• How do I find out who my advisor is?
       On the main page of the GVSU website:  CURRENT STUDENTS > MyBanner - then login.
       STUDENTS & FINANCIAL AID > STUDENT RECORDS > VIEW MAJOR & ADVISOR  INFO

• Once I know who my advisor is, how do I find his/her office and open office hours?
     On this Film & Video website, go to:  FACULTY .  The office hours for each faculty member are
     listed.  In addition, you can select the faculty name, which will provide contact information and 
     general information about your advisor.

• How can I choose or change my advisor?
     This has to be done in person, not online.  Go to the Student Services Building and ask one of
      the attendants to provide you with a Major Declaration Form.  The form includes a space to
      request/assign an advisor.   The attendant can assist you.

• What should I take with me to an advising session?
      It's always best to take a Detail Requirements Evaluation if you are planning to discuss your
      academic progress, scheduling, and/or plan for registration.  It's much more efficient to work
      with the hard copy rather than on screen.  It is also recommended that you take a Checklist 
      that you have filled out with the help of your Detail Requirements Evaluaiton.

      You should take all of the advising materials from previous advising sessions including notes,
      emails, transcripts, etc.  This is especially true for transfer students.

• What other resources are available for advising Film & Video majors?
      Students can be advised by someone in the Advising Center in the School of
      Communications.  The office is located at 242 LSH.

      For general advising questions, there are many answers at:  http://www.gvsu.edu/advising.

• How do I apply to the Film & Video major?
      On this site, go to: Admission Policy and Guidelines in the main menu.  Your pre-admission 
      course instructors will also discuss the application process each semester.

• Do I have to take all of the School of Communications core classes before applying to the
   Film & Video Production major?
      No.  Only the three Film & Video Production pre-admission courses are required.  CFV 123,
      CFV 124, and CFV 125.

• Do I have to take the lab for both CFV 124 and CFV 125?
      No.  You only take the lab for one course.  However, you will be required to REGISTER for the
      lab when registering for each course.  If you've taken the lab in a previous semester, you
      simply go to the lab on the first day and show the instructor the form that indicates that you
      have passed the lab.  You also want to be sure to let your instructor for the course know that
      you have passed the lab so he/she can keep record of it.

• What if I'm taking CFV 124 and CFV 125 at the same time?  The registration system
   requires that I register for a lab for each class.
      You will have to register for the lab for each of these two classes.  You then choose which
      section of the lab you'd prefer to stay in.  Then go to the other lab and let the instructor know
      that you have chosen the another section and he/she will take you off of the class list.  You do
      not have to formally drop (through Banner) the other lab that you are attending.

• If I already know Final Cut Pro, am I required to take the lab?
      You still have to register for the lab, but you can test out of it in the first session of the lab. 
      Take a hard drive and a blank tape with you to the lab so that you can take the FCP test.  If
      you pass, you will receive a form stating that you passed.  Take that form to your class
      instructor so that he/she can keep record of it.  If you do not pass, then you will continue to
      take the lab for additional training.

• Is it OK to register for 200-level and above courses if I haven't applied to the Major yet?
       Yes.  In fact that's what you want to do.  If you are taking your last semester of pre-admission
        classes in the Winter or Summer semesters,  then you should proceed as if you are already
        in the major and register for 200-and above level courses for the following Fall and Winter
        semesters.  Try to get into your Foundation courses first, as outlined on the Checklist.

        If you are planning to finish your pre-admission courses in the Fall semester, then you
        should register for other requirements (GenEd, Theme, SOC Core, Cognate, etc.) courses,
        along with your final Film and Video preadmission course/s for the Fall semester.  But then
        you will want to register for your 200-and above level courses for the Winter semester.
        Again, try to get into the Foundation courses first.

• How do I declare an emphasis area?
      This has to be done in person, not online.  Go to the Student Services Building and ask one of
      the attendants to provide you with a Major Declaration Form.  The form includes a space to
      declare your emphasis area.   The attendant can assist you.

• When should I declare my emphasis area?
      We recommend that you discuss this with your advisor as soon as you are formally admitted
      into the major.  Remember that your Requirements Evaluation from Banner will not be
      accurate until you have declared your emphasis area.  (The five courses for the emphasis will
      be missing from your requirements.)

• Which Theme should I choose as a Film & Video major?
       We like to suggest that our Film & Video majors not choose Theme 3: "Society and the
       Media."  Much of the content  in that Theme is closely related to the coursework within our
       major.   The benefit of theme courses is that students have an opportunity to examine a broad
       topic area from three different disciplines.   Choose a Theme area that you are not real famiiar
       with but are curious.  For more FAQ on Themes, click here.

      Many of our students have benfited greatly from the opportunity for foreign travel by choosing
      Theme 24: Custom Study Abroad.  Visit the Padnos International Center at 130 LOH, or
      click here for more information.

• How do I choose my SWS courses?  How do we know which courses are SWS?
       Keep in mind that your two required SWS courses may not be taken from the same
       department or school.  One must be from outside the student's major unit.
       The School of Communications (SOC)  offers two SWS courses for Film & Video major
       requirements.  As part of the SOC Core requirements, you could choose COM 215 Story
       Making.  In addition, the Film & Video Foundation requires an additional CFV
       History/Theory/Criticism course, so you may want to consider COM 348 Film Theories.  Both
       of these courses are great choices as a Film & Video major, however, if you take both of these
       courses, your second SWS would have to come from a different discipline.  You may want to
       find another SWS course that coincides with your GenEd or Theme.  A complete list of SWS
       courses being offered each semester is available by clicking here.

       You must receive a "C" or better (not C-) in order to fulfill the SWS requirement.

• What is the WRT 305 Placement Exam?
      The WRT 305 Placement Exams provides an opportunity for students to "test out" of the WRT
      305 Business Communication course.  You must be a junior or senior to take this test.  The
      test requires the student to write an essay within a two-hour period.  For complete information
      on the WRT 305 Placement Exam, including the exam dates, click here.

• When can I register?
     Courses fill quickly, so it is very important that you register at the earliest time you are allowed. 
     To find your registration date and time, go to:  http://www.gvsu.edu/register/

• How do I register online?
      Go to http://www.gvsu.edu/register/ for complete instructions.