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Degree Works FAQ

Degree Works (Degree Audit) FAQ

 General

How do I access my Degree Works audit?

Access Degree Works by logging into myWSU , clicking the Student tab, locating the View my Degree Evaluation/Audit card and clicking Run My Degree Works Audit.

What are the benefits of using Degree Works?

Degree Works is a tool to monitor your academic progress toward degree completion. Degree Works will help you::

  • View your “degree audit” to determine what requirements you need to complete in order to earn your degree.
  • Apply and modify a plan of study in the "Plans" tab.
  • Confirm which courses you have taken or transferred and see which ones fulfill requirements or count as electives.
  • View waives and exemptions applied toward your degree.
  • See how your coursework could be applied toward another program of study, minor, or concentration using the “What If” feature.
  • Estimate how many semesters it will take you to graduate.
  • Learn the prerequisites and co-requisites for courses by clicking on the course numbers.
  • Calculate your GPA for the current term and learn how to achieve your desired overall GPA using the “GPA Calculator” feature.

Can I access Degree Works on any device?

Degree Works can be accessed from a computer or phone via the Student tab in myWSU. Regular maintenance happens overnight in off-hours and may temporarily affect performance.

Degree Works appears to be experiencing an outage. What should I do?

If you are experiencing a degree audit outage during business hours, please wait a few minutes and try again. It may help to logout, close the browser, and log back in. Planned outages during business hours are posted in WSU newsletters.

 "Degree Audits" tab - Degree Audit

Is my information confidential?

Yes. Degree Works is accessed through your myWSU secure login. Advisors, faculty, and selected staff will also have access for the purpose of supporting your progress through your academic career. Your Degree Works audit is part of your Education Record and is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As with any other personal information that you access on-line, you should be sure to logout of your account and close all application windows before leaving a public computer.

Can I register for classes in Degree Works?

No. Degree Works is a snapshot of courses in-progress, planned, and in your academic history. Registration will continue to be handled through logging into  myWSU and adding/dropping classes.

Is Degree Works a transcript?

No. Degree Works is a tool used to create an unofficial audit of how your coursework applies to the requirements of your degree(s), major(s), minor(s), and concentration(s). It is used to assist you and your advisor in the planning and tracking of your degree progress. Your transcript is still your official university record.

Can I see how many classes I have left to fulfill my requirements?

Yes. A Degree Works degree audit is laid out in a block format (sections). It shows the requirements for your degree(s), major(s), minor(s), and concentration(s). The legend at the bottom of the page shows how you can identify which requirements are incomplete, in-progress, complete and more.

Are my grades visible in Degree Works?

Yes. Once grades have been processed at the end of the semester, they are viewable in Degree Works. However, though grades are viewable in myWSU once posted by an instructor, final grades are not available in Degree Works until after the final grading period for WSU has ended. In-progress courses are listed in Degree Works with a grade of IP (or PR for future terms).

Can I see a list of all of the classes I’ve taken throughout my academic history?

Yes. While in the degree audit, open the Overflow menu (3 dots) in the top right of the page. In the Overflow menu, click the "Class History" option. This will produce a printable list of courses taken at WSU as well as transferred courses taken within the same level (undergraduate or graduate). Please note this is not an official transcript; just a class listing.

How does Degree Works determine which set of degree requirements to use?

Degree Works uses a student’s catalog term to determine the degree requirements in place at that time. A catalog term is the semester that a student becomes an active student at WSU and remains in place for the length of a student's degree unless the student or advisor requests a change.

How current is my information in Degree Works?

The information in Degree Works is updated each night. Most changes made during normal business hours (e.g. grade changes, transfer work posted, classes added/dropped, etc.) will be seen in Degree Works the next day. Some changes may take longer. If you have questions about Degree Works, you can email them to your advisor or to: degree.eval@wichita.edu.

I’ve tried to access Degree Works but it doesn't seem to work.

Make sure the pop-up blockers are turned off in your internet browser or try a different web browser. You can also try clearing internet browser cache/cookies. Contact your academic advisor if you still have trouble accessing Degree Works.

How often should I review the Degree Works degree audit?

At least four times a term. You should review your worksheet at the following times:

  1. Before you meet with your advisor to ensure your planner has three future terms populated.
  2. After you register to ensure the courses apply to your requirements as you expected.
  3. After your grades are posted.
  4. Any time you make changes to your schedule.

It’s important to review your degree audit frequently, especially before and after you schedule courses or receive grades. This helps ensure you are taking the correct courses and are on track to graduate on time.

Remember: Changing your registration or completing a course with a grade lower than the minimum required for a requirement may impact your degree progress.

If I think my audit is incorrect, whom do I contact?

Your academic advisor is your primary point of contact. If your advisor determines that your audit is incorrect, he/she will contact the Office of the University Registrar for assistance.

Where can I see my second major or my minor?

Degree Works is designed to show a listing of your majors and minors in the grid of student information near the top of your degree audit. Additionally, each major and minor is broken out into individual requirement blocks within the audit. Students pursuing simultaneous degrees will need to click on the "Degree" drop-down box at the top of the audit in order to view additional audits for each type of degree being pursued.  

Where can I see my audit for my second degree?

Multiple degrees of the same type will appear on one audit. For example, all in-progress BA degrees will show on one audit. However, if you are also pursuing a different degree type, a BS for example, it will appear on a separate audit. Click the "Degree" drop-down arrow at the top of your first audit screen to see additional audits for multiple degree types.

I see several special blocks at the bottom of my degree audit. What are those?

