Frequently Asked Questions

305-348-2978 
caseadvising@fiu.edu 

Connect with an Advisor

The Panther Success Network, accessible through MyFIU, allows you to remain connected to your academic advisor. It includes a record of advising reports and notes that both you and your advisor may view at any time. Panther Success Network Guide

If you would like to add a second major, you need to make an advisor in the area you are interested in — for example, to add a second major in English, you should meet with an English advisor. Connect with an Advisor

If you are interested in adding a minor in the College of Arts, Sciences & Education, you may review minor requirements and submit a request to add a minor.  Please visit our Minors page for more information. 

You can email caseadvising@fiu.edu for an advisor reassignment as long as there is another advisor in your area. Make sure to include your name, PID, and major, along with reason in your email.

To find out more about CASE, visit Academics, and check Prospective Student Resources.

Freshman orientation is mandatory; you must sign up for an orientation.
Transfer Orientation is highly recommended. If you are unable to sign up, we encourage you to make an appointment with your assigned advisor.  If your advisor is unavailable, we encourage you to use your Panther Degree Audit as a guide.  View the tutorial here.

The issue may be related to an advising hold or a restriction with the course. To check if you have a hold, go to the "Task" tile in MyFIU. If you do have a hold related to advising you will need to make an appointment with your advisor via the Panther Success Network system.

If the issue is related to a course restriction, you should look at the notes for that course and particular section. When you do a Class Search, click on the blue link and look at the tab called "Enrollment Information." This will let you know if the course is restricted to certain groups or majors and if there are any necessary prerequisites.

Remember to put a space between the prefix and the number of the course.

For courses that have a corequisite, you must enroll in both at the same time for the enrollment to be successful.

If you are still having issues with registering for a course, you can contact your advisor via the Panther Success Network.

The error you receive in the system typically gives you an indication of why you cannot enroll in the course. If the course requires prerequisites that you have already taken but that are not in FIU's system yet, please visit the Approval section of the Transient Student page. 

You can check for your enrollment appointment date when you click on the "Manage Classes" tile and then click on Enrollment on the left toolbar. Keep in mind that is the date and time you will be allowed to officially register for courses. There is no need to come in to advising at that date and time.

Set by Florida Legislature, Excess Credit Surcharge is a policy that adds on additional fees on attempted credit hours that exceed a set total number of credits. 

Your Excess Credit Threshold and Surcharge Rate depend on when you first began your college education.

Every time you register for a course, and keep it beyond the first week of the semester, commonly known as Add/Drop week, it counts as an attempted course. This includes courses that you've passed, failed, or even earned a "DR" grade for.

You have access to your Excess Credit Counter through MyFIU. Log in and select the "Academic Records" tile, then click "View Excess Credit Hours." This page has a counter of the number of credits you have attempted, by semester. You'll see how many credits, by term, are counting towards Excess Credit Surcharge. It will also show what courses have been excluded. You can click on the "Exemption" tab to see what courses have been petitioned. Contact your assigned advisor with any questions you may have.

There are multiple exceptions to keep in mind:

• Credits earned through accelerated articulation mechanisms such as AP, IB, CLEP, AICE or dual enrollment
• Credits earned through internship programs
• Credits required for declared certification, recertification or certificate programs
• Withdrawn courses approved for reasons of medical or personal hardship
• Credits taken for a declared double major
• Credits taken for a declared second bachelor's degree
• Remedial and English-as-a-second-language credits
• Credits taken by active-duty military personnel
• Credits earned in military science courses that are part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)
• Transferred credits that are non-degree applicable. Note: Credits earned as part of an Associate of Arts degree from a Florida State College may NOT be excluded

Yes. The only courses that are excluded are courses that count for your second major and NOT part of your current primary major. Courses that "double-dip" will count toward Excess Credit.

Yes, they are. However, if you did your dual enrollment credits outside of FIU, then you'll need to petition them to be exempt from counting toward Excess Credit Surcharge.

Log in to MyFIU. Select the "Academic Records" tile, then click "View Excess Credit Hours." Then click on "Go to Excess Credit Hours Petition" link. Select the course(s) you want to petition, and select the basis for your petition and additional comments as needed. Then hit submit.

