OASIS texts

Are you taking OASIS, Undergraduate Advising's first-year seminar course (UNIV 125)?  If so, your custom textbook is available at Collective Copies, 71 S. Pleasant St, in downtown Amherst (ask for the text for UNIV 125). For details, see http://www.collectivecopies.com/cchome.htm.

If you're having lunch or poking around in Amherst with your family when they drop you off, that would be a good time to purchase your book!

Note:  Collective Copies cannot take your U-Card for payment;  you'll need cash, a check, or a major credit card.

Optimizing Your Semester Credit Load

 

How many credits can I take in a semester?

 

To be a full time student you need to take 12 credits each semester. Most students take 15 credits a semester. To find out the maximum number of credits per semester you can take, look up your department's academic requirements. Each department has a maximum number of credits allowed during a semester. It is possible to take more than the maximum number of credits, but you must submit a Credit Overload Petition form. Further information can be gleaned from the registrar's web site here.

Due to changes in general education requirements this year, some academic departments have increased the amount of maximum credits a student can take per semester without needing an overload form. This does not necessarily mean, however, that one should take the maximum number of credits allowed in a semester; careful planning and consulting with your academic advisor are always recommended, so that you can best optimize your time, energy and resources as a UMass student. If you have questions regarding how many credits you can take this semester start by checking with your department's website or call them directly. If you can not get a hold of a department representative, try calling the Advising Center for your particular College, a list of majors and their corresponding Advising Centers can be found here.   

OASIS seminars

If you submitted a request to be enrolled in an OASIS seminar, you should now be able to find it in your schedule in SPIRE.  If it's not there, or if you'd like to join the class, please email undergradadvising@acad.umass.edu with your request. 
Remember to do this from your UMail account - it's official UMass business!

Need to Add an Extra Credit?

Want to add ONE credit to your fall schedule? Consider a first year seminar – a one credit, pass/fail course designed for entering students. It’s a great way to round out your schedule, and to transition into being a successful college student here at UMass.

Try a Faculty First Year Seminar (FFYS), which puts you in a small class (20 students or fewer) with a tenure-track faculty member teaching about a topic or subject they’re passionate about. Enrolling in a FFYS will help make the campus feel "smaller" and will also introduce you to a knowledgeable faculty member who can provide you with mentoring and advice as you begin your experience as a college student at a large research university.  Check out the FFYS webpage for more information. You can enroll in these seminars directly on SPIRE (search UNIV ‘begins with’ 197).

~ Or ~

Try an Opportunities for Academic Success with Individualized Support (OASIS) seminar, designed specifically for students entering UMass without a declared major. You’ll work closely with your academic advisor as you clarify your individual goals, explore possible majors, and develop your personal academic plan here at the University. Read more about OASIS here. To add a section of OASIS to your schedule, email KD Maynard at kdm@acad.umass.edu, make sure to include your name and student I.D. number with your request. For any student requesting an OASIS class not affiliated with a RAP, check SPIRE in mid-August to make sure the class appears on your schedule.