[an error occurred while processing this directive] [an error occurred while processing this directive] Academic Advising
Frequently Asked Questions  

New Students

Questions About Advising Assessment Testing Registering for Courses Transfer Class Help I am a new student. Where do I go for information about BCCC?
A new student can gain information in one of a number of ways. Go to the Admissions Office in Pemberton Hall and complete an application form. This will allow the College to invite you to a new student orientation program and make you aware of upcoming events. If you know what your major will be, find the corresponding department office and make an appointment with an advisor in your field of study. Obtain a College catalog and look through it for College policies, interesting courses, etc. [back to top]

I am a transfer student into BCCC. Where do I go for information about the College?
As a transfer student, your first stop should be at the Transfer and Job Resource Center. The staff there can help you determine what courses that you have taken at other colleges may transfer to Bucks in the major that you desire, based on the Transfer Data Book and/or the Computerized Transfer Equivalents. To get the credit for these courses, you must have an official transcript sent directly from the other school to the BCCC Admissions Office. Once it has arrived it will be evaluated for acceptable courses. This may take some time, so start early! [back to top]

I would like to know more about services available for students with disabilities. Where can I go for that data?
Students with physical, psychological, or learning disabilities may request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Disability Services. Students are strongly urged to contact this office for information prior to registration by calling 215-968-8463 (V) or 215-504-8561 (TDD). [back to top]

Must I see an advisor in order to register for my classes?
It is strongly recommended that each student see an advisor prior to registration. It is not mandatory to see an advisor if you are a part-time student registering for six or fewer credits by mail, or are registering by telephone. [back to top]

Who is my advisor? When should I see my advisor?
Advising is not just for course registration purposes. You might want to clarify your goals or discuss placement opportunities in the middle of the semester. Your advisor is there for you. You may ask any full-time faculty member in the area of your major to be your advisor. A list of advisors comes to you along with midterm grades. [back to top]

How do I schedule an appointment with my advisor?
The student should possess and understand the Bucks County Community College Catalog. It is important to look at the requirements of the major and the progress that has been made in completing these. The Program of Study Evaluation that each student receives from the College indicates which courses have been completed in the major and which courses still need to be addressed. Consider how many courses would be ideal for next semester, depending on work and other responsibilities. Take placement tests, if necessary. Come to your advising session having reviewed possible course options from the Class Schedule, published each semester. [back to top]

How do I prepare for my advising session?
The student should possess and understand the Bucks County Community College Catalog. It is important to look at the requirements of the major and the progress that has been made in completing these. The Program of Study Evaluation that each student receives from the College indicates which courses have been completed in the major and which courses still need to be addressed. Consider how many courses would be ideal for next semester, depending on work and other responsibilities. Take placement tests, if necessary. Come to your advising session having reviewed possible course options from the Class Schedule, published each semester. [back to top]

What are assessment placement (ATP) tests?
Assessment tests are tests designed to ascertain the current functioning level of the student taking the test. There are three tests which must be taken, including:
Writing Sample - The writing sample is used to determine English course placement. The writing test is required of all students who are planning to register for English Composition I (COMP110) or Business Letter and Report Writing (OADM110). The student will write an essay on a topic assigned by the Language and Literature Department.
Mathematics - There are two forms of the mathematics test. One is for those who have had two years of algebra in high school, the other is for those who have had a year of algebra or less. Forty-five minutes is allotted for the mathematics test.
Reading - The Asset Reading Test measures vocabulary and comprehension.
Additional placement tests are:
Chemistry - The chemistry placement test measures comprehensive, basic chemical vocabulary and math applications. All students must take and pass the chemistry placement exam irrespective of any prior courses they have taken or degrees they have completed in order to enroll in CHEM121.
American English as a Second Language - Students for whom English is their second language may be asked to take an English as a Second Language (AESL) assessment test which consists of a writing sample, a 45 minute grammar test and an oral interview. [back to top]

Must I take the assessment (ATP) tests?
The Assessment Testing Program is required of all full-time, first-time students and part-time students registering for their 16th credit. The College adopted the ATP because it believes that appropriate assessment will serve to place students in courses most suited to their skills and thus enhance the chances for success in college.
The purpose of placement testing is to assess the level of student learning and skills for placement at the appropriate level in courses. If test results do not meet the standards of college-level courses, students are required to register in courses that help them to improve their learning and skills and increase their opportunity to succeed in college work. [back to top]

Who is exempt from taking the placement (ATP) tests?
Certain students are exempted from testing. For more details, see the current College catalog. [back to top]

When and where do I take the placement (ATP) tests?
Assessment tests are given on regularly scheduled days. Assessment tests may not be taken a second time. Call the Office of Testing and Retention at 215-968-8460 for a schedule. [back to top]

What do the ATP scores mean?
The raw scores gained from the ATP test correspond to charts in the college catalog that indicate the appropriate course to take at each skill level. Sometimes more than one course is listed for a particular score. Refer to the catalog. [back to top]