Once a petition is submitted, it will go through to the Excess Credit Surcharge Advising team. The total time can vary. If you're concerned, feel free to contact your assigned advisor for follow-up.

Students are notified that they will be facing Excess Credit Surcharge as they approach the threshold. Reach out to your assigned advisor as soon as possible. It's always a great idea that you stay informed and discuss excess credit surcharge every time you come in for advising. It's a great way to check on your progress.

That depends. Remember, the first week of every term is called Add/Drop Week, when you can add/drop courses without financial repercussions. Any courses you drop during this term would NOT count toward Excess Credit Surcharge. However, once that week passes, courses for which you've dropped and earned a "DR" grade WOULD count toward Excess Credit Surcharge.

Go to www.floridashines.org and click on "Take a Course at Another School." You will need your Student ID and your PIN which can be found in MyFIU in the "Profile" tile and click on "Personal Identification Number" on the left-hand toolbar. Make sure to select "College of Arts, Sciences & Education" as your college.

It typically takes 48 to 72 business hours to process your transient request. If you have not received a notification within 72 hours, you can email caseadvising@fiu.edu to inquire about the status of your request. Keep in mind that the request must be approved by an advisor and the Registrar's office at both institutions.

Readmission applications are reviewed by college administrators once forwarded from the Admissions office on a weekly basis in order of receipt. Please email caseadvising@fiu.edu to check on the status of your readmission application.

Graduation is the completion of your degree requirements. Commencement is the ceremony celebrating your graduation.

Always visit your academic advisor to discuss your progress towards graduation.  Your Panther Degree Audit (via MyFIU) itemizes your University, College and Major requirements in one place and even color-codes them to illustrate your progress: Green as satisfied, Yellow as in-progress, and Red as pending. When all of your requirements are Green or Yellow, then you've already satisfied or are completing all of your graduation requirements!

You still need to APPLY for graduation via MyFIU and must do so before the Graduation deadline. Check the Academic Calendar for graduation deadlines.

There is a timeframe for which you can apply for graduation. Generally, you can apply the semester before your graduation term, up until the first few weeks of your graduation term. For specific dates, please visit the Academic Calendar. So if you're graduation term is Spring, then you can apply in Fall, up until the first month or so of the Spring semester.

Contact your assigned advisor immediately! There may be an opportunity to do a Late Graduation Application. However, commencement tickets may not be available depending on when you apply.

When you meet with your assigned academic advisor, you'll need to discuss your particular situation and address any concerns you have. Then, you'll most likely need to complete a graduation ineligibility form so that you have access to register for courses to complete those requirements the next term.

Yes you can. However, you'll have to reapply to FIU for the subsequent term, either as a non-degree seeking student, or degree-seeking. Speak with your assigned academic advisor with any further questions you may have about this process.

Register for commencement by ordering a commencement pass on MyFIU.  This is a unique pass that contains your information that you'll need the day of commencement. Log in to your Student Homepage of MyFIU, then click on Academic Records. Then on the left navigation, click on Order Commencement Tickets. Select your major/degree and Confirm that you'll be attending the Commencement Ceremony. Then select your preferred campus for Commencement Fair and to pick up your pass. Continue with the prompts to order tickets for guests.

When you order your Commencement Pass, you'll also be prompted for tickets. The quantities available may vary. Generally, you're allowed 2 complimentary tickets for guests, with the option to purchase up to 4 additional tickets at $7 each. Click on the question above for navigation details.

Commencement Fair is your one-stop shop for the graduation ceremony. There are usually multiple Commencement Fairs every term and on every campus, MMC, I-75 and BBC. The preferred campus you selected when applying for your Commencement Pass is where your Commencement Fair will be held. You'll be able to:

• Pick up your commencement pass
• Purchase your cap and gown and other graduation gear
• Pose for formal graduation portrait and get a free 5x7 photo
• Get a discount on your official FIU class ring
• Enjoy free refreshment and snacks
• Make an impact by donating to the 2019 Class Gift

Commencement ceremonies are split up by majors or by schools. The exact dates will be posted online on the Commencement website. You can plan on the ceremony being held during the last few weeks of your graduation term.

Academic Honors are given to students whose academic achievements can be reflected in their cumulative FIU GPAs. To graduate with the following academic honors, you must complete a minimum of 40 semester hours of coursework at FIU.

