Get Started With Advising

During your first semesters on campus, you will likely find that your first year is one marked by transitions. As you step into this time of transition from high school to college, from home to residence hall, from limited freedom to individual responsibility, you will be assigned an academic advisor who will offer personalized, one-on-one support in areas such as course selection, choice of major, and understanding the University Core Curriculum. 

Working With Your Advisor

As a first-year student, you are assigned an academic advisor located in the Center for Student Success located on the third floor of North Quad in room 339.  After your first year, you will be assigned to an advisor that specializes in working with upper division students in your dedicated major.

To schedule an appointment with your academic advisor, go to MyBallState and click on Navigate. Advisors conduct appointments in person, through Zoom, and by phone. You can also call or visit University College and the Center for Student Success during normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) to schedule an appointment. 

Students who have completed 30 credit hours or more (i.e. sophomore, junior, and senior students) and have declared a major are assigned a major advisor in their chosen area of study. Students with 30 or more credit hours who have not declared a major will continue working with their assigned first year academic advisor.

Your advisor will assist you in understanding your chosen major's requirements, monitoring your academic progress, preparing plans for the completion of degree requirements, and planning for graduate school and/or careers. 

Working With Your Advisor 

As a student, you will need to work more closely with your Academic major advisor. The focus will be on making your degree program the best for your individual goals by discussing requirements, choosing electives, thinking about internships or immersive learning experiences, tracking progress, and following deadlines and procedures.

If you have been accepted into the Honors College, you are assigned to a freshman academic advisor who specializes in the Honors curriculum. Honors Advising is housed within the Honors College in the Ball Honors House. After completing 30 credit hours, you will be assigned to a faculty advisor in your major area, but will continue to have easy access to the Dean, Associate Dean, Honors Advisors, and other Honors College staff.

Non-traditional students are defined as individuals entering college for the first time at age 23 or older. A wider definition of the population served, however, includes anyone whose primary roles and responsibilities are focused outside the university. Experience has taught us that many students younger than 23 also delay college because of such factors as marriage, children, and military service. As a non-traditional student, you may find that starting college later in life often presents special challenges

Ball State offers several programs and services to non-traditional students to help with the transition to college life including:

• Child Care
• Learning Center
• University Apartments
• CLEP Exams
• Military Service Credits
• Office of Veterans Affairs
• Online Courses
• Health Insurance
• Recreation Passes
• Scholarship Opportunities

To get more information, contact the University College and the Center for Student Success.

If you are a freshman student-athlete (less than 30 credit hours completed), you are assigned an academic advisor who specializes in the rules and regulations of intercollegiate athletics. Student-athletes are required to meet with their advisor at least once each semester to plan class schedules, review majors and minors, and discuss academic progress. Student-athletes in the Honors College are assigned an honors advisor.

All upper-class student-athletes (30 or more credit hours completed) are required to meet with the Coordinator of the Athlete Advising Center each semester. While decisions regarding programs, courses, and class times are ultimately the responsibility of the student-athlete, the Coordinator of the Athlete Advising Center should be involved in all aspects of the advising process. The Coordinator helps insure that student-athletes are in compliance with the academic rules and regulations of the Mid-American Conference and the NCAA.

The Student Athlete Support Services program in University College is committed to the academic success of student-athletes at Ball State University. Staff members provide individual monitoring and academic counseling, study table activities, workshops, enrichment of study skills, coordination with tutoring, and other services.

Transferring to Ball State?

If you are transferring from another school, you will want to make sure that the first thing you do is apply to Ball State. Perhaps you have always been a Ball State student but just want to try to take a few classes close to home over the summer and then transfer them back. Whether you have lots of classes to transfer to or just a few, the process is the same.

• Once you have taken and passed (earned a C grade or higher—Starting Summer 2026, transfer grades of C- will be accepted) a class at another school, you will want to request that your official transcripts be sent directly to the Office of Admissions, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, 47306.
• Your academic advisor can tell you how your transfer credits apply at Ball State. For example, if you take a speech class at a local community college, you probably would like to know if that will “count” as your required core curriculum public communications course. Besides your academic advisor, another resource for finding this information is the Transfer Indiana website.

Students planning to take courses at any school outside of Ball State University will need to meet with an Academic Advising Center Coordinator and map out courses that will transfer back to BSU. Prior to registration, be sure to schedule an appointment and have the "Course Catalog" for the school you wish to attend to obtain transfer equivalencies. Contact the Office of Admissions if you need to make sure Ball State will accept credit from the school. Once the course is complete, you will need to request a transcript to be sent to the Ball State Office of Admissions. Students must earn a "C" grade or higher for transfer acceptance.

Transferring out of Ball State?

All questions about courses transferring from Ball State to another college or university should be answered by academic advisors at that school. You can begin the process by getting an application from the intended school, filling it out, and then having Ball State send a transcript of your records if it is required by the target school. Transcripts may be obtained online or in the Office of the Registrar, Lucina Hall B43.