New Student FAQ

First-year students who have no previous college experience are pre-registered for their first semester. Students are enrolled in courses that are typical of those required for their chosen major. Students transferring from another institution will register or be registered by the Academic Advising Center.

Go to https://my.pitt.edu and search for Student Center Login.

You will need to contact the Admissions Office to change your major. Once the new major is updated your schedule will be adjusted to reflect the new major requirements.

Once you are here, you can make changes to your schedule during the first two weeks of the semester. You should always consult your faculty advisor or an advisor in the Academic Advising Center before you make any changes to your schedule. You can request schedule changes during the summer by contacting the Academic Advising Center.

An academic advisor is a faculty or staff member assigned to help you throughout your time here. Most students are assigned a faculty advisor from their major who will help with course selection, registration, career guidance, and other areas related to your studies. Students who are undeclared in their major will be assigned an advisor in the Academic Advising Center, who will provide information and resources to help them make good decisions regarding their major.

You can find your advisor’s name and contact information on https://my.pitt.edu login and search for Student Center Login. Your advisor’s name will appear on the right side of the main page. (Please note this process is completed over the summer term for new fall students).

New students are required to take FS 0104 First Year Seminar in their first semester. The course is designed to help students make the transition to the university academic setting, introduce them to the general education program, and educate them on campus activities and professional services available on campus.

Students who earned college credit through Advance Placement, College in the High School programs/ dual enrollment programs and/or another college or university should have official scores and/or college transcripts sent to Enrollment Services, University of Pittsburgh at Bradford, 300 Campus Drive, Bradford, PA 16701.

We have more than 40 majors.

No. It is OK to be undeclared for your first semester or two. The academic advisors in the Academic Advising Center will assist you through the Pursuit of the Y process (major, career-exploration, and decision-making process).

The academic catalog is your main resource for information on university policies, major requirements, and general university information.

A semester typically lasts 14 to 16 weeks.  Fall semester usually starts at the end of August and ends mid-December. Spring semester starts in early January and ends last week of April or early May. Summer semester courses are also available during a variety of sessions. Each semester brings a new set of courses for college students.

A credit hour is a unit of measurement that determines the amount of class time required each week of a semester. In a typical semester system, a 3-hour course requires classes to meet in three 50-minute sessions, two 1.5-hour sessions, or one 3-hour session.

Plan on taking 15-16 credit hours per semester that first year. Completing 15 credit hours per term will help you complete your degree requirements in a timely fashion.

A grade point average (GPA) is an indicator of your level of academic achievement. Each semester you will earn a semester GPA. As you progress through your college career your semester GPAs accumulate into a cumulative GPA. Your term and cumulative GPA are used to determine academic standing. Your cumulative GPA is used to determine academic honors.

The Academic Advising Center has developed a number of web resources where you can find a list of courses required for your major including curriculum guides, that include a 2- or 4-Year Plan for Graduation. You can also find that information on the webpage of your major.