If you enter Saint Anselm College as an undeclared major, you are advised by the director of academic advisement or a member from the Undeclared Advising Team.

The Undeclared Advising Team are members of the faculty knowledgeable about the issues and concerns of students who have not yet selected a major.

Declared students are assigned a faculty member through their department, generally by the department chairperson.

Advising Resources

  • Who is my Advisor?

    Students with a declared major are assigned a faculty member from their major department, and undeclared students are assigned a faculty member from our undeclared advising team.

    Students can find the name of their academic advisor by following the instructions below:

  • Important Meeting Dates

    Advisors can offer more than a signature on a class pre-registration schedule. They are knowledgeable about institutional requirements and are aware of the educational support services available to you. An advisor can help you in your intellectual development and in your academic planning.

    There are times when you need to see your advisor and other instances when you are encouraged to seek counsel from your advisor.

    When you must see your advisor:

    • Add/Drop (if applicable)
      • Fall: early September
      • Spring: early January
    • Pre-registration
      • Fall: early November
      • Spring: after spring break
    • Withdrawals (if applicable)
      • Fall: refer to academic calendar (withdrawal with a "W")
      • Fall: refer to academic calendar (withdrawal with a "W" or "WF")
      • Spring: refer to academic calendar (withdrawal with a "W")
      • Spring refer to academic calendar (withdrawal with a "W" or "WF")

    When you are encouraged to seek counsel from your advisor:

    • First week of the fall semester
    • First week of the spring semester
    • Mid-semester deficiencies (if applicable): mid-October (fall), early March (spring)
    • Are experiencing academic difficulties
    • Have been placed on academic warning or probation (See Saint Anselm College Catalog, pp. 30-31)
    • Have questions about academic policies or procedures
    • Want to discuss choosing a major
  • Declaring or Changing a Major

    You must declare a major no later than the spring pre-registration period in the second semester of your sophomore year. This deadline ensures that you will continue to make progress toward graduation.

    The Process: Students Declaring or Changing a Major

    • Change of Major forms (which also serve as major declaration forms) are available in the Office of Academic Advisement or the Office of the Registrar.
    • Declaring or Changing to a major: Students should schedule an appointment with the appropriate departmental chairperson for signature approval.
    • Declaring or Changing to the Undeclared major: Students should see the director of academic advisement who will meet with them and assign a new advisor. (Freshmen or sophomore students may decide to change from a departmental major to an undeclared major for one or two semesters while investigating other choices.)
    • It is the student's responsibility to turn the form in to the Registrar's Office and to distribute copies to the appropriate offices indicated on the form.
  • An Undeclared Registration

    What an undeclared freshman's schedule looks like:

    Fall Spring
    Conversatio I (HU103) Conversatio II (HU104)
    Freshman English (EN105) (A-L) or Core Elective (M-Z) Freshman English (EN105) (M-Z) or Core Elective (A-L)
    Language Language
    Elective / Major Course Elective/Core/Major Course or, Theology or Philosophy Core Requirement

    What an undeclared sophomore's schedule looks like: 

    Fall
    Language (continued - if applicable)
    PH105 or PH018 and/or 100 level TH course
    Major/Elective (x2 if applicable)

    Note: Undeclared sophomores must declare a major before the spring pre-registration period.

  • Undeclared Advising Team - Fall 2019/Spring 2020

    Prof. Bede Bidlack, Theology
    222 Bradley House, 2nd Floor

    Prof. Erik Cleven, Politics
    3002 NHIOP

    Ann-Maria Contarino, English
    Academic Resource Center, Roger and Francine Jean Student Center, Top Floor

    Prof. Kevin Doran, Sociology and Social Work
    5 Bradley House, Ground Floor

    Prof. Nicole Eyet, Chemistry
    2113 Goulet Science Center, 2nd Floor

    Stephanie Fernandez, Assistant Dean of Freshmen and Director of Academic Advisement
    202 Roger and Francine Jean Student Center, Top Floor

    Prof. Elizabeth Greguske, Biology
    2322 Goulet Science Center, 2nd Floor

    Prof. Nicole Gugliucci, Physics
    3200 Goulet Science Center, 3rd Floor

    Anne Harrington, Assistant Dean of Sophomores and Director of Student Support Services
    202 Roger and Francine Jean Student Center, Top Floor

