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Health and Exercise Sciences

The Advising Relationship

Advising is a collaborative process between the student and advisor. We both must care about your success at Truman State University. The advising relationship involves all elements of the collegiate experience; not only academic issues, but also guidance for professional preparation and personal growth. Ultimately, advising is what you make of it. You have the final responsibility to make appropriate choices to fulfill your degree requirements and goals. A good advisee is a prepared advisee.

As a student at Truman, you have a right to:

  1. Meet with your advisor as often as necessary
  2. An advisor who keeps office hours and appointments
  3. A prepared advisor who maintains your academic file and necessary worksheets
  4. An advisor who helps you develop your goals, and links course work with those goals
  5. An advisor who has a thorough understanding of the academic program and requirements of his/her advisees
  6. An advisor who can offer advice and assistance concerning graduate or professional schools
  7. An advisor who knows appropriate persons and places to refer students
  8. Change advisors without penalty and to request specific advisors when available
  9. Make final decisions involving classes, goals, etc.


You then have the responsibility to:

  1. Take the initiative to make appointments to meet with your advisor at least twice per semester
  2. Make appointments to meet with your advisor well in advance of your registration date
  3. Keep records of all pertinent forms, worksheets, etc.
  4. Read the General Catalog to be familiar with the requirements of your academic program
  5. Continue to develop your goals and formulate ideas of what courses you wish to take before each session with the advisor
  6. Prepare a tentative course schedule prior to meeting with your advisor, including alternative classes
  7. Accept the ultimate responsibility in making decisions

Each advising session will include discussion of your class schedule for the next semester, your pattern selection, your progress through the curriculum, and the update of your advising folder worksheet. Discussion of your career and personal goals will also occur.

Bring with you to each advising meeting your

  • Updated degree worksheet
  • Advising folder (if you have an HES faculty advisor, folder is available from the HES Office, PB 212)
  • Tentative course schedule with several alternatives
  • Your HES incoming student handbook
     

Selecting Your Pattern

The selection of your pattern should be made by your sophomore year. See the pattern descriptions (ES/HS) in your handbook, and your degree worksheet for required courses. If you change your pattern, don’t forget to notify the HES office and complete a Degree Program Update Form.

Your Field Experience

In all patterns except the Physical Education/Coaching pattern, all HES degree candidates must complete one 200-hour field experience (ES/HLTH 370) during a summer semester, usually between the junior and senior year. During the fall and spring prior to the summer you plan to complete your internship, you must attend two Field Experience meetings. This internship requirement provides practical experience in a chosen field before you graduate. However, it would be advantageous to gain experience from more than one internship, if your schedule allows. The more references and experiences you have before you graduate, the more marketable you will be to prospective employers.

Graduating with Department Honors

Every semester the HES department recognizes outstanding graduates by awarding departmental honors to those who meet the requirements. To be eligible, you must meet certain academic and assessment criteria, and complete and present or publish your own research. If you are interested in applying for Departmental Honors, please review the criteria early in your academic preparation. Specific eligibility requirements are available on our website at http://hes.truman.edu/depthonors.asp.

Preparing for Graduation

If you are an undergraduate student who entered Truman in or after the Fall 2004 semester, you may apply for graduation after you have completed registration for your last semester at Truman and all of your degree requirements are marked as "met" on your online degree evaluation.  Applications must be on file by the start of your final semester.  An Intent To Graduate form can be downloaded or picked up at the Registrar's Office.  Read more about the application deadlines.

If you entered Truman before the Fall 2004 semester, you may apply for graduation after you have completed 90 semester hours.  An application for graduation can be picked up from the Registrar’s office. You will also need to attach a completed major worksheet to your application.  We recommend that you turn your completed application, signed by your advisor, into the HES Office (PB 334).  Learn more about the application deadlines.

During your senior year, you will also take a senior exit examination, which is meant to determine achievement of educational objectives. The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) Exam is the exit exam for Health Science majors and the ACSM HFS is the exit exam for Exercise Science majors. It is your responsibility to stay informed of deadlines and procedures (i.e., testing and assessment, graduation, etc.) See the University Calendar and the Registrar's Office for important deadlines.