Course Advising

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Q: Who advises English majors?

A: See list of Advisors

Q: Whom do I see if I am not an English major?

A: Non-English majors may contact Prof. Beth Britt for information about English course offerings. However, students interested in information regarding College Writing courses (ENG 101, ENG 102, ENG 110, ENG 111) or Advanced Writing in the Disciplines courses (ENG 301, ENG 302, ENG 304, ENG 305, ENG 306, ENG 307, ENG 308, ENG 309, ENG 310, ENG 311 or ENG 313) including questions about placement in a required writing course, should speak to Ms. Linda Collins, Administrative Specialist, in 406 Holmes Hall. Ms. Collins can be reached by phone at 617-373-2513 or by email at li.collins@neu.edu.

Q: How and when should I register for English courses?

A: Students should register for their English courses during pre-registration periods (Visit the Registrar's web page for dates and other important information about registering for courses.) English electives that do not meet enrollment quotas by the end of the pre-registration periods will be cancelled. Writing courses such as College Writing and Advanced Writing in the Disciplines fill up very quickly. Students who do not pre-register may find that they are unable to add a writing course once the semester begins. Linda Collins, Administrative Specialist, provides course advising to non-majors. Students should see Ms. Collins in 406 Holmes Hall if they have any questions regarding their College Writing placement.

Q: How can I get into a closed course?

A: It is important to register for required English courses as soon as possible. Take advantage of pre-registration periods that allow you to register by phone. Also, it is vital that you sign your "I am here" form in order to prevent the purging of your schedule. English courses' class sizes are limited, and you will not be allowed to enter required writing courses with a Closed Course Admit Form. Instructors will not sign these forms. Moreover, you may not drop/add these classes by phone after courses begin for the quarter. In order to get into a closed required writing course (College Writing or Advanced Writing in the Disciplines courses) see Linda Collins in 406 Holmes Hall. She can try to help you get into an open section.

Q: Can I change course sections?

A: During the pre-registration period, you should be able to change courses by phone with relative ease. However, dropping a course after the pre-registration period can pose problems. Sometimes, you may drop a course with the intention of adding a different time, only to find out that the new course is full or closed. Even worse, someone may register in the old course slot that you just dropped! The best way to avoid this problem is to see Linda Collins in 406 Holmes before attempting to drop any required English course.

The English Department blocks registration into College Writing courses to ensure that students are registered for the correct course. New students will be automatically registered for College Writing by the English Department. It is best not to try to change this assignment without seeing Ms. Collins first. The bottom line: Don't try to change your course unless you know that it won't be a big deal if you get closed out of BOTH of them!

Q: Why can't I register by phone for some classes?

A: You shouldn't encounter any troubles pre-registering for English classes by phone. After the pre-registration period, however, the Registrar's Office blocks registration into required English courses (College Writing and Advanced Writing in the Disciplines courses). While a class may still be technically "open," the Registrar's phone system may tell you that the course is closed. There are different reasons for this. For example, the English Department blocks registration into College Writing courses to ensure that students are registered for the correct course. New students will be automatically registered for College Writing by the English Department. In cases of Advanced Writing in the Disiciplines courses, the courses are often indeed full. However, Ms. Collins may be able to help get you into an open section at the same time or find a recently opened slot for you.