Advising Information for Online Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) Students

Welcome to Southeast Online!  This page is designed for students pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies degree online.  If you are a new IDS online student and/or this is your first time viewing the page, please read the entire page carefully for important information to assist you in planning your progress towards graduation and determining the next step you need to take.

Getting Started I've been admitted.  What is my next step? Are there any benefits or restrictions for online degree students? How long is a typical course? Can I work at my own pace? How many hours can I take each semester? How do I activate my Southeast (SE) Key? What if I lose my password? My last name has changed since I first attended Southeast.  Can I change my SE Key? Degree Requirements What is required to complete the IDS degree? Can I take a minor or another major with the IDS degree? How do I create my plan and get it approved (i.e. declare the major)? What is the WP003 Writing Assessment? How do I register? What is the Career Linkages initiative (CL001, CL002, CL003, CL004)? How do I register? If I am not required to take these, can I receive career assistance? What is the California Critical Thinking Assessment (CCTST)?  How do I register? Advising Am I required to meet with an advisor? When/How do I register for courses? How do I drop a course? How can I check my progress towards completing the degree? How can I calculate my potential semester GPA? What does it mean to be on academic probation? What University Studies courses are available online for the upcoming semester? How do I know if I meet the pre-requisites for my courses? When/how do I apply for graduation? If I am not going to the ceremony, do I need to apply?  Resources How/when do I get textbooks? How do I get a student ID card? How can I borrow library books and videos? How can I find articles for my class assignments? How can I receive assistance with my writing? What if I need disability or tutorial assistance?  What is available to me?

Heather Jones Academic Advisor IDS Online southeastonline@semo.edu Phone: 573.651.2889 Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm IM available upon request (Yahoo, AIM, MSN)

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I've been admitted.  What is my next step?

If you've not done so already, please take some time to read our Online Orientation website and become familiar with Southeast Online and the services and information available for online degree students.  We also recommend that you read our Southeast Online Handbook and try our demonstration course to get the feel for our online classroom structure.  Your admission letter should include your Southeast ID number, which you will need in order to access other aspects of the university.

If you are a new transfer student or a returning student with transfer credit, your file will be evaluated for precise course transferability.  Once evaluation is complete, the Registrar will mail both you a copy of your full evaluation and advising information.  Once this evaluation process is complete, you can begin working with me, Heather Jones, to create your IDS plan and select available courses towards your prospective areas of emphasis.  Please note that I cannot accurately advise you until this analysis is complete.

If you are a returning student, please check with Student Financial Services (573.651.2253) before contacting me for advising and enrollment.  If you owe any balance from your past attendance, you will be prevented from registering until the amount is paid, and it is better to discover this early in the process so you have ample time to correct the situation.

Are there any benefits or restrictions for online degree students?

As an online degree student, you should complete your advising and attempt to register on your Priority Registration Date, which is based upon credit hours completed.  If you cannot secure your full course load or necessary graduation requirements through open enrollment, please contact me as soon as possible.   We will do our best to assist you in registering in your desired number of hours, but we cannot guarantee availability in specific course choices.  Enrollment assistance for online degree students works on a first-come, first-served basis until (limited) space is no longer available.   

Online students must have advisor approval to take any face-to-face courses.  Please be aware that unauthorized enrollment in non-online courses may be grounds for dismissal from the online degree track.  Students may only enter (declare) an online degree program once in their academic career, although changing between online degree programs is permitted.

How long is a typical course?  Can I work at my own pace? 

Fall/Spring Semester:

Full semester (traditional): 16 weeks

1st 8 week and 2nd 8 week courses are rarely available online.

Summer Semester:

Pre-session: 4 weeks immediately after spring finals

Regular session: 8 weeks in middle of summer

1st 4 week session:  first half of the regular session

2nd 4 week session: second half of the regular session

The pace for each course is already established, and you will want to check for updates each day.  Our online courses follow the same timeline as their face-to-face counterparts.  You can schedule accordingly and work ahead as assignments are announced, but you must meet your course deadlines to receive full credit. The full semester calendar, including holidays and drop deadlines, is available here.
 

