Congratulations on becoming a new first-year student-athlete at the University of Pittsburgh! Joining the Dietrich School and Athletics communities is a great experience that will provide you with many opportunities and unique challenges during your college career.
Advising
As a student-athlete you will receive different types of support:
- Your Dietrich School academic advisor will be assigned through the Academic Advising Center until you officially declare your major. After that, you will work with the academic advisor(s) in your major(s).
- Your Athletic Academic Counselor will be assigned based on your specific sport through the Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes. Please view the academic counselors and the teams they support.
Course Enrollment
Student-athletes must balance their studies with a demanding practice and competition schedule. Each term, student-athletes must enroll in a minimum of 12 credits to be considered a full-time student and to maintain NCAA eligibility. An average of 14-16 credits per term is normal for most students, but athletes often choose to enroll in 12-14 credits each term and then compensate by taking additional credits during the summer.
Before enrolling in courses you must review your practice and conditioning schedule for the fall. Practice times are subject to change, so please be sure to verify the details with your coaches and Athletics academic counselor prior to scheduling your courses each term.
In addition to the 1 credit courses listed below, we recommend taking 4-5 other courses (usually 3 credits each) that can count toward your major, general education requirements, prerequisite courses for a specific program, or electives.
- Plan to take PEDC 0090: Varsity Sports 1. A maximum of 4 credits in PEDC courses can be used toward your graduation requirements. Only one credit of PEDC: Varsity Sports courses can be earned per term, and students must be a varsity athlete to enroll.
- Plan to take FP 0001: Academic Foundations. This is a small group course designed to help first-year students adjust to life as a college student. Through in-class and out of class opportunities, you will learn about academic goals, academic integrity, academic skills and services, academic communication skills, as well as the City of Pittsburgh and our campus.
Summer Courses
If you plan to attend during the Summer term prior to your first Fall semester, you can register for summer classes by contacting your Dietrich School academic advisor or discussing your plans in your initial academic advising meeting.