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Advising

• Advising Staff & Contacts
• Advising in the International Studies Program
• Make an Appointment with the Advisor
• How to Prepare for your Advising Meeting
• Resources for Students
• Advising Workshop Schedule

Advising Staff & Contacts

Ricardo Court, Advisor
ISMadvisor@ismajor.wisc.edu
608.262.5006
301 Ingraham Hall
*Ricardo advises on all questions about the major.

David Nelson, Career Advisor & Coordinator
denelson3@wisc.edu
219 North Hall
*Dave supports students developing career strategies (including internships, networking, and much more!)
View Dave's advising schedule here

Paige Korbakes, Peer Advisor
ISMadvisor@ismajor.wisc.edu
608.265.2630
301 Ingraham Hall
*Paige specializes on advising students with the following concerns: introduction to the major, major and certificate declarations/cancelations, registration, introductory information on study abroad, and DARS instruction.

Advising in the International Studies Program

Appointment Eligibility
Students may request appointments with an IS Advisor if they have either declared the major or have 1) completed IS 101 (or the equivalent) and 2) attended an Introduction to International Studies workshop.

Exceptions to the Rule
Students who have been accepted to a Study Abroad program must see an IS Advisor before departure even if you haven't completed the above requirements. These students may request an appointment.

How to Request an Appointment
Students should fill out an online form to request an appointment. Students will be contacted via email with their appointment time. Appointments may not be made through email or phone. IS staff review the appointment requests regularly and priority will be given to situations the IS Advisor deems an emergency.

In addition to appointments, here is an overview by year of how to get advising in the IS Major:

First-Year Students

• Come to the required Introduction to International Studies advising workshop.
• See your assigned advisor for help with advising.
• See an IS Advisor during walk-in hours on Wednesday afternoon if you have not yet declared the IS Major or if you have questions after the Intro workshop.
• If you have completed the first two prerequisites to the major, come to a Declare Me! advising session to declare.

Second- & Third-Year Students

• Come to the required Introduction to International Studies advising workshop.
• See your assigned advisor for help with advising.
• See an IS Advisor during walk-in hours on Wednesday morning if you have not yet declared the IS Major or if you have questions after the Intro workshop.
• If you have completed the first two prerequisites to the major, come to a Declare Me! advising session to declare.
• Make an appointment with the IS Advisor if you have been accepted to a Study Abroad program, and attend the mandatory Study Abroad Orientation for IS Majors to learn how to choose your courses abroad.
• Attend workshops geared toward career preparation.

Fourth-Year Students and Beyond

• If you have completed the first two prerequisites to the major, come to a Declare Me! advising session to declare.
• Make an appointment with the IS Advisor when you return from Study Abroad or if you have been accepted to a Study Abroad program.
• Check the Events schedule for Senior Priority Advising walk-ins times to ensure your graduation. Students may attend the graduation check if they are beginning their final semester or are registering for their final semester.
• Attend workshops geared toward career preparation.

How to Prepare for your Advising Meeting

Students who prepare in advance for their advising meetings save time and get more out of their meeting with the advisor.

1. Academic advising is more than preparing for the upcoming semester.
Your advisor is there to assist you in many ways. IS advisors will focus on helping you develop and refine your academic and professional goals and create an action plan that will get you there. Advisors are also adept at navigating the university, college, and major policies, and can recommend resources that will be useful to you. Our advisors can help you in many ways, but it is up to you to make sure you are meeting your requirements and completing your program in a timely fashion. If you are not sure about something ask before acting!

2. Look over your DARS before your meeting.
Give yourself a moment to look over your courses, where they count, and what you think you have left. The advisor can then help you navigate some of the tricky spots or show you how to find answers in your DARS.

3. Review the IS curriculum and the L&S degree requirements.

4. During registration periods, choose your courses before coming in for advising.
When choosing courses you want to think about constructing a coherent program of study. For example, if your focus within the Politics and Policy in the Global Economy Option is international development, then your courses should center on learning all the different aspects of development ideally with a focus on a particular region of the world. Ask yourself what aspect of international development do I know a lot about and what do I still need to learn?

In most cases, students know which requirements they have left to complete. An IS advisor can then confirm for you whether your courses are satisfying your requirements. While IS advisors will not choose courses for you, they can help you think through your program of study, construct your academic goals, and reflect on which courses will meet those goals.

5. Prepare a list of questions or topics for discussion.
You may have very specific advising questions about registration or the IS curriculum, but also take the time to think about the big picture and how your courses and extra-curricular activities will affect your future. Feel free to talk with your advisor about any support you may need. If the advisor cannot provide those services, he or she will refer you to someone on campus who can.

6. Be prepared to be asked a number of questions about study abroad, career aspirations, and extra-curricular activities.
Students ask whether they should study abroad. With a major in IS, it's a no-brainer response: of course! Study abroad takes planning and resources. Go to the study abroad page for information to guide you along the process.

One of our goals is to get you thinking about your general career direction as soon as you step into our program. Your career aspirations will change and develop over time, but let's start talking about it and planning before graduation is upon you!

A significant part of career planning is developing skills that are marketable in your field. Extra-curricular activities such as internships, volunteering, working, participating in a student organization can help you develop some of these important skill sets.

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