• Summa Cum Laude: 3.90 GPA or higher
• Magna Cum Laude: 3.70 – 3.899 GPA
• Cum Laude: 3.50 – 3. 699 GPA

Yes, you will! Your name will be printed in the Commencement book under the degree from which you'll be graduating, along with the Academic Honor you'd be receiving. Since the ceremony takes place before the end of your final semester (before grades are posted), your Academic Honors will be determined by your cumulative GPA for the prior term.

Your preparation starts as early as your freshman year! Before committing to a graduate degree, it’s important to explore the coursework to determine that your interests and aptitudes match. Graduate programs will also have required courses or may require a particular degree, so it’s important to meet with an advisor in the discipline to learn more! Keep in mind that all graduate degrees have minimum GPA requirements, so you’ll want to discuss your GPA with your advisor. Visit Career Preparation for more information.

Some careers require specific courses or majors. However, all majors offer something called transferable skills. Transferable skills are those things you learn that can be used in multiple careers, including critical thinking, effective written and oral communication skills, teamwork, leadership, technology, work ethic and professionalism. Speak with your assigned advisor to learn about careers affiliated with your major. Make sure to attend the CASE Career workshops held every semester! Visit Career Preparation for more information.

Whether you’re a freshman or a senior, there are steps you can take at every level to prepare for your career. The important thing to remember is to have as many experiences as you can to help you determine your interests and grow your skills.

• As a freshman, EXPLORE your interests through coursework, clubs, extracurricular activities and more!
• As a sophomore, CONFIRM those interests by reflecting on the coursework and experiences you’ve had so far.
• As a junior, SOLIDIFY your experiences by adding onto your network, connecting with professionals (informational interviews, shadowing, volunteering, joining a research team, etc.) in your chosen area.
• As a senior, EXECUTE your next steps by finalizing your resume, applications, joining professional organizations, etc.

Check our Career Readiness Milestones at Career Preparation to learn more.

Many faculty members have their own research labs. Browse your department’s website to browse the professors and their research interests.

It’s advisable that you reach out to professors with whom you’ve connected, so get to know your professors! You can visit them during their office hours and discuss any challenging material, your progress in their course(s), their own career paths, the industry and more. If there is a particular professor whom you’ve taken for multiple classes, chances are he or she knows you and can attest to your character, performance, and skills. It’s usually a good idea to also supply them with a copy of your resume, so that they can have a more complete vision of who you are as a person. You may also want to approach professors from different academic majors or professionals such as supervisors, volunteer leads, and mentors.

FIU is committed to your success here as an undergraduate student and upon graduation. Whether you need help tweaking your resume, mastering your elevator pitch, or articulating the skills you learned in your various classroom experiences, FIU is here to help!

 Visit Career Preparation or FIU Career and Talent Development for more guidance.

Many of our students work and go to school; however, we really encourage you to budget your time accordingly. If you’re a full-time student enrolled in 12-15 credits, we suggest that your out-of-class commitments including work, clubs, volunteering and shadowing, not exceed 20 hours per week. If you must work full time, then we encourage that you take 6 credits per term. We encourage you to further discuss with your assigned advisor and work together to come up with a plan that really works for you!

Your GPA is one of the easiest indicators of subject mastery. Generally, the minimum GPA for graduate school is 3.0, however, some competitive programs (such as medical school, physical therapy master's programs, etc.) may require a significantly higher GPA. Therefore, it’s important to utilize all resources — including tutoring, professors' office hours, the Center for Excellence in Writing, Disability Resource Center, Counseling & Psychological Services and more — to help you keep you focused and performing well! Visit Current Student Resources for more.

We encourage you to express your interests with your assigned advisor to determine whether your current major can accommodate the prerequisite courses for your pre-professional interest. Then we encourage you to contact the appropriate office for further information on entrance requirements, required courses, etc. See below:

• Office of Pre-Health Advising
  • Medical School
  • Dental School
  • Pharmacy School
  • Veterinary Medical School
  • Optometry School
  • Physician Assistant School
• Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences
  • Athletic Training
  • Nursing
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Speech-Language Pathology
• Pre-Law Advising and Training Office

Speak with your assigned advisor regarding other graduate programs that you could also find rewarding or ways to get started working toward your career now.