Plans

Plans in Degree Works are used to help advisors and students work together to set a course of action for future terms to ensure the student’s academic success. 

Limitations to Plans

• Does not perform checks for prerequisite completion.
• Does not recognize temporary course numbers (Examples: SUBJ 497x, SUBJ 197).
• Inputs the maximum credits for variable credit courses (Example: 15 credits for a course that could be 1-15 credits).
• Does not perform repeat checks for non-repeatable or limited repeatability courses. Check with advisors if you are repeating a course to ensure you will have enough credits to graduate as planned.
• If course credits are changing for a future term, Degree Works defaults the course credits from the future term. (e.g. a course is 3 credits spring quarter, but will be 2 credits beginning the next fall quarter; only 2 credits will display in Degree Works regardless of which term it’s assigned to on the Plan.)

Creating a Plan in Degree Works

• Select Plans from the top menu in Degree Works

• Select the New Plan Button

• Select Blank Plan in the Create Plan pop-up box.

• Select a Starting Term and select Submit.

• Name your plan (Example: Graduation Plan). If you are completing more than one degree (BA and BS, or BS and Academic Certificate, for example), then you will want to select the drop-down for each type of credential and make a new plan for each one.

• Use the Add Term button to enter other future terms.

• Expand menus in the Still Needed panel on the left. Click on the Information icon next to a course to see when the course will be offered next in the current academic year and to check any prerequisites. Use this information to verify that courses are planned in the right order to meet prerequisites and in quarters in which the courses are offered. Each new academic year’s course offerings become available in May ahead of Fall registration.

• Drag and drop courses to the term in which the course should be taken, or use the + button under the term to add courses.

• In the Still Needed panel on the left, arrow back to choose from other areas, such as GUR Courses or Placeholders. Use the Placeholder requirement for in-progress transfer courses, temporary courses or to indicate plan for incomplete grades, for example. Under “Value” describe the purpose of the placeholder.
• Test your plan by selecting Audit. This opens a new window and shows what Degree Works will look like with all the planned courses in place.

• When you are done, you can return to Worksheets at the top to view your current Degree Works. When you want to view or edit your Plan in the future, you can find it saved under the Plans tab. Your advisors will also have access to view or edit your plan, such as during an advising meeting.