Advising Resources
See a printable version of the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus Advising Handbook
Messiah College's Philadelphia Campus is an exciting off-campus opportunity for sophomores, juniors and seniors in almost any major. With careful planning, almost any student can enroll for a semester and partcipate in a comprehensive program emphasizing both discipline-based and general-educational enrichment through engagement and immersion in a major multiethnic urban center. In addition to semester-long experiences, students may also participate in a three-week May term cross-cultural course.
Each semester advisors should remind students of the numerous opportunities available to them at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus. Advisors should note that course registration for students planning to attend Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus is typically three weeks earlier than registration at Messiah's Grantham campus.
Does it cost the same to attend the Philadelphia Campus as it does to spend a semester at Messiah's Grantham Campus?
Housing costs are comparable to housing rates offered at Messiah's campus in Grantham. Tuition and financial aid benefits for Messiah College students remains the same as Messiah's Grantham campus. For more information regarding fees, see the Messiah College Schedule of Fees.
Does Messiah's Philadelphia Campus follow the same academic calendar as Messiah's main campus in Grantham?
The Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus bases its academic calendar around Temple University's academic calendar. Thus, the Philadelphia Campus' registration processing period and school recesses may not coincide with similar calendar items posted on the calendar for Messiah's main campus.
Can I participate in J-term if I am attending Messiah's Philadelphia Campus during the spring semester?
Students attending Messiah's Philadelphia Campus during the spring semester may not participate in J-term since it overlaps with the start of spring semester at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus.
How many semesters can a student study at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus?
Students can spend up to two semesters at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus. Students who wish to spend more than two semesters of study must fill out an enrichment extension form, available from the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus Enrollment Office.
Are there application/enrollment requirements to attend Messiah College Philadelphia Campus?
Students who want to participate in the Philadelphia experience are expected and agree to be full-time, residential students participating in the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus meal plan options. These requirements enable students to take full advantage of the educational living-learning community at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus. Students must have a GPA of 2.25 or higher unless they receive special approval from their advisor.
How do students apply to spend a semester at Messiah College Philadelphia Campus?
To apply for a semester at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus, students fill out an online application.
When do students apply? Is there an application deadline?
Students apply the semester PRIOR to the semester they anticipate to attend the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus. Application deadlines are scheduled two weeks before Temple registration begins (usually early October and early March). Applications may be accepted late, but students may not have the best course options available to them.
What is the application process?
1. Student completes the online application form
2. The application is sent to a database where the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus Director of Enrollment reviews the applicant's academic and disciplinary standing with the college
3. Applicant's advisor is notified that the student has applied. Advisor must provide approval for applicant's attendance
4. Applicant attends an interview/informational session about the campus arranged by the Director of Enrollment
5. After all steps have been completed, applicant receives a letter regarding application status
When is registration?
Registration for courses at the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus takes place roughly three weeks prior to registration for courses at the Grantham Campus. For a more specific date, see the Important Dates Sheet.
What is the registration process?
1. Students receive pre-registration packets at the interview/informational session to help them begin to prepare for registration.
2.Students receive registration materials in the mail or from the Philadelphia Campus Enrollment Office.
3.Students review the materials and instructions provided in the packets and create a tentative schedule with at least one or two alternative course options.
4.Students consult with their advisors about course selections and get their advisor's signature on the registration document(s).
5.The Messiah College Philadelphia Campus Enrollment Office enrolls students in Temple courses during Temple's registration period according to the number of credits completed by the student. Students who fail to return packets by the stated deadline may not get into all their top class selections.
6. Students register themselves in MCSquare as a Philadelphia Campus student and for at least one 3-credit Philadelphia Campus course.
7.Students receive confirmation that their registration has been processed or is pending.
What is the maximum number of credits a student can take at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus?
Unlike Grantham, the maximum number of credits a student can take at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus without financial penalty is 19. Students may take a maximum of 16 credits of course work through our partnership with Temple University. All students must take at least one 3-credit Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus course as part of their full-time courseload.
How do students meet the cross-cultural requirement while studying in Philadelphia at Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus?
Students may take the semester-long cross-cultural course. Or, students may study in Philadelphia for the May-term cross-cultural course. Click here for more information.
How do students sign up for the May term cross-cultural?
Students do not need to fill out the online application if they are only participating in the May term course. To sign up for the course, students should register for the course during their scheduled registration period in Grantham.
What are the Messiah College Philadelphia Campus courses?
The Messiah College Philadelphia Campus courses are an integral component of the curricular and co-curricular educational experience at Messiah College Philadelphia Campus and provide a directive and reflective framework for students' experiences with Temple University, the neighborhood in which they live, and the city. The courses offered are listed here.
Am I required to take a course from Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus faculty?
At the time of application students agree to take at least one 3-credit course taught at the Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus each semester of attendance unless written permission to waive the policy is completed and granted before the end of registration the semester prior to attendance. While several of theses courses meet Messiah College general education requirements, students cannot request a policy waiver because they have already fulfilled all their general educuation requirements or the requirements that these courses meet. If this is the case for a student, he/she will take one of courses as an elective. A waiver for this policy is only under exceptional circumstances.
What General Education requirements can be met at Temple University?
This link will take you to a page that outlines which courses offered at Temple University in conjunction with Messiah College-Philadelphia Campus meet general education requirements.
What major/minor requirements can be met at Temple University?
All majors/minors need to get approval for course equivalencies from their advisor and possibly their department chair. Students should provide the Temple course descriptions to their advisor for equivalency approval.
Does Temple offer writing intensive courses?
Any course number ending in xx96, xx97, or xx98 denotes a writing intensive course.
Where is Temple University schedule of classes located online?
Temple University's schedule of classes is located at www.temple.edu/tu_courses. The listing of courses offered each semester is published online about three weeks prior to Temple's registration dates.
Where are Temple University's course descriptions located online?
Temple course descriptions provide a rough indication of what courses may be offered a particular semester, but no course is definitely offered until the schedule of classes is published.
How does Temple rank its courses?
The first digit of a Temple course number indicates the recommended year of study for taking the course. So, a course number 1xxx is appropriate for students in their first year of study, a course number 2xxx is appropriate for students with at least sophomore status, and so forth. Also, Temple divides its courses into Lower Division and Upper Division courses. See course descriptions for the listing and the break off point for each of these areas in a particular department. For more information regarding Temple's numbering system, visit www.temple.edu/renumbering.
In which Temple University department are physical education courses listed?
Physical education courses are listed in Temple's Kinesiology department.