    Prof. Anne Holthoefer, Politics
    3003 NHIOP

    Benjamin Horton, Assistant Director of the Academic Resource Center
    Academic Resource Center, Roger and Francine Jean Student Center, Top Floor

    Prof. Matthew Hurley, Chemistry
    1104 Goulet Science Center, Lower Level

    Karlea Joiner, Assistant Dean of Students
    Alumni Hall, 1st Floor North

    Prof. Thomas Larson, Philosophy
    303 Bradley House, 3rd Floor

    Prof. Maria McKenna, Psychology
    3405 Goulet Science Center, 3rd Floor

    Prof. Sean Parr, Fine Arts
    101 Alumni Hall, Ground Level South Hall

    Prof. Gilberto Ruiz, Theology
    223 Bradley House, 2nd Floor

    Prof. Stephen Shea, Mathematics
    208 Bradley House, 2nd Floor

    Prof. Patricia Sullivan, Theology
    228 Bradley House, 2nd Floor

    Kenneth Walker, Director of the Academic Resource Center
    Academic Resource Center, Roger and Francine Jean Student Center, Top Floor

  • Myths About Majors

    Myth 1

    Your major determines your career

    While it is true that some fields-e.g., nursing, engineering, accounting-demand a specific undergraduate degree, many liberal arts graduates work in fields unrelated to their major. You do not have to be a business major to work in business when you graduate, or an English major to work in journalism, or a politics major to work in government.

    Liberal arts graduates enter a variety of occupations regardless of their majors. But a word of caution: although your specific major may not be critical to obtaining meaningful post-graduate employment, demonstrable skills are. You can develop employable skills during your four undergraduate years through academic course work, volunteer experiences, internships, summer employment, and in numerous other ways.

    Myth 2

    All you can do with an English/history/language major is teach

    Although you may believe that a field like English, history, philosophy, or the languages limits your career options, hard evidence suggests that this is not the case. In a recent semester, English and history majors were preparing for their careers by doing internships in law offices, government agencies, newspapers, local television studios, advertising agencies, public relations firms, magazines, and in local schools. Other students were preparing for law school, medical school, and other graduate work.

    If you still haven't selected a major and you are unsure of the career prospects associated with a given major, you are encouraged to sit down with your department chair or someone from Career Services to discuss what other Saint Anselm graduates are doing with their degrees.

    Myth 3

    I'll love every class in my major

    It is a rare student who loves every class in his or her chosen major. Don't be discouraged too early from continuing in a major if an introductory class isn't the best class you have ever had. Review the requirements and upper-level courses in a major and talk to professors in the major about your interests. You might find that a little patience pays off.

  • Department Chairs and Directors
    Department/Program Chair Ext. Box #
    Biology, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, Natural Science Prof. Brian Penney 7149 1742
    Chemistry, Forensic Science Prof. Carolyn Weinreb 7154 1704
    Classics, Latin, Greek, Classical Archaeology Prof. Matthew Gonzales 7068 1616
    Computer Science, Computer Science w/ Business, Computer Science w/ Math Prof. Carol Traynor 656-6021 1658
    Criminal Justice Prof. Peter Cordella 7067 1706
    Economics and Business, Accounting, Finance, International Business, Marketing Prof. Kelly Lalonde 7139 1659
    Education Prof. Dianna Terrell 6299 1690
    English, Communication Prof. Bindu Malieckal 7039 1626
    Fine Arts Prof. Katherine Bentz  7275 1612
    History, American Studies Prof. Hugh Dubrulle 7048 1753
    Mathematics, Mathematics w/ Economics Prof. Stephen Shea 7681 1792
    Modern Languages, French, Spanish, German Studies Dr. Susanne Rossbach 7013 1707
    Nursing Prof. Maureen O'Reilly 7084 1745
    Philosophy, Great Books Prof. Joseph Spoerl 7061 1684
    Physics, Engineering Physics (3-2 Program) Prof. Ian Durham 222-4073 1759
    Politics, Environmental Studies, International Relations Prof. Jennifer Lucas 222-4151 1802
    Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Prof. Elizabeth Ossoff 7133 1608
    RN to BSN Prof. Susan Kinney 7334 1745
    Sociology, Social Work Prof. Tauno Sisco 656-6031 1677
    Theology Prof. Ahida Pilarski 7686 1767
    Peace and Justice Studies Prof. Sara Smits Keeney 7127 1614