How many hours can I take each semester? 

This is a matter I discuss individually with each advisee.  Remember that online courses require the same amount of work as face-to-face courses, but often in a different format.  Be sure to consider the amount of time spent weekly between employment, family and recreation.  Students can take as little as one course (3-5 hours) each semester or as many as 18 hours during the regular fall and spring terms.  You must take at least 6 hours to qualify for your financial aid awards.  To be considered full-time, you must have at least 12 hours for the fall or spring semester.  Most online courses are 3 credit hours.

    Fall/Spring semester maximum:  18 hours

    Summer semester maximum: 4 hours pre-session and/or 9 hours regular session (also limit one during each 4 week session)

If your cumulative (overall) GPA is less than 2.0, then you will be limited to the following:

    Fall/Spring semester maximum:  12 hours

    Summer semester maximum: 6 hours total

How do I activate my Southeast (SE) Key? What if I lose my password?

To use the student portal site, you must first activate your SE Key.  Go to portal.semo.edu.  Under the login area, click the link for SE Key Activation.  Enter your Southeast ID (SXXXXXXXX)  and day and year of birth to begin the activation process.  Be sure you write down your new SE Key as well as the password you just established. You will use this information to access all services within the portal, including your online courses and Southeast email.   Your email address will simply be SOUTHEASTKEY@semo.edu.  I also recommend that you set up the Password Reset Facility in case you forget your new password. 

If you have problems in activating your SE Key, please contact the Information Technology Help Desk at 573.651.4357.  If you have activated your SE Key and cannot remember your password, there is only one way to reset it remotely:

Send a fax to 573.651.2200 of a photo ID along with your Southeast ID number (SXXXXXXXX), signature, and the new password you desire.  Make sure that your password follows the established rules (at least 3 of 4 elements from these criteria - upper case, lower case, symbols, numbers) or Information Technology will be unable to reset it for you.

My last name has changed since I first attended Southeast.  Can I change my SE Key?

In the event of a name change, you must first update your record in the Office of the Registrar.  If you unsure of your current status, please visit the Personal Information menu in the portal to confirm.  To update, send a fax to 573.651.5155 of proof of name change (social security card, court ordered document, driver's license), your Southeast ID number (SXXXXXXXX), your request to update your name, and your signature.

Once your name is correct in the database, you may then email Nancy with your old name, your new name and your Southeast ID number.

What is required to complete the IDS degree?

This is the general outline for the IDS degree, but keep in mind that each individual situation is unique and that transfer credit will affect what is needed to graduate.  You must meet all sub-requirements, even if this causes you to surpass the 120 hour minimum for the degree.

I. University Studies Requirements (General Education) 51 hours, 42 lower level (waived by certain AA/AAS degrees or completion of the 42 hour block) + 9 hours upper level.  Detailed information is available here.

II.  Major Requirements

Choose 2-4 areas of emphasis from the approved list for online IDS:

Area #1**	Area #2	Area #3 (if applicable)	Area #4 (if applicable)
Accounting	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice	Criminal Justice
Business Administration	English Literature	English Literature	English Literature
Criminal Justice	Economics	Economics	Economics
Economics	Industrial Engineering & Technology	Industrial Engineering & Technology	Industrial Engineering & Technology
English Literature	Math	Math	Math
Industrial Engineering & Technology
Management
Management Information Systems
Marketing
Math

 **Students are limited to a maximum of 30 hours AND one area of emphasis from the Harrison College of Business

Each area of emphasis has a minimum of 12 hours and a maximum of 30 hours.

The sum of the areas must be between 48-69 hours, allowing a maximum of 21 hours of IDS electives depending upon the individual student plan.

Courses counting towards a student's University Studies requirements cannot be also included in any area of emphasis.

