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Prerequisite Diagrams

Human nature is a funny thing. When I told students about pre-requisites for a class they wanted to take, they almost always asked, “Is there any way I can get around that?” It was clear they didn’t understand the purpose of prerequistes and how several prerequistes fit into the whole of a degree. They didn’t have anything they could visualize.

So one day I created some diagrams showing the prerequisites for several subjects. 
Picture
Picture
After I created the diagrams, when students asked about prerequisites I pulled out the appropriate diagram and showed them where they fit in and which classes they had to take to earn the degree they wanted. And since it was in writing they NEVER asked if there was any way to get around it. The diagram showed there was not any dotted lines or other options to get around prerequisites.

This method of communication worked so well that many students wanted their own copy of the prerequiste diagrams. A picture of prerequisites is worth a thousand words telling the students about prerequisites. Most people are visual learners, so, when possible, a visual aid like this can be very useful.

“Developmental counseling or advising is concerned not only with a specific personal or vocational decision but also with facilitating the student's rational processes, environmental and interpersonal interactions, behavioral awareness, and problem-solving, decision-making, and evaluation skills.” – Crookston, 1972

“Academic advising is the only structured service on the campus in which all students have the opportunity for on-going, one-to-one contact with a concerned representative of the institution.” - W. R. Hably
NACADA 
The National Academic Advising Association 
NACADA Clearinghouse 
A useful list of Advising topics from NACADA 
The Mentor 
A scholarly publication about academic advising in higher education