Academic Advisement

Academic Advisement

School of Art and Design
Main Building
Room 432
718-636-3611
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Office hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM

Advisement Staff

As academic advisors for art and design undergraduates, we are here to help you plan your schedule, define your educational objectives, and make sure that you are properly satisfying departmental requirements. You will meet with your advisor twice a year for your advisement appointment, but feel free to come and see us any time Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM if you have questions or just to say hello!

We also ask that you check your Pratt email regularly. This is our primary form of communication with you; we send important information about advisement and registration to your Pratt emails and expect you to be responsible for that information as well as important deadlines which are listed in the academic calendar. Please note: once you are a Pratt student, we will not respond to or use non-Pratt email.

Remember, we are here as part of the support system that is available to you at Pratt, and we welcome your questions and conversations. Ultimately, however, your academic career is in your hands.

       __________________________________________________________________

Choosing a Major

Applicants interested in architecture, writing, critical and visual studies, construction management, and the BA in art history must apply directly to those majors at the time of application because they have different first years.  Students who are uncertain about which major to choose in the School of Art and Design may choose undecided and then select their major in the spring of their freshman year.  Certain majors like interior design and industrial design are limited by space and must control the numbers entering to assure enough space and equipment for all students.  Most welcome students who wish to enter their departments.

Each year 90 freshmen or 15 percent apply as "undecided."   Undecided students in art and design or students who initially chose another major and want to switch to another major within their school must request the Change of Major form from the Office of Academic Advisement and meet with the Chairperson of the department in which they want to major. Be prepared to bring a portfolio including work from the foundation year and a transcript with your grades from the fall semester.  See question below for instructions on how to submit the paperwork for changing your major.

Students who wish to talk with an admissions adviser about the various majors are encouraged to call or come in with their work to discuss.  They may also read about each major and concentration online.

How do I change my major?
If you want to change your major within the School of Art and Design, you must obtain a Change of Major form from the Office of Academic Advisement and meet with the Chairperson of the department in which you would like to major. The signature of your current Chairperson is also required. Then, take the form to the Registrar’s Office for processing.

       __________________________________________________________________

FAQs

Who is my academic advisor?

Advisors are assigned by major starting in your freshman year.  You can see your academic advisor's name listed on your MyPratt dashboard in the upper left under your name and on your Degree Audit.  For a list of advisors and the majors that they advise, go here.

How do I know when my advisement appointment is?

Your advisement and registration appointments are listed on your degree audit and My Pratt dashboard a week before the advisement period begins each semester. You are to come in for advisement on the designated date. Be sure to check your Pratt email for specific times that your advisor is available during advisement.

What is the difference between advisement and registration?
After going over your degree audit, and planning your courses in your online worksheet, you come to see your advisor for advisement. With your advisor, you will discuss your specific degree requirements and the courses that you need to take to meet those requirements. Registration is a separate process which you do yourself online—you choose the sections (days and times) of the courses that you wish to take, and you register yourself for them.

                   Go here for tutorials on advisement and registration!

How do I get into a closed class?
If you want to get into a class that is closed, you must go to the department that offers the course and get the permission of the Chairperson. He or she will register you directly into the class if they so choose. Neither your advisor nor the faculty member can add you to a closed class.

A class says it is closed, but the number of seats shows that there are still spaces. Why can't I get in?
Some sections of courses are linked to other sections, so even though it appears that there is space in a section, if the website says that the class is closed, it is closed.

How do I take summer courses at Pratt?
If you wish to take summer courses at Pratt, you will be advised during your advisement appointment in the spring semester. You are able to register for summer courses during registration for fall courses.

How do I get an Incomplete grade in a class and what does it mean?
An Incomplete in a class may be given by your faculty member if you have been in regular attendance, satisfied all but the final requirements for the course, and you have given satisfactory proof that the work was not completed due to illness or other circumstances beyond your control. You must complete the work by the date specified by your faculty, and no later than the end of the following semester, otherwise you will receive an F for the course.

What do NR and NG mean on my transcript?
NR means that there is no record on file of you being registered for, or dropping or withdrawing from, a particular section of a course. Often, it means that you have attended a different section of a course than the one that you registered for. You will need to see your advisor to fill out a drop/add slip, and you will need to obtain a letter from your faculty stating that you attended his or her course.  NG means that you were properly registered for a course, but the faculty member has not issued a grade.

What if I am not happy with the grade that I have received?
You must contact your professor directly regarding your grade for a class. The professor is the only person who can submit a change of grade for you, if they deem it appropriate. See the Pratt Catalog under “Final Grades, Grade Disputes, and Grade Change Policies.”