Academic and Career Advisors are counselors who meet with college-level students and help them discover what program and potential career they are interested in. They also help make sure students stay on track to meet their educational goals.

Academic & Career Advisors help you:

• Choose the program that best fits your interests and career goals
• Create a personalized academic plan
• Register for classes and stay on track toward graduation
• Explore transfer opportunities to four-year institutions
• Understand academic policies and procedures
• Evaluate degree requirements and monitor progress
• Connect with campus resources and support services
• Navigate academic or personal challenges affecting your success

Explore career pathways through YouScience and other career-planning tools

New Students

All new students must meet with an Academic & Career Advisor before registering for their first semester. Each student has an advising hold that prevents registration until you meet with an Advisor. During your appointment, we'll help you:

• Remove your advising hold
• Review your academic and career goals
• Select classes that align with your program
• Understand degree requirements
• Develop a program plan for success from day one

Returning Students

We encourage all continuing students to meet with an advisor at least once each semester. Regular advising appointments can help you:

• Stay on track for graduation
• Adjust your academic plan as needed
• Explore internships, transfer opportunities, or career options
• Address challenges before they become barriers to success
• Apply for graduation

Your advisor will work with you one-on-one to discuss your goals, answer questions, and build a plan that supports your success. Advising conversations may include:

• Course selection and registration
• Degree progress reviews (Degree Audit)
• Program Planning
• Career exploration
• Transfer planning
• Academic success strategies
• Referrals to campus resources such as tutoring, financial aid, counseling, disability services, and career services

To make the most of your advising session, we recommend:

✅ Confirming that all high school and college transcripts have been submitted

✅ Completing placement testing in advance of your appointment

✅ Bringing any important academic documents

✅ Writing down questions or concerns you would like to discuss

✅ Reviewing your program requirements in the Terra State Community College course catalog

✅ Considering courses you may want to take and identifying alternative options if needed

Graduating on time starts with planning. Meeting regularly with your advisor helps ensure you complete the right courses in the right sequence while making progress toward your degree and career goals. Review our guidance on staying on track and connect with your advisor whenever your plans change.

Fifteen to Finish –  Completing an Associate’s Degree in two years generally requires taking a full-time course load each semester. Learn more about how to finish your degree in two years.

Track your academic progress in Degree Works

1. View your Degree Audit by logging in here.
2. You can use Degree Works to view a degree audit, view your academic plan, and view what it would take to complete different certificate or degree programs at Terra State. This can help track progress in order to complete your program on time.

Learn more: Staying on Track to Graduate

1. Meet with an Academic & Career Advisor to build a transfer plan
   1. Set up a meeting with your Academic Advisor.
   2. Set up a plan to assure timely graduation and effective transfer or credit.
2. Meet with your transfer school early
   1. Get a copy of the program plan for your desired degree.
   2. Determine which courses your transfer program needs.
   3. Having this information can help create a plan which will transfer more courses to your new school.
3. Track your academic progress in Degree Works
   1. View your Degree Audit by logging in here.
   2. You can use Degree Works to view a degree audit, view your academic plan, and view what it would take to complete different certificate or degree programs at Terra State.
4. Maintain strong grades in your classes
   1. Often times, colleges won’t accept a course with a lower grade (D, F, I).
   2. Having higher grades can help make transferring a course easier.
5. Keep copies of every Course Syllabi
   1. If a course doesn’t transfer, your new school may be able to review your course syllabus for transfer credit.
6. Review your transfer credit
   1. Programs like Transferology can help you asses what courses will go to your new school.
7. Submit official transcripts to your transfer institution.
   1. Learn more on the Registrar’s page about how to submit Terra State transcripts to your new school.
   2. Official transfer credit evaluations are completed after you apply to your new school.
8. Download our printable Transfer Guide
   1. Transfer Guide (Click to Download)

Here are the TOP 10 reasons registering early is a benefit for students!

1. Get the Classes You Need

• Popular courses fill quickly, especially those required for graduation.
• Early registration helps you secure the classes that fit your academic plan.

2. Choose the Best Class Times

• Registering early gives you more options for morning, afternoon, evening, in-person, online, or hybrid classes.
• Build a schedule that works with your job, family, and other responsibilities.

3. Avoid Waitlists and Closed Sections

• Early registration reduces the risk of being shut out of high-demand courses.
• You'll spend less time scrambling to find alternatives.

4. Stay on Track for Graduation

• Secure prerequisite courses and classes that may only be offered during specific terms.
• Progress toward your degree without unnecessary delays.

