Advising Frequently Asked Questions

The purpose of this Q&A is to provide students with an outline/summary of some common questions about the OESH program. For complete information contact your advisor and refer to the UWW undergraduate & graduate catalog.

  • Q. Which OESH majors get assigned an advisor?
    A. All new majors get assigned an advisor, including both UWW students and transfer students from elsewhere.
  • Q. Who are the faculty advising students now?
    A. The full‐time instructors.
  • Q. Who assigns students to an advisor?
    A. OESH Academic Department Associate (ADA).
  • Q. Do OESH minors get an advisor?
    A. No, but they sometimes meet with the OESH Chair.
  • Q. Do OESH graduate students get an advisor?
    A. Yes, each graduate student is assigned to one of the OESH advisors.
  • Q. When are safety majors required to meet with their advisor before registering for classes?
    A. There are two circumstances, when a student: (i) has a cumulative GPA below 2.5, or (ii) becomes a senior (i.e., has accumulated 90 credits or more). Graduate students are required to meet with their advisors every semester.
  • Q. How does the advisor help the student who has a "hold"?
    A. Both the student and the advisor need to sign the "Advising Hold Release" form, which is available from OESH department office.
  • Q. How many years does it take to graduate?
    A. OESH majors usually complete their BS degree in four or five years.
  • Q. What is the recommended order in which the courses required and recommended by OESH should be taken?
    A. Students are usually encouraged to take courses in numerical order, starting with the 100 sequence as freshmen. Safety 201 Personal and Public Safety and 380 Industrial Accident Prevention should be taken as soon as possible. Otherwise OESH majors may decide the order based on their interest and availability, but some courses have prerequisite courses while others require instructor consent. Courses in each OESH "emphasis" have a specific sequence that must be followed.
  • Q. Can I transfer one or more courses taken elsewhere to UWW?
    A. Yes, but students with more than 72 credits will need to obtain permission from the UWW Admissions Associate Director prior to enrolling in courses off campus. For course equivalency use the UW System tool called Transfer Information System which can be found here.
  • Q. What is the "blue sheet"?
    A. The "blue sheet" is a course list published by OESH traditionally on blue paper. Revised last in June 2009, it lists the courses for a BS degree. For course descriptions, refer to the OESH section of the UWW Undergraduate Catalog.
  • Q. Within each block of courses—such as Safety Electives‐‐which ones should I take?
    A. It depends on the student's emphasis, if any, and their interest and availability. Talk to your advisor! Students can join Student Safety Organization (SSO) and get course information and advice from other majors as well.
  • Q. Are OESH majors required to have an "emphasis"?
    A. In addition to the general track the OESH Department offers three emphases for the BS degree: Construction Safety, Occupational Ergonomics, and Environmental Management. Having an emphasis is optional, and students who want an emphasis must officially declare the one they want (contact Academic Department Associate).
  • Q. How do I choose what courses to take, say in history, that do not appear on the "blue sheet"?
    A. Contact the UWW Academic Advising and Exploration Center in Roseman Bldg 2054 if you have 24 credits or less. As students of the College of Education, OESH students should contact Steve Kruse at Winther Hall Room 2003.
  • Q. What is "Plan‐It Purple"?
    A. "Plan‐It Purple" is the name for a required UWW orientation for first year students, including both freshmen and transfers. Students who miss participating in one of the Plan‐It Purple offerings will have their registration for classes blocked.
  • Q. Are syllabi available for students' review to help them decide which courses to take?
    A. Yes, all campus syllabi are available through a "quick link" on the student version of the UWW homepage and OESH syllabi are also available in hardcopy in the OESH office.
  • Q. What is the "AR"?
    A. The "AR" is the "advising report" or "academic advisement report," an online document in WINS for each student. This report lists all courses completed by the student, the course grade, and courses not yet satisfied for the major and degree. Note that information on WINS may be incomplete or inaccurate as updates may be a few months late.
  • Q. When can I do the OESH field internship?
    A. Only after becoming a senior and completing all courses for the major and graduation (except the internship). A semester in length, an internship may be done in spring, summer, or fall. Students with other questions on the internship should contact the OESH Internship Coordinator.

Compiled by OESH Associate Professor David L Nordstrom on 22 Mar 2010 with assistance from OESH faculty