III. General Requirements for Graduation 

1. Residency at Southeast - at least 30 hours from Southeast
2. Current residency at Southeast -12 of your final 18 hours must be taken with Southeast
3. Grade Point Average at Southeast:  2.0 minimum required
4. Grade Point Average Cumulative:  2.5 minimum required to graduate
5. Writing Proficiency - WP003, 75 Hour Writing Proficiency Exam with passing score required
6. California Critical Thinking Exam (CCTST)
7. CL001, CL002, CL003 and CL004 (based upon entry year and credit hours completed previously)

IV.    Other Requirements

1. TOTAL hours required:  120 hours minimum required for graduation
2. ALL required developmental courses must be completed (and do not count in 120 hour total)

Can I take a minor or another major with the IDS degree?

As the IDS is a unique program allowing students to design their own major with faculty assistance, students may not declare another major simultaneously or declare a minor.

How do I create my plan and get it approved (i.e. declare the major)?

Initially, most potential online IDS students will be online BGS students while completing the paperwork and awaiting approval.  Other students may elect to retain their current major/advisor while pursuing the approval process.  Once you have decided on your areas, consider how many hours you might like for each area.  Look at the current online courses offered in your subject areas for ideas, and sketch out some ideas of what you would like to accomplish within your areas (i.e. your career and professional goals).  After some initial brainstorming, you will work with a faculty advisor for each of your areas in our online forum area.

Currently the precise process is still under development, as the IDS major is new to online as of the Fall 2007 semester.  If you are interested in pursuing this option, your plan must be approved prior to the completion of 75 hours.  If interested, you can begin your initial plan and let me know of your interest via email while we continue to finalize the online declaration process.  Documents (.pdf) for this degree are available below:

Requirements for Interdisciplinary Studies - requirements to declare and complete this degree

Instructions for Students - important questions and steps to guide you in the declaration process

Official Plan of Study for IDS - main document for creating your plan of study

Revision Request Form - needed in order to make any changes to an approved plan

What is the WP003 Writing Assessment? How do I register?

The WP003 is a writing assessment checkpoint that must be passed for graduation.  There is no fee for taking this assessment, but it is required for graduation.  Southeast wants to ensure that all students are maintaining their writing skills obtained in those initial composition courses.  Upon successful completion of EN140 (English Composition II/Rhetoric and Critical Thinking) and at least 75 credit hours, you may register for this assessment.  Be sure to click the CRN link on the class schedule to see which date the assessment is being offered.  New transfer students with more than 90 hours completed are waived from this assessment.

Scoring criteria, scoring scales and sample essays are available through the Writing Outcomes website.  If you do not pass the assessment, you must contact Writing Outcomes and ask to submit a portfolio as your second chance opportunity.  This portfolio option generally occurs over the duration of the semester with scheduled checkpoints.  However, most students pass the assessment without difficulty.

This assessment may be completed either online or at a campus convenient to you.  If you wish to take the assessment in person, you must bring two valid forms of identification - and you may register on open enrollment.  If you wish to take the online assessment, contact me to request registration.  You must be an online degree student to obtain approval for this section.  In the online version, you will be provided a particular 24 hour window in which to take the approximately 2 hour assessment.  Note: the online version is only offered once each fall and spring semesters.
 

What is the Career Linkages initiative (CL001, CL002, CL003, CL004)? How do I register? If I am not required to take these, can I still receive career assistance?

The Career Linkages initiative is a four part sequence designed to assist students with career planning and goals as they progress to graduation.  Thus, when you graduate with your degree, you will also know how to effectively market yourself.  This is required for all students beginning at Southeast Fall 2005 or beyond or students returning to Southeast after an absence of one or more terms.  If you are unsure whether this applies to you, please contact me for clarification.  There are no fees associated with registering for these checkpoints.

Please note: any student may request individual career planning assistance, regardless of whether the full CLxxx sequence is required.  Please refer to the Career Linkages frame with the My Southeast Portal, located in the left column of the Student tab, for more information. 

New students will take CL001 at the same time as their UI100 First Year Seminar course.  New transfers or returning students with a large number of hours are permitted to enroll for CL001 and CL002 during the same semester.  CL002, CL003 and CL004 must be completed different semesters.  Student with over 90 credits hours upon transferring to Southeast (or returning after a prolonged absence) will be exempt from parts CL001-CL003. 

To register for one of the CL checkpoints, please contact me.

