First-Year Students

Welcome, Bulldogs!

 

First, have you completed the following?

  1. SUBMITTED your enrollment form on your AVLBound Portal after you are admitted?
  2. SET UP your UNCA email account and OnePort login (Directions here, login info emailed to your personal email)?
  3. SUBMITTED your Pre-Registration Form (under Enrollment Next Steps in your AVLBound Portal)?
  4. FOUND the confirmation email with your RAN (Registration Access Number) sent to both your personal and UNCA email accounts after you completed the form?

 

Yes? Great! You are ready to register for the upcoming semester!

At UNCA, we want you to have agency and independence as you create your course schedule and take ownership of your education! Of course, we will also provide a safety net and after you have registered yourself, one of our Student Success Specialists will check over your schedule to ensure that your courses match your intended course of study (if applicable) and that your classes align with the requirements and suggestions for first semester schedules.

You can expect to hear from a Student Success Specialist with any feedback on your schedule about a week from the time you register yourself.

 

First-Year Student Course Registration

 

Follow the steps below to design your first-semester schedule

  1. Pick Your First-Year Experience Courses
  2. Use GradPlan to Complete First-Year Schedule
  3. Register for Courses
  4. Look for an email from a Student Success Specialist

Step 1: Pick Your First-Year Experience Courses

UNCA offers two First Year Experience Courses: FYS 178 and LANG 120. 

You must take your FYS 178 in your first semester at UNCA and you can choose from a number of different sections and course topics. All FYS classes support students in their transition to campus.

LANG 120 introduces students to writing as a tool for discovery and prepares you for college-level writing. You can take this class in your first or second semester at UNCA.

See or click below for a step-by-step guide to creating your first semester schedule.

Use this link for an accessible and printable PDF of the first-year checklist.

Use this link for an accessible and printable PDF of Designing Your First Semester Schedule.

 

Helpful Links:

Quantitative Perspective Requirement graphic

Use this link for an accessible PDF for instructions to access the Math Placement Test and a link to the Quantitative Perspective Requirement.

Step 2: Use GradPlan to Complete First-Year Schedule

Use this link for an accessible and printable PDF version of Using GradPlan to Create Your Schedule.

Use this link for an accessible and printable PDF version of Using GradPlan to Create Your Schedule.

Helpful Links:

  • Here is a link to the required courses for the first semester by major. Utilizing that information and registering for your needed First-Year Experience courses will keep you on track for graduation! For the most up-to-date curriculum, please visit the course catalog major requirements pages.)

Step 3: Register for Classes

Step 4: Look for an Email from Student Success Specialists

 

A Student Success Specialist will review your schedule and reach out to share if your schedule is approved or if any changes need to be made. Pay close attention to your unca-gmail account.

 

Course Program of Study Requirement

Stay on Track with your courses for financial aid eligibility

Course Program of Study (CPOS) is a U.S. Department of Education regulation that only classes counting towards a student’s program of study are eligible for financial aid. This ensures that students stay on a timely progress towards their degree.

Therefore, federal and state financial aid is only awarded for courses included in your program of study.

Your program of study includes your Core Curriculum requirements, your major requirements, and any elective hours needed to reach the 120 total credit hour graduation requirement. 

To receive a full financial aid award, you must register for a minimum of twelve (12) undergraduate hours from your program of study each spring and fall semester. 

If a student’s registered hours do not meet this requirement, financial aid eligibility is reduced.

Your Academic Advisor & Major Declaration

During your first year at UNCA, a Student Success Specialist in the Office of Academic Advising will serve as your academic advisor and a core member of your campus support network. 

You can connect with your academic advisor at any point during the semester with any questions or concerns. The instructor of your First Year Seminar, your PAL, and your RA are all important members of your support network here at UNCA.

When you are ready to declare your major, please use this form. Once you are declared you will be assigned a faculty advisor in that department. Please note that some departments have specific requirements and prerequisites before you can declare. Check the University Catalog for more information. We encourage students to declare a major during their Sophomore year.

Tips & Troubleshooting:

Which class do I absolutely have to take?

First Year students need to take their First Year Seminar (FYS 178) in their first semester at UNCA.

What if I have an A.A. or A.S. from a North Carolina Community College?

Your A.A. or A.S. means that all the core curriculum classes are considered full-filled. If you decide to enroll as a first year student, you still have the option to take a First Year Seminar to receive support with onboarding and transitioning to campus.

How do I know which classes are needed for my (intended) major?

Check out GradPlan or the University Catalog for an overview of all the degree requirements of the majors available at UNCA.

How do I get to 15-16 credit hours?

In addition to your First Year Seminar, we recommend selecting 1-2 classes from the core curriculum (including LANG 120), and 1-2 classes from your intended major or majors you would like to explore. Most classes on the 100-200 level will be ideal for incoming first-year students.

What if I have Early College Credits or AP/IB Credits?

  • If you are an early college student with early college credits that will transfer in before your arrival to campus, and these classes are pre-requisites for a class you would like to take for your intended major, then use our equivalency tool to check the transfer equivalency and fill out the override request form (must be logged into your UNCA email) and an advisor will register you for that course.
  • Check out our transfer planning page to see what courses you might receive credit for based on your expected final AP or IB scores. Fill out the override request form (must be logged into your UNCA email) if your AP/IB class is a prerequisite for a course you would like to take during your first semester and an advisor will register you for that course. These scores are not sent to UNCA until July and will be reflected in GradPlan at that point. Final AP/IB scores might require final schedule changes.
  • Coming with a COMPLETED AA or AS from a North Carolina Community College/Early College/Dual Enrollment? You will be considered core complete (all core curriculum requirements are fulfilled) and can focus on classes in your (intended) major and – if needed – classes to help you meet the 120-credit-hour graduation requirement.
Why can I not register?

  • Double-check that you have completed all steps listed at the top of the page
  • You need to complete the Pre-Registration Form before you can register
For Chemistry Students

Community in Chemistry – Enroll in the same class sections with other chemistry majors to be able to get to know each other, form study groups with peers, and build a community of chemistry learners. Check out the specific sections here!

For Engineering Students

If you are interested in pursuing an Engineering degree, please contact Linnea Linton (llinton@unca.edu).

Still have questions?  

Make a general advising appointment with an advisor