Category: Academic

I sent my final transcripts to Fayetteville on February 5th. I have been trying for months to communicate with them, and finally today got a response. My transcripts have all now been evaluated and there is now 12 more hours of credit on my record (for 114 hours that transferred total). In addition to transferring new work, the registrar also went back and re-evaluated a few “general electives” to give them proper designations.

Some of the notable items that were given clarity are:

GC ART 131 – Drawing 1 = FSU ART 121 – Basic Drawing
GC ART 132 – Drawing 2 = FSU ART 222 – Advanced Drawing
CPCC HIS 131 – US History 1 = FSU HIST 211 – US History to 1865
GC ENG 131 – Introduction to Literature = FSU ENGL 240 – Introduction to Literature

All this being stated, I only sent the transcripts to that the complete AA would show up so that I could eliminate the general education requirements (under the CAA). I didn’t really need more credits, all of my requirements were filled and all I had left were major requirements. I have credits coming out my ass since I’ve been in college so long.

Cognitive Psychology is finished. That’s one down and 4 more to go.

I finished up the last chapter and took the final exam this evening. Unfortunately it looks like I will be getting a B in the course. It has been a very interesting course and has given me a lot to think about in connecting computer science with psychology.

These are starting to bore even me, but there are a few things I need to catch the record up on (since this blog is as much my personal notes as it is a way for people to get to know me).

First of all, Neither instructor to whom I sent e-mail regarding a closed-section permit ever responded, but this morning the department of psychology opened an additional 5 seats in each course. I have acquired one of those seats for Statistics of Psychology.  I have abandoned theories of learning at this time, with the hope it will be offered in fall and I can take Behavior Modification next Spring.

My schedule has been updated accordingly:

 
 
 
Also, because of all of this registration craziness, GITI now displays a color coding for sub-statuses (course dispositions?) for courses in the pending state. Purple (the old color for general pending) is the color for a “planned course”, whereas gold is used to designated “registered course”. This is also in addition to another change in the layout of the course page which shows all courses together, grouped by semester and not status (used to be courses were pushed to the course page when they reached “registered”). 

On a related topic, I looked at some of the degree options with the Art Institute Online, particularly the program in Photography. I considered it serious as something to think about doing as my fun curriculum during my Masters program, that is until I figured out the cost. $437 per credit hour, plus $100 per-course fee. That comes out to be about $6000 every 5 weeks At that rate, I could probably hire a part time photography tutor, or better yet, save for 10 weeks and buy a high-end lens and become self-taught with plenty of cash left over.

The administrative side of academics is starting to get on my nerves. I am so glad that I don’t have to worry about anything again until registration opens again in November.

Fayetteville has implemented the “change of major” in a fairly unique way that I did not even begin thinking about. I suspected that they might change my designated campus to be distance, or perhaps actually change the major, but instead, they changed my program. My degree remains as “BS” and my department and major remain as “Psychology”, but my program is now “BS Online Psychology”. I can’t believe with the amount of time I spend in Banner that I did not see the “Program” field before now. I guess it just did not factor into my understanding of the academic system. I understood the hierarchy of things to be University/College > College/Division > Department > Major field > Concentration. I guess they have to have some sort of administrative unit to manage other things by though that has nothing to do with curriculum.

Once again, my Distance Education Coordinator kicks ass! I was finally able to get in to register for Fall. I have Algorithms (CSC 220), Research Methodology (PSYC 352) and Sensation and Perception (PSYC 420). I want to have at least one more course to fill out the semester, and 2 more would be even better (16 credit hours).

Funny thing about my present registration though, is that PSYC 352 has a pre-req of PSYC 233, for which I am still waiting for a permit. For the present time I have tricked Banner (not hard to do) into bypassing the pre-requisite error by momentarily being in a different section of PSYC 233 (one that meets MTWR from 8:20 – 10:20…. EEEK!). Now I just have to hope that the instructor will grant a permit before the system does its pre-req check (I know it does it, just not sure when).

I have decided to go ahead with Biopsychology during summer, allowing me to take Sensation and Perception during Fall. I am hoping that the department makes PSYC 320 (Theories of Learning) available online during Fall to fill at least one of my other spots so that I do not get slowed down in my completion of the program. 

So… as a summary:

Summer 2009

PSYC 233 – Statistics for Psychology (pending)
PSYC 370 – Introduction to Biopsychology

Fall 2009

CSC 220 – Algorithms
PSYC 352 – Research Methodology
PSYC 420 – Sensation and Perception

Well, my old advisor wasn’t lying, she gave me my PIN as soon as I called her today. I guess she just doesn’t do things by email. My new advisor, on the other hand, emailed me at 7:00am (although, he doesn’t have my PIN).

For Summer, my chosen classes are full, so I have sent email to beg for permits from both instructors. I am presently registered for my backup course, “Introduction to Biopsychology”.

For Fall, I am registered for CSC 220, but that’s it. There is a problem with my record that the registrar must address before I can register for courses in my department. For now, I remain calm and patient and let my department and the DE Coordinator take care of things.

I think I just found my new best friend at FSU, the distance education coordinator just emailed me (its 4:30AM presently). She is all over the registration issues, she rocks!

1. Got a new email from my old advisor this morning, telling me that to get my PIN I should call her between 1PM and 4PM on the 14th. Umm… ok, why did you not email it when you got it? And what’s this call thing? I was told I could get my PIN by e-mail.
2. Also got email from the Distance Education counselor and it would appear she is on my side, she is attempting to pry my PIN out of my old advisor.
3. This is my last semester with my old advisor, I was issued a new advisor by the department.

I am really hoping that something positive happens later today, either by getting my PIN from my old advisor or by getting it from my new advisor or the DE counselor.

The classes I need are filling up fast, so I’m going to be pissed if I have to get permits issued for each one (or have the DE counselor get them issued).

I picked FSU because I liked the program design better than at other institutions, but as I stated previously, the distance education aspect is getting more annoying and I feel helpless being so far away from the campus.

The semesters are now open for registration, but I was not issued a PIN, which is required for registration, therefore, I can not register, but other people can.

I have e-mailed my department and requested a new advisor. I hate when this shit happens 🙁