What are prerequisites? Corequisites?
A prerequisite is a course condition or requirement, which must be met before enrolling in a course. Students are not allowed to enroll in a course without first satisfying the prerequisite.
A corequisite is a course, which is required to be taken simultaneously with another. For example: Preparatory Chemistry must be taken in conjunction with College Algebra. [back to top]

How do I plan my semester course schedule?
When developing a semester schedule, it's important to think about spreading your load over the week. You will be fresher and better able to absorb the material if you give yourself a break during the day. So, don't schedule all of your classes back to back! If you need to carry twelve credit hours for insurance purposes, then try to limit the number of hours that you work each week to 15-20. Beyond that, make sure that you have the prerequisites for each course for which you are registering. [back to top]

What does it mean to audit a course?
To enroll in a course for audit means that the student is not seeking college credit for the course. The student will pursue the body of knowledge inherent in the course but the instructor will not grade the student's efforts. [back to top]

What courses can be challenged by an examination? How do I do this?
It is sometimes possible to get credit for the body of knowledge contained in a course without actually taking it. This can be done in one of two ways.
The first is called Challenge by Examination. Some college courses have an examination that can be taken if one would like to challenge the course. Always look in the current College catalog for a listing as the courses available for challenge do change. These challenge examinations may be created here at the College or may be standardized tests such as CLEP and DANTES. The cost to take a Challenge by Examination is currently $15.00.
There are two conditions on taking a Credit by Examination. The student may not have taken the course before nor may the student have registered for the course prior to taking the exam. The procedure for registering varies from department to department. Call the appropriate department office to find out how the test is administered. Generally, it's wise to obtain a syllabus of the course and review the current text being used in the course. As one cannot register for the course being challenged before taking the Credit by Examination and one cannot register for the next level course without credit for the one being challenged, it's also wise to take any challenges as early as possible. This allows time for the test to be scored and the results reported before registration decisions need to be made for the next semester. [back to top]

Can I receive credit(s) for my life or military experiences?
The second way to receive credit for a course without taking it is to consider credit for Life Experience. It's possible to develop a portfolio of past work to be evaluated by faculty. There is a charge for this; it varies depending on the complexity of the portfolio. If interested, call the Student Services Center at 215-968-8476 or 215-968-8189. [back to top]

I have decided on a major. I'm not sure which college to transfer to.
Resources available in the Transfer and Job Resource Center will help students find the colleges that offer the chosen major. In addition to the availability of the major, students should consider the following factors when choosing a college:
Cost Location and Environment Distance Campus
Size Make-up of the Student Body Activities Special Needs
Students should study the catalogs of the colleges in which they are interested and become familiar with general education requirements, major requirements and course descriptions. They should also visit the colleges. [back to top]

What resources are available on campus for evaluating colleges?
Transfer information and materials are centralized in the Transfer and Job Resource Center on the second floor of the Rollins Center. The staff is trained to answer students' questions. The materials include books, a computer program, and college catalogs. The collection includes all Pennsylvania and New Jersey colleges, as well as many other schools throughout the United States. Students can also find college catalogs that are on the Web by using one of the Center’s computers. [back to top]

How do I transfer my BCCC credits to another college?
Most institutions require an official transcript sent directly from the Admissions Office to that college or university. You must go to Admissions in Pemberton Hall and make such a request in writing. [back to top]

I really need help in my classes. Where do I go to get it?
The first avenue for help lies with your instructor. Each instructor has office hours (listed in the course format sheet given out the first day of class), when you can get extra help. If you need more concentrated help for writing, math, accounting and basic computer skills, it is provided at the Tutoring Center, which is located in Library 121. If you need writing or computer help, call 215-968-8218 for an appointment. Writing help needed can run from brainstorming topics for a paper to paragraph structure and grammar. If you need help with math problems you can just go to the Center. No appointment is necessary. [back to top]

How do I drop or withdraw from a class?
You can drop a class within the first week of the semester. See the College catalog for details.
You can withdraw from a class up through the withdrawal date which is published in the College catalog. To accomplish this, go to the Admissions Office on the first floor of Pemberton Hall and complete the appropriate form. These forms are also available in the Evening Programs Office in the lobby of Founders Hall. No faculty signature is required to withdraw. You might want to consider talking to your instructor before you do this. It may be possible to work something out so that you can continue with your studies. [back to top]

Can I repeat a course?
If the grade received is a D or F, it is possible to repeat a course. The grade earned by retaking the course is the grade, other than W (Withdrawal), counted in the cumulative grade point average. If the original grade is a C or better, approval is needed from the Department Chair before registration is permitted. [back to top]

I am switching majors. How do I do this and what catalog do I follow?
There is a Change Of Major form available through faculty advisors, in department offices and in the Admissions Office that must be completed and submitted to Admissions. A faculty signature is not required on this form.
Once you have changed your major, you follow the catalog that is active the semester you made the change. Check the current catalog for information on 'Degree Requirements' or Revisions in Major' consult an academic advisor with any questions. [back to top]







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