Answers to Commonly Asked Advising Questions

Below find a list of questions (and answers) the Sociology and Criminal Justice Faculty get asked a lot come advising time. 

I want to major in Criminal Justice or Sociology, how do I get an advisor?

You get an advisor in the department when you declare your major.  To declare Sociology or Criminal Justice as your major, go to BAL 6000 and fill out a program declaration form. 

Who do I go to for advising?

When you declare your major you are assigned an advisor in the department (see above).  If you are already a declared major, you can come to BAL 6000 or call 683-3794 to find out who your advisor is.

When can I declare my major?

Students who have completed 26 credit hours and have earned a "C" or better in English 110 and English 111 are eligible to declare sociology or criminal justice as their major.

Is there a fee for advising?

No.

If someone tells me one thing and the catalogue tells me another, which should I believe?

Your catalogue tells you your degree requirements.  It is the source of information you should depend on. 

I have completed all my general education requirements, all my major requirements and all my minor requirements but still only have 112 credit hours.  Can I graduate with only 112 credit hours?

No.  You cannot graduate with fewer than 120 credit hours.  If you complete all your general education requirements, all your major requirements and all your minor/cluster requirements, and still do not have 120 credit hours you must take additional classes.  What you take is up to you.  Some students get another minor.  Some decide to turn their minor into another major.  Many just take classes than they enjoy. 

Am I required to have an internship?

No.  You can do one if you want and get up to 6 credit hours of upper level criminal justice or sociology elective hours.

Do you have to have a writing enhanced class in the Sociology or Criminal Justice major?

Yes.  Every major now must include as part of its requirements one writing enhanced class.

Am I required to make a "C" or better in each of my Sociology or Criminal Justice major classes?

No.  You do however need a 2.0 GPA overall, and in your Sociology and Criminal Justice major.  Remember also that you do need a "C" or better in English 110 and 111 to be able to declare Sociology or Criminal Justice as your major.

What happens to my incomplete if I never finish it?

It changes to an "f" after one semester.

Can I change my major/minor?

Of course.  You can change majors as well as minors.

I am currently working on my degree at ODU, can I take a class at another university or community college?

Yes, but there are guidelines:

If you want to transfer in lower-level general education courses: There is no limit on the number of lower-level general education courses you can transfer to meet degree requirements. However, you must earn a grade of C or better to transfer and must have an official transcript sent to the ODU Office of Admission for evaluation before the course is counted towards graduation.  Also, be aware that a class at another college or university having a similar name and/or number does not mean it will transfer to ODU.  To see what classes at the institution you are planning to take a class at will transfer to Old Dominion, and as what, use Monarch Transformation.  Here is how: 
 
Go to the home page for ODU - www.odu.edu.   Click on:
 
Current Students
 
Academic Advising

For Students

Transfer Equivalency Guide

Now follow instructions there to find the state and the school you are going to.  You can then look up different classes and see which will transfer to ODU and as
what.

If you want to transfer in classes within your major - The university requires students take at least 12 hours from their major at ODU.  Because our classes are very specific, it is difficult to find equivalent courses for many of the courses at
area colleges and universities.  In addition, be aware that due to articulated guidelines, courses from a community college will never transfer in higher than a 200 level course.  Consequently, courses from community colleges cannot be
used to count for any of our 300/400 level credits.  To see what classes will transfer in you must check with the CDA.  You should bring a course description and include a written statement indicating why a particular course at another
university should be judged to be equivalent to a specific course in our major.  Our Capstone Research Project must be taken at Old Dominion University.  Also, internships and independent studies will not be approved as transferable
from other colleges.

How do I go about getting "grade forgiveness"?

All you do is take the class over.  It must be taken over at ODU, must be the same course, and can only be done for courses where you earned a "C-" or less.  Be careful though, whatever you earn in the repeated class will be used - even if its lower than what you got in the first class.

Do I have to have a minor? 

Unless you are double majoring, you need a minor or a cluster.

How can I join Alpha Phi Sigma or Alpha Kappa Delta?

Alpha Phi Sigma - Alpha Phi Sigma is a criminal justice honors society active at the university. In order to join, interested students must have taken at least 55 credit hours of course work. They must have taken at least 15 credit hours of criminal justice courses with a GPA of at least 3.2 in those courses.  Their overall GPA should be at least a 3.0.  Application forms can be down loaded on-line at www.alphaphisigma.com  OR www.alphaphisigma.org.  They have to make out a money order (no personal checks) to Alpha Phi Sigma. Students should give the completed application, including the money order, and a copy of an unofficial transcript to Dr. Time (vtime@odu.edu)

Alpha Kappa Delta - This is an international sociological honor society.  To become a member, undergraduate students must have: declared sociology as their major or demonstrated a serious interest in sociology, at least junior standing, an overall GPA of 3.0, a 3.0 GPA in sociology courses, and have completed four courses in sociology.  For more information you may contact Dr. Wegar (Kwegar@odu.edu), the faculty sponsor.

Where can I find information about Departmental Honors?

Follow this link:  Departmental Honors