UWWDegree Planning

Instructions

Getting Started•The preferred browser for the online degree planning form is Google Chrome.

•Access the Online Degree Plan Form from the Degree Planning tab in the UWW Student Center.

•Create an account as a new user by creating a username and password. We recommend you use your student email and Spire password as your log-in information.

•Once an account is created, you can edit and save your progress at any time. When your final draft is complete, you will select submit at the bottom of the page. At that time, you will receive a confirmation email and your degree planning instructor will review your degree plan.

•The degree plan consists of seven sections: o UWW Program Requirements Overviewo Area of Concentrationo Transferred Credits o Credits To Be Earned o Portfolio o Special Transcript Credits o Total Credits

Documents NeededYour Unofficial Transcript located in SPIRE.

Your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) located in SPIRE. • Accessed in the drop down menu under ‘Academics’ on your SPIRE home page (ARR – No Shopping Cart)

The Degree Development Worksheet you completed with your instructor.

Documentation of professional training and/or certificates (special transcript).

UWW Program Requirements Overview

These are the requirements that must be met in order to graduate

•120 credits required for a bachelor's degree

•45 UMass Amherst credits (minimum residency requirement)

•Minimum GPA of 2.0

•Completion of General Education Requirements (University and general education requirements should be verified by viewing the Academic Records Report (ARR) located in Spire)

•Completion of UWW Core Curriculum Courses (15 credits total)

•45 credits in Area of Concentration (AOC)

•15 upper level credits in AOC (300 level or higher)

Area of Concentration

Area of Concentration Student Information

Enter requested information:• Last and First Name

• Email address (student email recommended, as this should be checked daily)

• Last four digits of your student ID # (located in Spire)

• Degree Type (B.A. – Bachelor of Arts OR B.S. Bachelor of Science)

• UWW 191G or UWW 394A (degree plan) Instructor

• Entry Semester (season and year)

• Expected Grad Term (month and year) - this should match what is in your Spire account (you can update Spire if it is incorrect)

Area of ConcentrationTitle

Select your Area of Concentration title (refer to the Degree Development Worksheet)• If you have selected a UWW Area of Concentration Title, the definition will automatically populate in

the definition field.

• If you have selected Custom in the Concentration Title drop down menu, you will write in the definition you created when you determined your area of concentration with your faculty advisor.

Area of ConcentrationSpecial Focus

• You may have a particular focus within your area of concentration. If so, describe it briefly in the Special Focus field.

• A special focus is not required, but it may help clarify why certain courses are selected over others in your degree plan.

Additional Explanatory Notes:

• Use this field to give the reviewers information that may be helpful in evaluating the plan.

• Indicate information such as: plans to continue on to graduate school, complete certification or licensure, changing career paths, or looking for career advancement.

Area of ConcentrationGeneral Education Requirements

Indicate how your general education requirements will be fulfilled.

University and general education requirements should be verified by viewing the Academic Records Report (ARR) located in Spire

• The form will indicate if you have met the Commonwealth Transfer Compact (CTC) or Mass Transfer Block (MTB) requirements.

• If it doesn’t, you will fulfill your general education requirements by means of courses or exams (CLEP, CW Placement Test, Math Exemption Test).

If you need Basic Math (R1) – we recommend you take the Basic Math Skills Exemption Test. Read details about the exam here.

If you need College Writing (CW) – you will need to take the College Writing Placement Test. Read more here.

Save Progress and select NEXT to move forward.

Transferred Credits

In Concentration – Previously Earned

The purpose of this section is to indicate the previously completed courses that arerelevant to your area of concentration.

Refer to your unofficial transcript to see a snap shot of your transfer coursework. You can review the UMass evaluation of the transfer courses, which is listed directly under each course.

In the below example, LS 100 Basic Writing Skills 1 taken at another institution transferred into UMass as ENGLWRIT 112 College Writing.

Completing the In Concentration – Previously Earned Section

Complete this section by listing the original course department, number, and title as listed by the institution from where you completed the course (displayed in black on your unofficial transcript).

In the same field, indicate if the course is indicated as an equivalent UMass course and what that course is in parentheses.

