The UK text as a link to the UK homepage.
The Registrar text as a link to the ISP homepage.

Academic Advising

Visit the homepage of the Central Advising Service

ACADEMIC ADVISING

Patterson Office Tower

Academic advising is an integral part of undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky. The goal of all academic advising is to assist students in taking responsibility for developing meaningful educational plans compatible with their potential and their career and life goals. Advising is more than the imparting of specialized information; it includes helping students formulate important questions about the nature and direction of their education and helping them find answers to those questions. Advisors will confer with students about course schedules and educational experiences, but students themselves are responsible for their academic program and for making progress toward an academic degree.

As students progress through their academic program, their advising needs change. At the University of Kentucky, academic advisors help students meet these changing needs. Faculty advisors are key to understanding the nature of the academic program and how it can address student interests and goals. Professional advisors maintain up-to-date information on university requirements, academic policies, procedures, and deadlines; they can also provide guidance for the exploring student. Support offices such as the Central Advising Service, Counseling and Testing, Student Support Services, the Career Center, and Multicultural Affairs can help students refine their academic interests and goals. Students should refer to specific college, school, and departmental advising materials for details on specific advising programs.

Some students have not selected a specific major and choose to be listed in the college of their preference, e.g. Fine Arts or Agriculture. Students are advised in that college. The majority of students who have not chosen a major enter the university as majors in Undergraduate Studies and are advised by Central Advising Service until they declare a major.

Advising Responsibilities

Within the advising system at the University of Kentucky, both students and advisors have responsibilities.

Students are responsible for:

  1. knowing the requirements of their particular academic program; selecting courses that meet those requirements in an appropriate time frame; and monitoring their progress toward graduation;

  2. consulting with appropriate advisors designated to handle the kind of questions or concerns they have;
  3. scheduling and keeping academic advising appointments in a timely manner throughout their academic career, so as to avoid seeking advising only during busy registration periods; and
  4. being prepared for advising sessions.


Advisors are responsible for:

  1. helping students clarify their options, goals and potential, and understand themselves better;

  2. helping students understand the nature and purpose of a college education;
  3. providing accurate information about educational options, requirements, policies and procedures; and
  4. helping students plan educational programs and monitor and evaluate their educational progress.

Academic Advising Mission Statement

The mission of academic advisors, both faculty and professional, is to:

  • assist students in taking responsibility for developing meaningful education plans compatible with their potential and their career and life goals;
  • help students formulate important questions about the nature and direction of their education and assist them in finding answers to those questions;
  • assist students in acquiring accurate and timely information regarding academic policies, procedures, and requirements;
  • facilitate the successful transition of prospective, continuing and nontraditional students to the academic and campus environment.

Central Advising Service

Central Advising Service provides academic advising to undergraduate studies students in order to facilitate their academic success. The staff of professional advisors works with students in Undergraduate Studies who are in the process of choosing a major and also provides pre-professional advising to students interested in pre-law, pre-med, pre-optometry, pre-dental, and other health professions. Continuing students, non-traditional students, transfer students, and other students in academic transition are encouraged to use this resource during their transition period.

Advisors in Central Advising work individually with students to help them clarify their professional goals, realistically assess their capabilities and limitations, explore majors of interest, and choose courses appropriate to those areas of study. Advisors also make referrals to other student support services on campus for career interest testing, personal counseling, help with study skills, tutoring, etc. The aim is to support students in making informed decisions about careers and choice of major, and to facilitate the process of entering that major. Visit the Central Advising Service on the Web at: www.uky.edu/UGStudies/centadv/.

Departmental Advising

Students who have declared a major are advised by someone in that department, either a faculty member or a professional advisor. These advisors, with their in-depth knowledge of a particular field, can provide guidance toward completing degree requirements as well as information regarding careers and/or long-term educational goals. It is important for the student, as soon as he/she declares a major, to contact the department office and request assignment to an advisor.

Pre-Professional Advising

PRE_LAW STUDY -- There is no specified undergraduate degree program required for entry into law school. Students are advised to obtain the bulletins of law schools in which they are interested and to familiarize themselves with admissions standards at those schools. In general, pre-law students should develop rigorous study habits, become skilled in clear and logical communication, and select courses toward a broad general education. Students considering the study of law should contact the pre-law advisor in the Central Advising Service, 109 Miller Hall, (859) 257-3383. Almost all law schools require students to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Students should contact the Central Advising Service and the Dean's Office in the College of Law for information concerning the test.

PRE-MEDICAL STUDY -- The University of Kentucky offers work preparatory to the study of medicine in compliance with the minimum entrance requirements of the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges. The minimum requirements for entrance to medical schools and in preparation for taking the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) include:

  • 2 semesters of English with emphasis in communication skills
  • 2 semesters of biology with labs (BIO 150, BIO 151, BIO 152, BIO 153)
  • 2 semesters of general chemistry with lab (CHE 105, CHE 107, CHE 115)
  • 2 semesters of organic chemistry with labs (CHE 230, CHE 231, CHE 232, CHE 233)
  • 2 semesters of physics with labs (PHY 211 and PHY 213) or (PHY 231, PHY 241, PHY 232, PHY 242)

Students who complete a four-year course of study and thereby obtain a degree will have time to meet the requirements for entrance to all medical schools. Opportunity is thus afforded for a broader background in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, which will be of advantage both in medical school and in later life. Students may choose any major the University offers, provided the minimum requirements listed above are met.

The number of students applying annually for admission to medical colleges exceeds the number that can be admitted. Boards of admission consequently fill their quotas from those who are best prepared, as indicated by grade-point averages, MCAT scores, and other criteria.

