CCSE Student Success Tips and Tools

We are committed to providing you with resources designed to support your academic journey and empower your personal and professional success. From academic guides and career development tools to essential forms and frequently asked questions, these resources act as a guide to help you make the most of your educational experience inside and outside of the classroom.

  • Identified you need to do better in a class or two?  Don't panic, or, rather, panic early and speak to an advisor! Also, please read on.

    There are many reasons why a class or more may not be going as well as you wish. 
    While every student is different and every case is different – and this is why we urge you to schedule to talk to us – here are some things to consider and select quality resources: 

    • Time - Have you put enough time and effort into it - I.e. about 6 hrs/week for each 3-credit hour course?  Have you missed classes or assignments? Will you benefit from improved time management skills? 
    • Study - Are your study skills up to par? EVERYONE can benefit from improved study skills. Among the many resources we have reviewed, we recommend the following:
    • Help - Will it help if you could work with a free KSU computing, math, science, writing or foreign language tutor or get help from the instructor in their office hours? Read how to make the most out of office hours.
    • Others - Are you part of a study group or do you have a study buddy? There are many reasons why you should consider group studying.  WikiHow has step-by-step tips on how to form a study group.
    • Anxiety - Do you feel anxious about reaching out to others for help? Do you have test anxiety? Do you feel social anxiety? Do you have high stress levels? You are not alone! 30 percent of students have some form of anxiety and that is why the KSU Counseling Center is here to help – their services are free and confidential and their self-help resources are one click away.
    • Difficulty in learning - Do you have or suspect you have a learning disability? KSU offers a variety of Student Disability Services and accommodations for students with disabilities.
    • Wellness & brain power go hand-in-hand – Do you have good sleep hygiene and are you sleeping enough? Are you eating foods that boost cognitive performance or hinder it? Are you moving enough to support your brain function?  Changing your lifestyle to promote wellness and make learning easier can be challenging. The KSU wellness peer mentoring and coaching program is here to help you switch to a healthier lifestyle that promotes academic success. 

  • Haven’t decided on a major yet? Thinking of changing your major?  Wondering if the major you have chosen is the right one for you?  You are not alone.  One third of first-time students change their major once, and 1 in every 10 students change their major more than once, according to 2017 statistics. Some surveys put the number of students switching majors at 80%. A 2016 study shows that students who postpone choosing a major or change their major graduate at a higher rate than those who don't. 

    Now that we have established that questioning if you are in the right major is a very good thing and that switching your major can also be a good thing, let us assure you that CCSE Academic Advising Office is here to help you make the right decision – or choose one of several possible right decisions. Make an appointment to talk to us if you are thinking of declaring your CCSE major, switching between CCSE majors, out of CCSE or into CCSE;  

    If you know what major you want to switch to, and it is not a CCSE major (I.e. it is not Computer Science, Applied Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Technology or Computer Game Design & Development) you may want to schedule an appointment for the academic advisor for that particular major or college .

    If you know that CCSE majors are not right for you but you have no idea what else you may be interested and good at, you may want to schedule an appointment with an UCAS advisor for undecided and exploratory students.

    Talking to more than one person and evaluating your options and best matches from more angles is always a good thing to do.  The KSU Counseling Center offers a Major/Career Decision Workshop as well as useful career decision online tools.

    KSU is proud to offer free access to YouScience – an integrated aptitude, interest inventory and career match assessment.  Your CCSE academic advisor can provide you with an access code and help you interpret the results of the YouScience assessment.  YouScience will help you gain insight into who you are and what your talents are and how these align with college major and career choices;  it is also a great tool to use when preparing resumes, cover letters, and elevator speeches to land the internship or job you covet. 

    When ready to declare your new major, go to OwlExpress > Declare/Change Major.  Some degree programs have particular requirements in order to be admitted to the major.  That is why we advise you to always talk to an advisor BEFORE requesting a change of major. 

  • That is the question...at least for some students.  For others, the question is not whether to do a minor, but what minor is best to do. To help you consider college minors from a variety of perspectives, so that you can make an informed cost-benefit analysis, we invite you to read this, and this, and this article.   

    The KSU catalog lists all formal minors offered at KSU and specifies their requirements under the Academic Programs section. Minors usually range between 15 and 18 credit hours, with at least 9 hours of non-duplicative credit required.  Of course, your academic advisors are here to help you in your decision and respective planning.    

    If and when you decide on a minor, after consulting with an academic advisor from the college or department offering the minor, you can formally declare it through OwlExpress>Declare/change major.

  • Curriculum sheets serve as a means of monitoring your advancement within a specific academic program, in addition to referencing the catalog and utilizing DegreeWorks (accessible under the Student Records menu). When you commence your academic program at KSU, you are designated a catalog year, and you will adhere to the requirements of that specific catalog year until your graduation.

    Get to know the process for updating your requests, altering your major and enrolling in consecutive semesters! 

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  • Course Program of Study (CPOS)

    The CPoS is a procedure at Kennesaw State conducted to determine which courses align with your designated program of study. Courses that do not align with a your program will not qualify for federal financial aid.

    Don't lose your federal financial aid due to your course choices! Talk to your advisor today before planning your course schedule.

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  • The benefits of an internship are many.  Whether you want to do an internship for credit or not, it can jump-start your career.  In 2018, 59% of interns received a job offer from the organization that interned with. In previous years, the number was higher, as high as 72.7% in 2016.

    CCSE students have two powerful on-campus allies in their internship search process: 

    1. The CCSE Internship Coordinator organizes the CCSE Internship Networking Night each fall and spring semester and arranges many one-off recruiting events with CCSE industry partners.
    2. The KSU Career Center provide a host of services and organize events such as the STEM internship, co-op and job fair.  The dedicated CCSE Career Advisor can help with resumes and cover letters, interview preparation, job search strategy, etc.

    We advise you to expand your internship search and options beyond campus. There are many resources and useful tips online.  Udacity, in partnership with Google, offers free career courses – learn how to perfect your resume, cover letter, LinkedIn brand and technical interview prep for data science, front-end, Android, VR, iOS, etc.

    There is opportunity to receive academic credit for an internship in which work is done that falls in line with the student’s major. 

  • Our FAQs are designed to help you find answers and valuable guidance on a wide range of topics crucial to your academic program within CCSE.

    Whether you're seeking information about scheduling advising appointments, navigating new student orientation, registering for specific courses, understanding prerequisites, managing holds, exploring transfer options, or staying updated on curriculum changes and computer specifications, our comprehensive FAQs are designed to provide you with the essential information you need to succeed at Kennesaw State.

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  • Our Permanent Schedules are dedicated to providing you with easy access to the course schedules for various programs within the College of Computing and Software Engineering (CCSE) at Kennesaw State. This advising resource is designed to help you plan the courses required for your major efficiently.

    Learn more about the detailed schedules tailored to each program to ensure you have the information you need to stay on track and make informed decisions about your coursework.

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  • If a class is not going so well and you can’t turn it around, if you find out your academic load is too heavy, and in other circumstances, the option to withdraw from a class can and should be considered.  Before discussing withdrawal from a class with an academic advisor, please consult the withdrawal policy and make sure you understand how course withdrawal may affect your Satisfactory Academic Progress status.  If you are not sure whether you will maintain satisfactory SAP to continue receiving financial aid, please contact your financial aid advisor.