Indicate if the course you completed was transferred or completed at UMass Amherst.

Indicate the number of credits earned. If it is a course in transfer, indicate the UMass credits awarded (red number).

If you have more than 20 courses to enter in this section, write “Please see Additional Courses Section” and the number of credits remaining on the last line in that section. Enter the course information in the ‘Additional Courses: In Concentration – Previously Earned’ box on the next page (scroll to bottom and select NEXT).

Out of Concentration –Previously EarnedThe purpose of this section is to indicate the previously completed courses that are not

relevant to your area of concentration.

Complete this section by listing the original course department, number, and title as listed by the institution from where you completed the course (displayed in Black on your unofficial transcript).

Indicate if the course you completed was transferred or completed at UMass Amherst.

Indicate the number of credits earned. If it a course in transfer, indicate the UMass credits awarded (Red number).

If you have more than 20 courses to enter in this section, write “Please see Additional Courses Section” and tally the number of credits remaining on the last line in that section. Enter the course information in the ‘Additional Courses: Out of Concentration –Previously Earned’ box on the next page (scroll to bottom and select NEXT).

Credits to be Earned

Credits To Be EarnedAbout this Section

You will use this section to indicate the courses you plan to complete to meet UWW and UMass Amherst program requirements.

•UWW core curriculum courses

•Upper level courses related to your area of concentration (courses 300 level or higher)

•Courses needed to round out the concentration

•Remaining outstanding general education courses

•Special transcript credits

•Intended CLEP Exams

•Estimated portfolio credits

Credits To Be EarnedUWW Core Curriculum Courses

Select the number of credits for the degree planning course (both 191G and 394A are 4 credit courses).

Select the number of credits for the UWW 370 Writing About Experience course (this course is 3 credits).

Choose the two Experiential Reflections courses you are currently taking or plan to complete.

Credits To Be EarnedContinued

In Concentration – To Be Earned

Complete this section by listing the courses you select by department, number, and title.

Indicate if you plan to complete the course in transfer, at UMass Amherst, or by exam.

Identify if the course meets a general education requirement at UMass Amherst.

Indicate the number of credits associated with the class.

Out of Concentration – To Be Earned

Complete this section by listing the courses you select by department, number, and title.

Indicate if you plan to complete the course in transfer or at UMass Amherst.

Identify if the course meets a general education requirement at UMass Amherst.

Indicate the number of credits associated with the class.

Additional/Alternative Courses can be indicated in the designated section on the last page of the degree plan form.

Portfolio

Credits To Be EarnedPortfolio Credits

•Indicate if you will be seeking portfolio credits.

•Enter the number of portfolio credits you think will apply to your area of concentration and the number of credits that may come in as general elective credit (not related to your area of concentration).

•Provide information about the positions or roles you plan to discuss in your portfolio.

•Indicate the portfolio areas of learning

Please Note: Estimated portfolio credits is a target; approval of the degree plan does not indicate any assurance the estimated credits will be awarded.

Special Transcript Credits

Credits To Be EarnedSpecial Transcript Credits

Indicate any special credits sought for professional trainings related to your area of concentration and the estimated number of credits you may be able to receive.

Generally, 16 hours of professional trainings equate to 1 academic credit.

Please Note: Special transcripts are reviewed by professionals in the field in which the training occurred. The number you enter on your degree plan is an estimate, not an official award of credit. Only the special transcript evaluator and the CPE Registrar’s Office can provide an official award of credit.

Total Credits

Total Credits For DegreeThe “Already Earned” fields will show you how many credits you have already earned toward each requirement.

The “To Be Earned” fields will show you how many credits you indicated you still need to complete in the “Credits To Be Earned” section of the form.

The “Totals For Degree” fields add both the “Already Earned” and “Credits To Be Earned” to help you ensure you are meeting degree requirements and transfer credit requirements.

Save Progress and select NEXT to move forward.

Additional Coursework and Comments

If you have questions for your advisor, indicate them in the ‘Student Questions for Advisor’ section.

Your advisor will provide feedback in the ‘Degree Plan Advisor Feedback’ section.

When you have completed the form, select Save Progress and then select SUBMIT.