Advising Information

Advisors

Candidates are assigned an advisor when they enter the Program. Advisor office hours are posted each semester. In addition, each candidate has a computerized screen of advisement comments. Candidates are encouraged to check this screen every semester—especially during the junior and senior years—when this screen may contain important information about progress towards graduation. In RamPortal, click "degree audit" and scroll to the bottom to view your advising notes.

Scheduling

All majors in the Program are required to contact their advisor at least two weeks prior to their enrollment appointment each semester. Each semester, an enrollment appointment, set by the Office of the Registrar, indicates each candidate’s access date for course enrollment. It may benefit candidates to see their advisors twice during the semester. Appointments can be made with advisors during their office hours.

Bring to your meeting with your advisor:

  1. a current printout of your degree audit from Ramportal.
  2. your colored degree guidance sheet, and 
  3. your proposed schedule of courses for the next semester.

Once your advisor has seen you and has approved your schedule, they will open access to scheduling for you. You may then use Ramportal to schedule via the computer terminals on campus or on-line through any computer with Web access at www.wcupa.edu. 

Declaring a Concentration(s)

Students pursuing the MGP major leading to PA certification in grades 4-8 declare concentrations in one (or two) of four subjects: Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Though MGP majors are generalists in all subjects for grades 4, 5, and 6, they must specialize in subjects for grades 7 and 8 as the content becomes increasingly complex. Students can declare one, 30-credit concentration in Literacy, Math, Science, or Social Studies, or declare two, 21-credit concentrations in two of these subjects, one of which must be Math or Science (e.g., Math and Literacy, Science and Social Studies, etc.). Students “apply” for concentrations on RamPortal via the “student forms” link. Further directions for how to add concentrations . The EMGE department recommends that MGP students meet with their advisor early in their first semester to ensure their concentrations are accurate.

Graduation

Graduation from West Chester University is not automatic; candidates must apply. Candidates are urged to keep current regarding the graduation procedures and timelines that are published on the Office of the Registrar’s website. To graduate, MGP majors must have the minimum cumulative GPA as stipulated by West Chester University, provide evidence of taking the PDE mandated specialty tests, and have completed all requirements for graduation, with a minimum of 120 credits (MGP program is 123 credits), including the required writing-emphasis, speaking-emphasis, interdisciplinary, diverse communities, and ethics courses, and professional requirements. Candidates must pass all PDE mandated tests for certification.

When a candidate applies for graduation, a Graduation Analyst in the Registrar’s Office reviews the academic record to ensure completion of general education requirements; candidates are notified via email and through an advisor comment posted on their Degree Audit. When a candidate attends a student teaching pre-registration meeting, the Department of Early and Middle Grades Education initiates a review of the academic record to ensure completion of all professional course requirements. Candidates are notified via email if they are missing courses required for the major. It is the responsibility of each candidate to respond to the reviews of both the EMGE Department and Office of the Registrar and to complete all requirements.