Description of CLxxx sequence:

CL001 - Complete FOCUS, a web-based career interest inventory

CL002 - Discuss FOCUS with a career counselor (phone or IM available) and begin a profile on GreatHires.org

CL003 - Update GreatHires.org profile and submit initial resume and cover letter for critique

CL004 - Complete GreatHires.org profile and submit final resume and cover letter for evaluation, complete mock interviews if appropriate (can be phone interviews)

What is the California Critical Thinking Assessment (CCTST)?  How do I register? 

CCTST is another checkpoint required for graduation.  This short assessment will test your ability to obtain details from given information.  Skills such as deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning, inference, analysis and evaluation will be assessed.  There is no certain score to pass, but if you achieve a score above a certain benchmark, you may have your graduation fee waived the semester you apply for graduation.

This assessment is not currently available online.  To register and check test locations, please visit the Testing Services website.  If you feel there is not a location within reasonable distance to you, we may explore options for securing a proctor at your local high school/college.  For further details or to make test arrangements, please contact me.

Am I required to meet with an advisor?

As an online student, you have the flexibility to complete your academic advising by phone, email or in person. Email is the preferred method as no appointment is required and both parties then have written records of the discussion.  You must confirm degree requirements and course selection each semester with your advisor before you will be permitted to register.  Once you have completed this, you will receive your new alternate PIN for registration purposes.  Note: if you have elected to place a confidentiality hold on your account, you are only permitted to complete your advising through your Southeast Key email.

When/How do I register for courses? How do I drop a course?

Course registration generally begins in the following pattern:

        Fall Semester - early April

        Spring Semester - early November

        Summer Semester - early February

Registration priority is based upon your completed credit hours on file at Southeast.  You can determine your earliest date to register by checking the most recent chart here.  The earlier you discuss your course options with me and begin registration, the better selection of courses you will have available.  If you are unable to get your target number of credit hours or specific requirements for degree goals, please contact me as soon as possible.

Registration opens at 7 am daily and closes at 9 pm.  If you attempt to access the menu outside of this time range, you will receive a message that misleads you to believe your alternate PIN is not correct.  Please try again during the scheduled hours before contacting myself or technical support for assistance.

To check course availability and register, login the My Southeast Portal and choose the Student tab.  Enter My Southeast Self-Service and select the Student and Financial Aid menu, then choose Registration.  A how-to guide is available to walk you through the process.

    * To look up course availability, select Look Up Classes.  To see a list of University Studies courses offered online for the current semester, check here.

    * To register, select Add or Drop Classes.  Select term for which you wish to register and enter the alternate PIN obtained in your advising session.

If you need to drop a course, please check the refund schedule to see what percentage, if any, you will receive back.  Your textbook refund is determined by its postmark date.  Please note that your financial aid could be adversely affected by dropping a course -- please consult Student Financial Services before you drop your course.  You will need your alternate PIN for the current semester to be able to drop a course.  Simply change the drop down menu beside the course you wish to drop and submit your changes.  After doing so, the drop down option should disappear and the course will be designated as dropped within the semester. 

How do I check my progress towards completing the degree?

All students have access to their Degree Audit Report (DAR) via the Southeast Portal.  You can access your DAR online through entering the Self-Service area and selecting Student & Financial - Records to determine your individual requirements for the degree.  This report updates live, so any registration changes will be reflected immediately.  You may review or delete previous requests rather than generating a new report each time you reference it.  If you see any requests that do NOT have a checkbox beside them, these are reports I have generated for advising purposes.  You may only delete the requests which you made (and likewise for me).

As an IDS student, your degree audit will only show your IDS plan of study once it has been approved by the Dean and entered by the Registrar's Office.  Be sure to keep a copy of your approved plan of study to assist in advising while waiting for the information to appear on your DAR.

A step-by-step guide is available to walk you through the process.

How can I calculate my potential semester GPA?

After finding your attempted hours on your Unofficial Transcripts (Student Records submenu of Student & Financial Aid within the portal), you can use the following GPA calculator to play "what if" with your current or future courses.  Any courses starting with the number 0 should not be included in the calculations (i.e. MA090, CH081, etc). 

