The English Department advisors are all teaching faculty as well as experienced mentors in our five majors (English Literature, Writing, Film & Media Studies, Public & Professional Writing, and Digital Narrative & Interactive Design). Check out the Undergraduate Timeline Brochure to make sure you are on track to be prepared for the job market after graduation. But you can also see one of our department advisors for personalized help, guidance, and conversation.
End of Term/Summer Advising:
Advising hours during spring finals week will be arranged via email to the advisor of your choice. Here are links to our faculty profiles along with our current contact information.
Jeff Aziz, PhD | jeffaziz@pitt.edu | 409 CL
Lori Campbell, PhD | lmc5@pitt.edu | 411 CL
Amy Flick, PhD | aif12@pitt.edu | 410 CL
Each advisor takes a month to be "on duty" for office hours in the summer. Summer advising will be primarily virtual, but in-person appointments may be available by request.
May 1 - 31: Dr. Jeff Aziz
June 1 - 30: Dr. Lori Campbell-Tanner
July 1 - 28: Advising Office hiatus -- No regular office hours but all 3 advisors will be checking and
responding to email during regular business hours. Please allow a little extra tme for a response.
July 28 - August 22: Dr. Amy Flick
Regular advising hours for fall resume the week of August 25.
The link below will provide directions on how and when students can apply for Graduation.
Students will be able to apply for August 2025 graduation starting February 1st, 2025.
Students will be able to apply for December 2025 graduation starting March 1st, 2025.
https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/student-toolkit/graduation
Advising FAQs
How can a student be enrolled for an independent study or UTA?
The faculty member who is supervising an independent study or UTA must fill out this form by the end of add/drop in the term for which the student is to be enrolled: https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8doc8arlsWUY9yS and an advisor will process the enrollment.
What if I want to take a course at another college and transfer credits back to Pitt?
Dietrich has created a website with a step-by-step process for students to follow, as well as an FAQ section with info for any Dietrich students interested in taking courses elsewhere this summer. The site can be found on the Dietrich School "Forms" website under "Request to Take Summer Courses at Another College" dropdown: https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/academics/procedures-and-forms/summer-approval-process
The Summer Approval form will be available starting on February 24, 2025.
A big change we are encouraging this year is for students to utilize the Undergraduate Course Equivalency Database on the Registrar's website to help you choose courses that will transfer back to Pitt. Note this is a living database and gets updated frequently. Questions should be directed to: StudentRecords@as.pitt.edu
What should I do if I have a question about a Gen Ed course or requirement?
For all matters relating to Gen Ed requirements, please reach out to StudentRecords@as.pitt.edu
What should I do if I need to withdraw from a course or for the term?
You can find that information here: https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/academics/procedures-and-forms
I have decided to withdraw from or am doing poorly in a course that counts for my major in a program within the Department of English and Film and Media Studies (Writing, Literature, Film, PPW, DNID). How can I find out how a withdrawal might affect my progress toward satisfying the major requirements?
Reach out to one of the advisors in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies: Dr. Flick, Dr. Aziz, or Dr. Campbell-Tanner.
What should I do if I have a question about a program or course that is NOT in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies?
Reach out to the advising office for the department or school in which that program is housed. For example, if you want to know more about the Digital Media Certificate, you would reach out to the advisors in the College of General Studies. If you want to know more about doing a History major or minor, you would reach out to History advising.
How do I apply for graduation?
If you are nearing completion of your requirements for graduation, you need to apply for graduation in the term BEFORE the term when you intend to graduate. You should see your graduation application pop up in your Student Center on PeopleSoft. It's essential that you meet with an advisor in your major(s) at least once in your junior year to make sure you are on track. For more information about graduation, please visit: https://www.asundergrad.pitt.edu/academics/apply-graduation
What do I do if I have a question regarding study abroad programs?
You can reach out to the Office of Global Experiences: https://www.globalexperiences.pitt.edu/ If you are one of our majors who has already been accepted into a study abroad program and needs a form signed or has a question about courses that may satisfy major requirements in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies, contact one of the English/Film advisors. If you have a question about Gen Eds or other requirements, reach out to the appropriate department. Global Experiences normally guides students through this process.
What should I do if I'm having a problem with an instructor or a course in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies?
Advising does not intervene in grading or any other matters relating to specific courses that we are not presently teaching. You should always first try to work out any issues by talking with the instructor of that course. If you find that you are not able to resolve the issue with the instructor, then you can go to the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the program in which that course is taught. For example, if it's an ENGWRT course, you would speak with the DUGS for the Writing program. You can find the appropriate DUGS for each program on that program's web page, by stopping by 526 CL during regular hours, or by calling 412-624-6506.
For Faculty: What if I am an instructor with a student who is not submitting assignments and/or failing to attend classes?
Advising does not intervene in grading or specific course-related matters. It is up to the instructor to work with the student, to decide whether it is possible for them to pass the course, and to come up with a plan toward that goal. If you believe the student may need additional support, there are many resources available, including the University Writing Center: https://www.writingcenter.pitt.edu/ and the DRS office: https://www.diversity.pitt.edu/disability-resources-services/disability-resources-services. For a student in distress, start here: https://teaching.pitt.edu/featured/care-and-resource-support-team/
Who is my advisor in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies?
We do not assign advisors in our department. You are welcome to see whichever advisor you prefer. All three advisors work with all of the programs in the department (Literature, Writing, Public and Professional Writing, Digital Narrative and Integrative Design), as well as minors and certificates.)
I just declared a major in the Department of English and Film and Media Studies department, what do I do next?
Each term after the add/drop period ends, we receive a list of new declares and we will send an email to all of the majors with information. You can make an appointment before we send that email if you have any questions or just want to go over the requirements for your particular program, or you can wait until pre-registration advising begins.
How do I make an advising appointment?
You make an appointment by logging on to Pathways through your mypitt portal. Here is a helpful video that will walk you through the appointment-scheduling process if you're not sure how this works.
Why is there an advising hold on my account?
Each term, all students will have an advising hold placed on their accounts that requires them to speak with an advisor before they can register for the following term. Especially if you are a junior, it is crucial that you meet with an advisor in a timely manner to be sure you're on track for graduation. It is always a good idea to book early for your pre-registration appointment.
Are appointments virtual or in-person?
You can select virtual or in-person availability when you log on to Pathways to make an appointment. In-person appointments may be unavailable or limited depending on the health and safety protocols at a given time. See Pathways schedule for details.
What is an “enrollment appointment” and/or where can I find my enrollment appointment?
The enrollment appointment date is the first time/day when you will be able to start enrolling for the following semester. Your exact date to begin enrolling for each term can be found under your Student Services Center on PeopleSoft. You can check the academic calendar to find out exactly when your date should first appear.
How do I declare a major, minor, or certificate in the Dietrich School?
You can find information and appropriate forms here on the Dietrich School “forms” web page.
How do I obtain a permission code to enroll in a class that is closed?
You must first get in touch with the instructor of the course. If the instructor is willing, then forward to one of the advisors the email where the instructor indicates giving you permission to enroll in the closed class. Please include your PeopleSoft ID with the forwarded email, as well as the catalog number (i.e. ENGWRT 0000) and the five-digit class section number (44221) to expedite your request.
How do I get more information about internships and/or enroll for an internship that I have secured?
See the internships page for details by clicking on the link to the right of this page.
We are always available to answer any questions you might have via email. Our email addresses are listed above— please do not phone the office. You can expect an answer to your email within 24 hours or the next business day, but usually sooner.
Please include your PeopleSoft ID any time you email an advisor, that's so helpful and saves a lot of time.
The Academic Calendar lists important dates and deadlines.