Advising

We're here to help plan your academic journey.

Our advisors help students plan courses, review degree progress and more. We also help students who are not pursuing math-related degrees with course placement, proficiency exams and other issues.

You can access degree requirements for the B.S. in actuarial science, the B.S. in mathematical sciences and the B.S. in statistics in the undergraduate catalog.

If you have questions, please consult the following contacts or call the appropriate department office.

Undergraduate Advising

• Mathematics major (general, applied, computational or undecided emphasis): Alastair Fletcher, afletcher@niu.edu
• Mathematics major (mathematics education emphasis): Renee Olsen, rolsen2@niu.edu or Allison Machek, amachek@niu.edu
• Mathematics minor: Alastair Fletcher, afletcher@niu.edu
• Statistics or actuarial science major or minor: Call the department office at 815-753-6714 to schedule an appointment with the undergraduate advisor during scheduled advising hours.
• Secondary educator licensure: Renee Olsen, rolsen2@niu.edu or Allison Machek, amachek@niu.edu

For advising related to general education and other degree requirements, contact the advising office of your major college. Statistics and actuarial science majors should contact the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences advising office.

For questions related to individual statistics or actuarial science courses, call the department office at 815-753-6714 for further direction.

When to Seek Advising

• Advising for upcoming summer and fall semesters should be completed by April.
• Advising for upcoming spring semesters should be completed by November.

Please keep in mind that advising hours fill up quickly as enrollment periods approach. Make your appointment early to avoid the rush.

Graduate Advising

• Mathematics graduate study: Sien Deng, gradprog@niu.edu
• Statistics graduate study: Duchwan Ryu, dryu@niu.edu

Transfer Students

If you're transferring to NIU, we recommend checking the transfer credits and program major guides or contacting an NIU advisor. We can advise you on which courses do or do not transfer. NIU does not offer transfer credit for mathematics courses below college algebra.

If you have an associate degree and are pursuing a major without a specific math requirement, you won't need to take additional math courses at NIU.

Course Placement

You'll be placed into an initial mathematics course based on your prior academic work. We'll try to place you in a course in which you're likely to succeed. This may be a course that has some overlap with courses you've already taken.

If you haven't taken any postsecondary mathematics classes, you must take our placement exam.

Educator Licensure

You are strongly encouraged to complete the calculus sequence at a community college. If you do not finish the calculus sequence prior to enrollment at NIU, you may not be able to complete the required mathematics education coursework within two years.

If you complete the calculus sequence at your community college and plan to take MATH 280 during your first semester at NIU, you should also consider taking ILAS 201 (Introductory Clinical Experience) during that semester.

Contact one of the coordinators of educator licensure in January or February of the spring semester preceding your transfer to NIU.