STUDENT RESOURCES :: Student Advising

Graduate Advising

All students are assigned an advisor when they are admitted to the program. The graduate director seeks to match students to faculty with whom they apparently share interests (this determination is based on your written answer to Part II, Item 6 of the application which asks you to write about your interests in anthropology, why you wish to come to UCD, and your long-term career goals). THIS IS AN INITIAL ASSIGNMENT, AND YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE WITH THIS ADVISOR IF YOU DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH ANOTHER FACULTY MEMBER. If you wish to change advisors, simply write a note or e-mail to the effect and send it to the graduate director.

Professor Christopher Beekman is responsible for administering the graduate program, which includes managing applications for admission, tuition and teaching assistantships.   His e-mail address is: Christopher.Beekman@ucdenver.edu.

What do advisors do?

Your advisor serves as your personal counselor and guide through the graduate program. S/he will make suggestions regarding coursework, elective courses within and outside the department, and, ultimately, assist you in the selection of a thesis topic, should you choose the thesis option. Your advisor will also work with you in deciding whether the thesis option is what you should in fact pursue. The advisor can also provide guidance with regard to difficulties you may be having in the program, career planning, or selecting graduate schools for Ph.D. study. Finally, your advisor will sign-off on most of the major documents needed to graduate from the program.

When should you meet with your advisor?

Graduate students should visit with their advisors regularly to discuss their progress, talk over course schedules, in general, to let them know how you are doing.

Undergraduate Advising

How Advising Works

The College of Liberal Arts and Science utilizes a dual advising system which means all declared Anthropology majors will have two advisors to guide them. 

• A faculty advisor from the anthropology department will work with you on academic major requirements;
• An assigned academic advisor from the College advising office can handle educational issues such as: clarification of university and college policies and procedures, core curriculum advising, transfer credits evaluation for Core Curriculum, academic warning & probation, etc.  
• Your degree progress and graduation plans are monitored and approved by both advisors. 

Undergraduate Anthropology Advisor

The Undergraduate Program Advisor is Professor David Tracer. He can answer questions related to major and minor requirements, transfer issues, the honors program, and graduation. David Tracer can be reached by calling (303) 556-6792, or by e-mail at: David.Tracer@ucdenver.edu 

When Should You Meet With an Advisor?

We encourage you to visit with the department advisor at least once during your undergraduate program; it is a good way for us to get to know one another. It is also indispensable for solving problems specific to your program and career -- making sure that course(s) you took at other institutions transfer, finding out about graduate schools, and talking over your career goals. So come and see us!