What does it mean to be on academic probation?

Students who have a cumulative GPA under 2.0 ('C' average) are placed on academic probation.  Academic probation students are limited to 12 hours in the fall or spring or 6 hours in the summer semester.  Students must achieve a 2.0 semester GPA to demonstrate continued improvement or they will be suspended from the University for one fall/spring semester.  Students who are readmitted after sitting out and who fall on probation a second time will be disqualified for one full academic year.  Additionally, students on academic probation may find limitations in regards to available financial aid.

The fastest way to raise GPA is to repeat courses of 'D' or 'F' grades.  Southeast has a policy of grade replacement, in that only the most recent attempt will be counted towards your GPA.  (All attempts will remain a part of your academic record, however.) 

How do I know if I meet the pre-requisites for my courses?

The first step is to find the course description in either the University Studies Handbook (only University Studies courses) or the University Bulletin (all courses).  Some courses will not have pre-requisites, while others may require certain University Studies categories (i.e. Living Systems, Social Systems, Political Systems) or even specific courses (i.e. SC105, PS103 or PS104, MA134 and AD101).  Still other courses may state junior standing (60 hours) or senior standing (90 hours) in order to take the course.

Course levels:

100-200 level courses are open to all students (if any).

300-500 level courses are open to students with at least 45 hours completed.

600-700 level courses are ONLY for graduate students.

800 level courses are workshops for both undergraduate and graduate students.  800-833 are open to all students and are considered lower division credit, while 834-866 are open to students with at least 45 hours completed and are considered upper division credit.

The second step is to check your Unofficial Transcript in Self-Service.  This will show all courses completed and in progress to help you remember what you have already taken.  If you have credit that is over 10 years old, next check the title on the needed pre-requisite(s).  If you are still uncertain, you should confirm your selection with me as some course numbers may have changed since you completed the course (i.e. US101 = US105, MA136 = MA140, EN150 = EN140). 

Note: the registration system is NOT currently designed to check pre-requisites except in rare cases.  It is your responsibility as a student to make sure you are not only prepared for your next course, and that you will not be dropped by the department when they realize you lack the proper prerequisites.  Most departments check rosters in close proximity to the semester start, and I may be unable to assist you in finding a replacement. 

When/how do I apply for graduation? If I am not going to the ceremony, do I still need to apply?

Once you have confirmed remaining requirements with me (and minor if applicable) and you have registered for all courses, you should download the graduation application and mail to Registrar's Office.  Once you have applied, all schedule changes will require approval from the Registrar's Office - and any request for changes will move your application to the end of the list. 

You should apply for graduation no later than the FIRST day of classes of your LAST semester.  If you are a summer graduate and wish to participate in the commencement exercises for spring (since there is no summer commencement), you must apply for graduation no later than the FIRST day summer registration opens (mid-February).  For exact deadlines and dates for submitting paperwork, please visit the commencement website.  If you have missed the stated deadline, I encourage you to call and/or submit the paperwork -- if they agree to accept you as a late addition, a late fee would also apply.  The commencement website also has a very good handout with Senior FAQ and other helpful details for graduation here.

If you wish to participate in the ceremony, you must return the appropriate documents by the deadlines - otherwise, there will be no cap and gown waiting for you at the Show Me Center!  We welcome all online students to participate in the commencement exercises, especially if this will be your first visit to our campus!

Even if you do not wish to participate, you MUST apply for graduation at the proper time.  Otherwise, the Registrar's Office will not know your intentions nor review your eligibility for graduation.  Your degree will not be awarded and you will not graduate unless you formally apply by the given deadlines.

How/when do I get textbooks?

Once you have finalized your schedule, you must request your books at the Textbook Rental website under Textbooks - Textbook Rental - Web/ITV.  The NEW web form is the easiest way to request your books as it provides a confirmation page for your reference.  Your rental fees and shipping fees will be added to your account balance.  Please note that some courses require additional materials - please check the supplemental materials link on the rental request page (second paragraph).  These can be purchased from the Southeast Bookstore website.