There is no pre-medical major at UK. Students who are interested in pre-medical study should contact a pre-medical advisor in Central Advising Service, (859) 257-3383, 109 Miller Hall.

PRE-DENTAL STUDY -- In 1970 the American Dental Association abolished its traditional prerequisites for admission to dental school and left it to each school to establish those prerequisites which it deems necessary. The following courses are required to enter dental school in the state of Kentucky:

  • 2 semesters of biology with labs (BIO 150, BIO 151, BIO 152, BIO 153)
  • 2 semesters of general chemistry with labs (CHE 105, CHE 107, CHE 115)
  • 2 semesters of organic chemistry with labs (CHE 230, CHE 231, CHE 232, CHE 233)
  • 1 semester of physics with lab (PHY 211) or (PHY 231, PHY 241)
  • 2 semesters of English with emphasis in communication skills

In addition, students are encouraged to take upper division courses in areas such as cell biology, microbiology, immunology, histology, biochemistry, genetics and/or comparative anatomy. Students should have a well-rounded curriculum.

Other dental schools in the country may have different required prerequisite courses. Specific information should be requested from each dental school in which the student has an interest.

Students who are interested in pre-dental study should contact a pre-dental advisor in Central Advising Service, (859) 257-3383, 109 Miller Hall, for further information and guidance.

PRE-OPTOMETRY STUDY -- By means of contract through the Southern Regional Education Board, the Commonwealth of Kentucky will pay to the University of Indiana, the University of Alabama, or Southern College of Optometry the nonresidential differential for each academic year for qualifying students who demonstrate approved progress in the four-year curriculum that leads to the Doctor of Optometry degree. To be eligible for this financial assistance, a student must be a legal resident of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as defined by the Council on Higher Education and must be admitted to one of the above-mentioned colleges of optometry.

Pre-optometry course requirements are established by each school. Please refer to each school for course requirements.

Pre-optometry requirements differ, but generally include:

  • 2 semesters of general chemistry with labs (CHE 105, CHE 107, CHE 115)
  • 2 semesters of English
  • 1 or 2 semesters of mathematics (MA 123) or (MA 113)
  • 1 or 2 semesters of general biology or zoology with labs (BIO 150, BIO 151, BIO 152, BIO 153)
  • 1 semester of microbiology with labs (BIO 208 or BIO 308) and (BIO 209)
  • 2 semesters of general physics with labs (PHY 211, PHY 213) or (PHY 231, PHY 241, PHY 232, PHY 242)
  • 1 or 2 semesters of organic chemistry (CHE 230, CHE 231, CHE 232, CHE 233)
  • 1 semester of statistics (STA 291)
  • Some schools also require 1 semester of biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology

Science courses taken should be those designed for pre-professional students. Brief survey courses in the sciences will not prepare students for optometry school.

Additional course requirements vary among schools. All students interested in optometry should obtain college catalogs from the institutions they are considering. Students who are interested in pre-optometry study should contact a pre-optometry advisor in Central Advising Service, (859) 257-3383, 109 Miller Hall.

PRE-PHARMACY STUDY -- The equivalent of two years (70 hours) of college-level liberal arts and basic sciences is the minimum requirement for admission to the professional program. The minimum course requirements for admission to UK's College of Pharmacy are:

  • 1 year of English (composition)
  • 1 semester of animal biology (with laboratory) or the second semester of principles of biology with lab
  • 1 semester of microbiology (with laboratory)
  • 1 semester of mathematics (Calculus I) or the combination of 1 semester of college algebra and 1 semester of elementary calculus
  • 1 semester of principles of microeconomics
  • 1 year of algebra-based physics
  • 1 semester of anatomy
  • 1 year of general chemistry (with laboratory) including qualitative analysis
  • 1 year of organic chemistry (with laboratory)
  • 1 semester of statistics
  • sufficient electives to raise the total hours of credit to at least 70

Pre-pharmacy courses should be completed by the end of the spring semester prior to the desired fall enrollment, with one semester completed in a lecture and lab in organic chemistry, physics and either anatomy or microbiology by the end of the fall semester prior to the February 1 application deadline.

Students are encouraged to take elective courses that satisfy the UK University Studies Program requirements. Practical elective courses to consider include general psychology, interpersonal communications, basic public speaking and medical terminology.

Admission to the college is competitive, based on grade-point average in pre-pharmacy course work, PCAT scores, and an interview. All applicants must have taken the PCAT during the fall semester prior to application, at the latest.

For more information, contact the College of Pharmacy at:

Academic Affairs
College of Pharmacy
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY 40536-0082
(859) 323-6163
www.mc.uky.edu/Pharmacy/

PRE-PODIATRIC MEDICINE -- The American Association of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) represents six of the seven U.S. Colleges of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery (Barry University School of Graduate Medical Sciences, California School of Podiatric Medicine, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University, Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine, Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine). Admissions requirements include a minimum of three years (90 semester hours) of college course work. However, a baccalaureate degree is strongly recommended. The pre-podiatric medicine course work must include:

  • 2 semesters of biology with lab (BIO 150, BIO 151, BIO 152, BIO 153)
  • 2 semesters of general chemistry with labs (CHE 105, CHE 107, CHE 115)
  • 2 semesters of physics with labs (PHY 211, PHY 213) or (PHY 231, PHY 241, PHY 232, PHY 242)
  • 2 semesters of English

« Table of Contents

WARNING: Some Web sites to which these materials provide links for the convenience of users are not managed by the UK's Office of Registrar. The UK's Office of Registrar does not review, control, or take responsibility for the contents of those sites.