Any or all of the following may appear at the bottom of an audit:
  • Fallthrough Courses: Courses that are counting as additional electives toward your degree. Courses here are above the minimum requirements of your specific major/minor/concentration but are still used in the overall hours needed to earn your degree.  Engineering students cannot use courses in the Fallthrough Courses block toward their degree.
  • Excluded Coursework: Coursework appearing in this section will not be used toward earning your degree. Certain courses listed here do count toward GPAs, such as F grades that are not repeated.
  • In-Progress/Preregistered Classes: A list of any courses currently being taken or that the student is preregistered for. These courses will also be listed in other blocks (sections) throughout the audit.
  • Not Counted: Does not count toward credits totals, GPAs or degree progress.

Why isn't my transfer work meeting a requirement?

 There could be several reasons, as follows:
  1. The course did not meet the minimum number of credits required.
  2. The course did not meet the minimum grade requirement for your program of study.
  3. The requirement may state that the course must be taken at WSU.
  4. All requirements have been met and this course is simply not needed.

Contact your academic advisor if you need further help.

If I withdraw from a class, will that be reflected in my degree audit?

Yes. Courses from which you have withdrawn will appear in the "Excluded Course Work" block toward the end of your degree audit.

I’m thinking of changing my major, minor, or concentration. Will I be able to see if my current classes will fulfill new requirements associated with this change?

 

Yes. The "What If" function will perform an audit based on the hypothetical major/minor/concentration and will show how your completed, current, and planned coursework meets the requirements of the hypothetical major/minor/concentration.

"Degree Audits" tab - What If

What is the "What If" feature?

The "What If" function allows you to hypothetically change your major, minor, or concentration. The "What If" audit will show you what coursework is required for the new major, minor, or concentration; what courses you have taken that satisfy requirements; and what courses are still left for you to take.

If I use the "What If" feature does this mean that I have changed my major?

 No. The "What If" function is for information purposes only. You will see the header "What If Audit" displayed at the top of the audit whenever an audit is run on a "What If" scenario.

Can I save a "What If" audit?

Yes, you can save the "What If" audit to your personal computer as a PDF document. "What If" audits cannot be saved within Degree Works. To save a “What If” audit:

  • Click the “What If” feature next to the “Academic” tab.
  • Fill in the hypothetical criteria using the drop down boxes and free-text course boxes.
  • Click the “Process” button in “What-If”
  • Click the Print icon at the top right of the page
  • Set the printer destination to Save as Adobe PDF

Can I print a "What If" scenario?

Yes, to print a “What-If” audit:

  • Click the “What If” feature next to the “Academic” tab.
  • Fill in the hypothetical criteria using the drop down boxes and free-text course boxes.
  • Click the “Process” button in “What-If”
  • Click the Print icon at the top right of the page

Can my advisor see my "What If" scenario?

Since "What If" scenarios are not saved in Degree Works, your advisor can only see your results if the two of you work through a "What If" procedure together or if you show him/her a printout of a "What If" scenario you generated on your own.

If I like what I see in a "What If" scenario, how do I initiate the changes?

Always speak with your academic advisor first. After consulting with your advisor, you may change your academic program by going to: http://mywsu.wichita.edu/. Click the Log in to myWSU button and enter your secure id and password.

Click the Student tab, locate the View My Degree Audit card and click the Change My Major/Minor link.

"Plans" tab

What is the "Plans" tab?

The "Plans" tab in Degree Works allows you to create and modify a plan of study to track your degree progress.

What’s the difference between the Degree Audit and the Plans tab?

The degree audit is a list of requirements for your degree and cannot be modified. The "Plans" tab allows you to create a plan of study semester-by-semester, and can easily be updated to fit your schedule. Both are tools to help keep you on track to graduation.

Are plans of study official like transcripts?

No. Plans of study created in Degree Works are unofficial and intended for use as tools to assist in planning and tracking of your degree progress. Your transcript is your official university record.

Can my advisor see my plan of study?

Yes. Advisors have access to the "Plans" tab. They can make modifications and assist you with your plan of study.

  "GPA Calculator" tab

What do the GPA calculators show?

The GPA Calculators (found in the Overflow Menu (three dots) in the upper right corner of the page) will show you your estimated GPA after you fill in hypothetical information.

What does the "Graduation Calculator" show?

The "Graduation Calculator" tool shows the amount of average grade points you need to achieve in your remaining credit hours in order to reach your "Desired GPA" by graduation. The "Current GPA" field is automatically filled in. You can use your degree audit to obtain the information necessary for the "Credits Remaining" and "Credits Required" fields. Once all fields are filled in, click the "Calculate" button. The results are an estimate based on information you enter and do not provide any guarantee, basis for academic distinction, or graduation honors.

What does the "Term Calculator" show?

The "Term Calculator" shows what your "Calculated GPA" will be at the end of your current term with hypothetical grades entered for your current courses. Your "Current GPA", in-progress classes, and their corresponding credits will be entered automatically. The "Credits Earned So Far" field represents all hours taken at Wichita State University (factored into your current GPA) that have been applied to your degree plan. You may select hypothetical grades for the in-progress classes shown then click the "Calculate" button to see what your GPA will be if you receive those grades for these courses.

How do I use the "Advice Calculator"?

The "Advice Calculator" shows how many courses you need at a certain grade in order to achieve a "Desired GPA". Your "Current GPA" and "Credits Earned" are automatically entered. Simply enter a "Desired GPA" and click the "Calculate" button to see how many courses with a certain grade you need in order to reach that GPA. Advice will alert you if the GPA is not possible because too many hours would be required.  

Is the calculated GPA guaranteed?

No. This is a hypothetical estimate only.
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