All requested textbooks are shipped 1-2 weeks before the session starts, and arrival time will vary depending upon your distance from Southeast.  You may request your books earlier than this time frame if it is more convenient for you, but they will not ship until students have returned the books from current semester.  If you did not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your request, please contact Textbook Rental.  There may have been a problem with your submission.

If you live close to Cape Girardeau, you are welcome to pick up your books in person the week before classes begin.  However, you must bring a copy of your schedule AND a student ID card to receive your books.  Keep in mind that the method by which you receive books is the method by which you will be responsible for returning them.  Students with shipped books have a "ship by" date, whereas students who arrange to get books in person have a "received by" date.

How do I get a student ID card?

Beginning Fall 2006, you may request a new Redhawk ID card using the following procedures:

• Using a digital camera, take and save pictures to your computer, CD or Disk (preferably a CD-RW) in the .jpg format.
• The individual should be posed in front of a light colored wall or background, and the picture should capture the head and shoulders.  Please do not wear sunglasses, hats or other items that obscure the face.
• On a piece of paper or in the body of the email, please indicate the following information as it corresponds with the photo:
  • Last Name
  • First Name
  • Middle Initial
  • SS# or Student ID #

• If mailing a disk/CD(s), it should be wrapped in additional padding (sheets of paper, plastic, bubble wrap, etc.) and enclosed in an envelope with the above information and mailed to:

      ID Services/Information Desk

      Southeast Missouri State University

      1 University Plaza, MS 1175

      Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

• If emailing the picture and information, please email Gretchen with the above information.
• Please be sure to include a return address where the completed ID(s), etc. should be mailed to and a contact name and number for the individual seeking the ID(s) in case of questions.

If you plan to visit campus, you are also welcome to visit ID Services in person to receive your Southeast ID.  ALL active students will need to get a Redhawk ID that reflects your new student ID number (S0xxxxxxx) for fall 2006 and beyond.

How can I borrow library books and videos?
 
Online students can have books and videos from Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University, in addition to books from the state-wide lending program MOBIUS, shipped to their primary residence free of charge.   Each library item shipped comes with a prepaid return envelope.  Additionally, materials may be picked up at one of the over 60 Missouri libraries in the MOBIUS system.

For more assistance on this process, visit the Kent Library request tutorial or the MOBIUS request tutorial for more details.

How can I find articles for my class assignments?
 
All Southeast students have access to library subscription databases that can help you find an article that matches your topic.  The library has full-text access to over 24,000 journals, magazines and newspapers, so you will be able to get the full-text to many articles with a single click.  To learn more about finding articles, you can complete the self-paced tutorial Module 4- Finding Articles.

How can I receive assistance with my writing?

All Southeast students have access to the Online Writing Lab (OWL).  Using OWL, students can submit drafts of papers for additional feedback and guidance on the drafting process, walk through writing tutorials to refresh memory or ask individual questions of the writing staff.  Please note that the staff will not proofread your entire submission, but rather they seek to work with you in order to teach you how to be a better proofreader as well as clarify any repetitive errors made.  If you utilize this resource, please do so well in advance of your submission deadline for the course so you have adequate time for the revision and communication process.

The online submission form will not allow students to submit documents over 6 pages in length.  As an online degree student, you can still receive assistance with longer submissions.  Please contact the Writing Center through the above link for more information.
 

What if I need disability or tutorial assistance?  What is available to me?
 
The Offices of Learning Assistance Programs and Disability Student Services provide both disability and tutorial assistance to Southeast students.  Online students with disabilities may receive assistance by registering with the office as outlined on their website.   Although tutorial assistance is not available online, online students are welcome to visit them for face-to-face tutorial services and other learning resources.  Additionally, if you have difficulty in understanding your materials or assignments, many faculty will answer additional questions via email or phone - or refer you to additional resources that may assist you in your studies.
 

Other unanswered questions? Comments about this page?  Let me know!

University Studies courses available online:

Descriptions available in the University Studies Handbook

NOTE:  This list is not an exhaustive list of online courses, but rather a guide for those of you still needing to fulfill basic University Studies requirements.  Please view the full schedule in the My Southeast Portal (under the registration menu) for full listings.