We are happy that you have chosen to continue your college career at Illinois State University in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department. Over 50 percent of our current students are transfers so you are definitely not in the minority.
We encourage you to work closely with our academic advisor and become involved with our student organizations and other campus groups to enrich your time here at Illinois State University.
Students transferring from 2-year institutions are strongly encouraged to complete a baccalaureate-oriented associated degree (A.A. or A.S.) from a public community college or the Illinois Transferable General Education Core Curriculum, commonly referred to as IAI.
To assist you with your academic planning we have developed sample transfer student plans of study for each of our programs. Please be aware that these are just sample plans. Individual plans of study should be developed with your academic advisor. Apparel, Merchandising and Design, Consumer Services, Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, Human Development, Family Relationships, Interior and Environmental Design and Teacher Education.
Please visit the Registrar's Web site for detailed information concerning the Transfer Registration Program.
You will receive instructions in the mail, from the Office of Admissions, telling you how to sign up for the Transfer Registration Program. If you were not invited to the Transfer Registration Program, you should phone the FCS Advisement Office to schedule an appointment (309) 438-5011.
Adjusting to a new set of policies and procedures can be a confusing process. The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences wants to make your transition as smooth as possible. Listed below are answers to some of the common transfer-related questions students have.
Students are encouraged to read and become familiar with their Illinois State University catalog, especially the following sections: Academic Policies and Practices, Degree Requirements, and Family and Consumer Sciences. Remember that you must follow the catalog year that you were admitted under (see your advisor if you are not sure which one you are to follow). If you misplace your catalog they are available on-line.
Students should read the information included in the Class Registration Directory. You are advised to keep this booklet for the entire semester as the calendar of events included and other general policy information are nice to have as a resource.
Students receive a notice in their local mail, or if we do not have your local address on file, it will be sent to your home address that is on file with the University. This date and time indicated is the first time, during the Advanced Registration period, that you will be able to access the system to register for courses for the upcoming semester. This date and time is NOT an appointment with the Academic Advisor. If you do not receive your registration notice, contact the Student Service and Referral Center (SSRC).
It is very important that you register as soon as you are eligible. This will give you the best selection of courses and times. If you have any delinquencies with the University please be sure to take care of them so that you are eligible to register when your registration date arrives.
Once you receive this notice in the mail it is recommended that you phone the FCS office 438-5011, to make your advisement appointment. We will try to get you in before your registration date if at all possible, but you need to call right when you receive this notice, don't wait!
If you will not be able to see the advisor before you register, review your materials and register (on your assigned day) for courses that you think you should take. Refer to your catalog and the transfer student plans of study provided on the Web site for your program area to assist you with planning your schedule.
*It is your responsibility to inform the University of your local address EVERY time it changes. You may do this at the Registrar's Web site or by phone 438-2188 or in-person at the Registration Office in Moulton Hall 107.
If the course is a Family & Consumer Sciences course then you should visit the FCS Undergraduate Advisement page where you will find an on-line form to request an override.
You will need to indicate on this form if the course is full or if the computer is indicating that you have not satisfied the prerequisites for the course. Course prerequisites are listed in the Undergraduate Catalog, just above the course description.
It is recommended that you register for all the courses that you can on your registration date and then if you need to go back into the system to add courses or make changes you may do so throughout the registration period. Additional registration opportunities are indicated in the Class Registration Directory.
If the course is NOT an FCS course, you need to contact the department that offers the course. Each department has its own policies on requests for overrides. Department phone numbers and office numbers may be found in the campus phone book.
Although it may seem far away, students are eligible and should apply for graduation once they have completed 88 semester hours. Applications are available in the Evaluations Office (Moulton Hall 107) and a $25 bachelor's degree graduation fee must be paid at the cashier's office at this time. You will never have to pay this fee again, even if you have to push back your graduation date.
Applying for graduation also secures you in your current catalog. So, if you leave Illinois State University and then decide to return to complete your degree, you will still be allowed to be under the same catalog year and follow that catalog's curriculum requirements.
All students in FCS are required to complete a professional practice experience or a semester of student teaching for those in our teacher education program.
This experience is typically completed during a student's senior year or the summer following their senior year. At least 50% of the major requirements must be complete in order to qualify for the professional practice experience.
Students are responsible for finding their site themselves and, as long as the department approves the site, students are free to do this experience anywhere. Most students complete this experience in the summer so they are not limited to the Bloomington/Normal area.
A list of sites previously used by our students is available. You may request this from the professional practice coordinator at the informational meeting.
Students must attend a mandatory meeting the semester before they plan on doing this experience. The meetings are usually held about a month into each semester. Specific dates and times will be posted to the Professional Practice Web site at the beginning of each semester and will be included in the advisement newsletter and will be posted on the professional practice bulletin board.
There is a deadline for professional practice applications. This deadline will be announced at the meeting and will also be posted on the Web site and on the bulletin board.
Students may apply for an Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship their junior and/or senior year. Independent Study Opportunities exist for qualified students and the Family and Consumer Sciences student organizations have opportunities for students to become involved at several different levels.
Students are also encouraged to get involved with activities at the University-level. The Dean of Students Office has information about all the registered student organizations on campus.
The University Honors Program offers wonderful opportunities for qualified students and you can also take required courses for Departmental Honors.
The Family and Consumer Sciences Department offers several scholarships to qualified students. Students are encouraged to visit the scholarship web page for qualifications and eligibility requirements. The deadline for all scholarships is typically March 1st and applications are available in the FCS main office, Turner 144.
We will also post information about other scholarship opportunities on our bulletin board located across the hall from the FCS Advisement Office, Turner 142B.