5. Meet with Advisors When They're Available

• Advisors have more appointment availability before peak registration periods.
• Get personalized guidance on course selection and degree planning.

6. Finalize Financial Aid and Payment Plans Earlier

• Completing registration early provides more time to address financial aid requirements.
• Avoid last-minute enrollment and payment issues.

7. Create a Better Work-Life-School Balance

• Plan classes around employment, athletics, childcare, transportation, and other commitments.
• Reduce stress by knowing your schedule well in advance.

8. Help Ensure Classes Run

• Colleges use enrollment numbers to determine whether sections will be offered.
• Early registration helps prevent low-enrollment classes from being canceled.

9. Prepare for the Semester with Confidence

• Once you're registered, you can focus on textbooks, supplies, transportation, and other preparations.
• Start the term organized and ready for success.

10. Reduce Stress and Uncertainty

• Avoid the rush of last-minute registration.
• Enjoy peace of mind knowing your schedule and plans are already in place.

Students can find their assigned advisor and contact information through Banner Self-Service. From my.Terra, select Links → Banner Self-Service → Student → Student Profile. The advisor's information is listed in the student's profile.

If you still can't find your correct Academic Advisor, please email advising@terra.edu or call 419-559-2345. 

Your advisor can help you develop and review your academic plan. An academic plan is designed to keep you on track for graduation and ensure that you take prerequisite classes in the correct order.

You can also use DegreeWorks to see your progress toward completing your program and identify remaining requirements.

DegreeWorks is Terra State's degree audit system. It provides a current evaluation of your progress toward graduation and shows the requirements you still need to complete. It also shows an academic plan you have created with an Advisor. You can log into DegreeWorks using your Terra State account. 

Terra State encourages continuing students to meet with their Academic and Career Advisor at least once each semester. Regular advising appointments can help you review your academic plan and stay on track toward your educational goals.

If you choose to register on your own (Self Registration), we strongly recommend that you speak with an academic advisor to confirm that the courses you plan to take are appropriate for your program and will keep you on track for graduation. This is especially important because some courses have placement requirements or prerequisites, while others are offered only during specific semesters. Failing to plan appropriately may result in unforeseen registration issues or delays in completing your program.

Your advisor can help you select appropriate courses and develop your schedule, but you are responsible for registering for your own classes through Banner Self-Service.

Register as soon as your registration period opens. Registration dates are published on Terra State's Academic Calendar. Meeting with your advisor before registration opens can help you prepare your schedule.

You can find your class schedule at terra.edu/myschedule by logging in with your Terra State username and password.

You can access Canvas through my.Terra. Navigate to my.Terra, click Links, and then click CANVAS. Log in to Canvas using your Terra State username and password.

Faculty typically make their Canvas courses available shortly before the start of the course or on the first day of class.

If you do not see a course you registered for in Canvas, check your student schedule to confirm the course start date. If the course has not started yet, it may be a late-start course and will become available in Canvas when the course begins.

If your course has already started and you still cannot see or access it in Canvas, first contact your professor. If that does not resolve the matter, contact your Academic Advisor for assistance.

Most online courses are asynchronous, meaning there is no required meeting time. You will complete your coursework according to the deadlines outlined in the course syllabus and communicated by your instructor.

In some cases, an instructor may schedule a synchronous class meeting, which means there is a specific date and time when students are expected to meet online. Your instructor will provide information about any required synchronous meetings.

Your course syllabus is available in Canvas, Terra State's learning management system. Navigate to my.Terra, click Links, and then click CANVAS. Log in to Canvas using your Terra State username and password. Once you are in Canvas, select the course you are taking and look for the syllabus in the course navigation or course materials.

Your syllabus contains important information about your course, including course requirements, assignments, grading, policies, and expectations.

Tip: Check Canvas and your Terra State email regularly. Your instructors may post important course announcements, assignments, deadlines, and other information in Canvas or send updates to your Terra State email.

Tip: If you intend to transfer or pursue a subsequent degree, download a copy of each Syllabus and save it for transfer evaluation by your next institution. This can assist in getting the most credit possible when transferring. 

If you have questions about admissions, academic programs, or transferring to Terra State, please contact the Admissions Office at 419-559-2349 or admissions@terra.edu. The Admissions Office can help you determine the appropriate next steps.

Transfer students will generally need to apply to Terra State and submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions before we can determine the appropriate next steps.