DegreeWorks and How to register for classes.

A PIN is a code that is required for registration. The purpose of the PIN is to make sure that you meet with an advisor to discuss the courses that will keep you on track for graduation. Freshmen will have a new PIN every semester until your status changes to sophomore.

New transfer students also receive a PIN. Upperclassmen typically do not have PINs except for Earth and Environmental Sciences, Geography, Sustainability Science, new transfers, readmits, and students with priority. For more information, please review this website.

If you make an appointment at least a month in advance of registration then your advisor can spend more time with you. The week before and during registration is a hectic time for advisors.  Also, please check your email often for group advising sessions.

If you are thinking about withdrawing from a course, you should discuss this with your academic advisor first as this may impact your bill. Please read this for more information (must use your MSU email for access). Also, there is a deadline. Please check the Important Dates calendar for the last day to withdraw.

 

 

Permit requests are handled by the department that runs the course.

At least 120 credits are needed to earn an undergraduate degree at Montclair State University.

Free elective credits are credits that do not count towards a major or general education requirement, but can count towards the overall goal of 120 credits. The number of free elective credits available will vary depending on your major, placement results and the options that you choose to fulfill your general education requirements.

Students Interested in Changing Majors to one in CSAM

All current students interested in a major in CSAM must take the ALEKS Placement Test. The test is offered remotely through Canvas. In order to be added to this page in Canvas, please reach out to Assistant Dean for Student Affairs Celeste Van Nice at vannicec@montclair.edu. If you already have credit for Precalculus, Calculus I, or higher then you will be exempt from the test. If your placement is MATH 111, then you will need to take this course as soon as possible.

In addition, depending on the major, prospective College of Science & Mathematics students must meet certain requirements before submitting the Change of Major form. Students that submit this form before meeting the requirements will automatically be denied. New first year students will be able to change majors in their Admissions Portal before August. See requirements for restricted majors via the drop-downs below.

Contact: Department Chair, Dr. Elena Petroff, Science Hall, Room 116, 973-655-5265, petroffe@montclair.edu

Programs

Requirements

Certain pre-qualified students may be accepted into the major; others will need to complete the following:

  • 3.00 overall GPA required
    • Please note: The Biology and Molecular Biology majors have retention policies. By the end of their second semester in the major (i.e. spring), students must maintain a minimum 2.00 GPA and have completed the following courses: BIOL 112 and/or BIOL 113, CHEM 106 and/or CHEM 120, and MATH 111.
  • Successfully complete one semester of a math, biology and chemistry course in the major with a C- or higher
  • Departmental meeting required

 

Contact: chemadvising@montclair.edu

Programs

Requirements

  • There is no GPA requirement for either of these programs.
  • Successful completion of MATH 111 with a C- or higher
  • Successful completion of CHEM 120 with a C or higher

Chemistry (Concentration in Business) Requirements

  • 2.70 overall GPA required
    • Please note: Students may only apply for this program after their freshman year.
  • Successful completion of MATH 111 with a C- or higher
  • Successful completion of CHEM 120 with a C or higher

 

Contact: soc-help@montclair.edu

Majors

Requirements

  • 3.00 overall GPA required; 2.8 overall GPA required for Information Technology major
    • Please note: The above majors have a retention policy. Students must maintain a minimum 2.60 cumulative GPA during their first two semesters.
  • Students in the Computer Science or Information Technology majors must also successfully complete the following courses with a C- or higher by the end of their second semester in the major: CSIT 104, CSIT 111, and MATH 111 or MATH 122 or AMAT 120.
  • Students in the Data Science major must also successfully complete the following courses with a C- or higher by the end of their second semester in the major: CSIT 104, CSIT 114, and MATH 111 or MATH 122.

Computer Science Minor Requirements

  • 2.80 major GPA required
  • Successful completion of the following courses with a C- or higher: CSIT 104, CSIT 111, and MATH 111 or MATH 122 or AMAT 120
    • Please note: The above courses require the following pre-requisite courses or placement(s):
      • CSIT 104 requires successful completion of MATH 100 with a C- or higher, or placement into MATH 111
      • CSIT 111 requires MATH 111 as a co-requisite, if not already completed, or placement directly to Calculus I
  • Once in the minor, students will need successful completion of the following courses with a C- or higher in order to register for CSIT 112: CSIT 104, CSIT 111, and MATH 111

New Student Information

Congratulations on your acceptance to Montclair State, and on your decision to join the College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM)! 

First Steps

All CSAM students are required to take the ALEKS placement test. Placement tests are taken remotely at no cost to the student.

The following are required to take the Math Placement Test:

  • All undergraduate majors in the College of Science and Mathematics
  • Students interested in taking Chemistry 120: General Chemistry I
  • Students interested in taking Calculus I (MATH 122) or Calculus A (AMAT 120)
  • Participants in the Pre-Medical Program
  • Students majoring in Exercise Science (Clinical and Pre-Professional Studies Concentration)

After claiming your NetID, you should take your placement test as soon as possible.

Once you have completed your placement test, you will be able to register for your math and/or chemistry course the following day.

Exemptions for placement tests may be considered for students with AP or transfer credit. Students that have taken Calculus in high school may also be exempt. Questions about exemptions can be directed to your advisor or the CSAM Student Success Center.

A professional advisor in the CSAM Student Success Center (SSC) will automatically create your first semester schedule based on the requirements for your major once you complete the Placement Test(s) and the First-Year Schedule Questionnaire (Step 6 and Step 7 on the Freshman Student Checklist). Students will not need to contact the office to initiate this process. However, if you have questions any SSC advisor is available for help. Advisors will be assigned by August. Students that submit these steps by May 15th may expect to receive their schedule by the end of June.

What will my schedule look like?

Course selection is based on your major, degree requirements, and placement results:

  • GNED 199/CHEM 190/ or MATH 102 (1 credit)
  • 1-2 Major courses (4-8 credits)
  • 1-2 General Education courses (3-6 credits)

On average, full-time first year undergraduate students will be registered for about 15-16 credit hours. To be considered a full-time student one must register for and continue active enrollment in at least 12 semester hours for the entire semester.

What if I want to change my major?

Please let an advisor know as soon as possible. Your course schedule may need to be adjusted. New first year students will be able to change majors in their Admissions Portal before August. After August, you will need to fill out the Change of Major form instead. Depending on the major, you may need to meet certain requirements before being approved.

Your first step towards academic success is registering for classes, which you can do after meeting with an advisor. The goal of academic advising is to help our undergraduate students create an academic plan toward graduation. It allows students to become aware of what the general education requirements are, what requirements they need to meet in order to complete their specific degree program, as well as aides in solving any academic problems students may encounter during their time as a student at Montclair State University.

If you have an urgent question or concern, you can email the contacts below:

Biology, Molecular Biology and Marine Biology & Coastal Sciences

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Earth & Environmental Science, Geography and Sustainability Science

Mathematics and Mathematics Education

Physics

School of Computing
Applied Mathematics, Computer Science, Information Technology and Data Science

If you have additional questions or concerns, please contact: Christina Appassov, Associate Director of Academic Advising, sgambellonec@montclair.edu. Please make sure to continue with Step 5 of the Transfer Student Checklist.