DegreeWorks FAQ


About DegreeWorks: Your Compass to Graduation


  • What is DegreeWorks?

    DegreeWorks is a web-based tool for students to monitor their academic progress toward degree completion. DegreeWorks allows students and their advisors to plan future academic coursework.

  • What is an audit?

    A DegreeWorks audit is a review of past, current and “planned” coursework that provides information on completed and outstanding requirements necessary to complete a degree, major, minor, or concentration.

  • Can I access DegreeWorks on any computer?

    Yes. Access to DegreeWorks is through the Web. Anywhere you can log in to MyTC will allow you access to DegreeWorks.

  • Is my information confidential?

    Yes. Like other processes you use through MyTC, DegreeWorks is accessed through your secure log in. Remember that your advisor, faculty, and selected staff will be able to view the information contained in DegreeWorks.

  • Who has the ability to access DegreeWorks?

    Currently, DegreeWorks is available to all students. Advisors, counselors, and selected staff will also have access for the purpose of supporting your progress through your academic career.

  • How current will my information be in DegreeWorks?

    The information in DegreeWorks is refreshed each night. Any changes made today (e.g., grade changes or classes added/dropped) will be seen in DegreeWorks tomorrow.

  • Can I register for classes in DegreeWorks?

    No. DegreeWorks is a snapshot of courses in-progress, planned, and in academic history. Registration will continue to be handled through the Student menu of MyTC.

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

    Yes. DegreeWorks is laid out in block format displaying degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements information. Look for unchecked boxes to identify requirements that you still need to
    complete.

  • Will I be able to plan for future courses?

    Yes. See the Planner section below for information.

  • Are my grades visible in DegreeWorks?

    Yes. Once grades have been processed at the end of the semester, they are viewable in DegreeWorks following the nightly refresh; however, though grades are viewable in MyTC once posted by an instructor, final grades are not available in DegreeWorks until after the final grading period for the semester has ended. Courses in-progress are listed with an “IP” grade.

  • Can I see a list of all of the classes I’ve taken?

    Yes. On the Audit tab, click on the Class History link at the top for a printable list of courses taken at TC as well as transfer courses.

  • What do I do if I believe my academic information is incorrect?

    You should consult your academic advisor or counselor for a review of your audit. Any exception to certificate, major, or degree requirements should be discussed with your academic advisor or counselor.

  • Why isn’t my information up-to-date?

    There could be several reasons. One is that DegreeWorks may not have refreshed since a change was made (the information is refreshed nightly). Second, there could be some paperwork that needs to be completed. For example, if you have completed transfer courses, it is possible that the college has not received an official transcript or the coursework is pending review. Transfer coursework is not posted to your TC transcript until 12 units has been completed at TC. Check with the Records Office if your transcript or audit does not reflect transfer work you have completed.

  • How can I update information?

    You cannot update course information in DegreeWorks. To change your major/certificate, please
    contact your academic advisor or counselor, or submit the changes on the required admissions update before registering each semester.

  • If I have additional questions about DegreeWorks, whom do I contact?

Using the Audit


Your audit will display the courses you’ve taken or are registered for and will show you any degree, major, minor, or concentration requirements that are being met by the courses you’ve taken or that may be met upon satisfactory completion of courses in progress.

Using the Planner


The Planner is a tool for you to arrange course requirements into future semester blocks. You and your advisor may find this helpful as you forecast your academic career. It is recommended that you create an active plan and keep it up-to-date, as this information may be used by college administrators to determine the demand for various courses each term.
  • How do I create a plan?
    • By a split screen, the Planner allows you to drag and drop courses from your audit into future semester blocks. You can also type courses directly into the planner boxes. You must enter the course as it is labeled in the catalog (e.g., ENGL 1000, not English 1000).
    • Alternatively, you may wish to begin your plan with a template, which will lay out a suggested plan of study semester-by-semester. To do this, in the right side “Student Educational Planner” column, click “Load in a pre-defined plan”. Complete the necessary information to search for an appropriate plan. Note the search form is pre-populated with your curriculum data. Select the correct plan by Catalog year and click “Load into my plan”. Once the plan is populated, edit as desired, then click “Save Plan” to retain the plan of study you developed.
    • Note that requirements beginning with a “- ” are labels indicating what type of specific course should be used to fulfill that item in your plan.
  • Will putting courses in my planner change the way my audit looks?

    No. Nothing entered on the Planner will affect your actual audit. You can, however, see how the courses you have entered in your planner will apply in your audit by checking the boxes next to the semester blocks that you wish to include (check all of the boxes to see how your audit will look if you complete your entire plan) and then clicking on Run a New Audit. In the audit on the left-hand side of the screen, you will see how the planned courses applied to the various degree/major/certificate requirements.

  • Can I create multiple plans?

    Yes; however, only one plan at a time may be kept as an active plan. You should mark the plan that you expect to follow as your active plan. This information may be used by university administrators to determine the demand for various courses each term.

  • Will my plans be saved?

    Yes. DegreeWorks will allow you to save all plans you create; however, only one plan may be marked as active.

  • Will my advisor or counselor be able to see my plan(s)?

    Yes. Your advisor or counselor can see your plan(s) and participate with you in the planning process. There is a Notes feature, as well, for you and your advisor to keep additional information.

    Your advisor or counselor may choose to lock your plan after discussing it with you. Once your plan is locked, you will need to return to your advisor or counselor to make any additional changes.

  • If I put a course in my planner, am I automatically registered for that course in that future semester?

    No. Your planner is for planning purposes only. You will register through the Student menu of MyTC during your assigned registration time slot.

  • Is the course I planned guaranteed for that future semester?

    No. Your planner is for planning purposes only. Final course schedules are available to students online shortly before registration. If you discover that a course you had planned is not being offered, you should identify an alternative course and move the original course, if still needed, to a future term.

  • Can I print my plan?

    Yes. There is a print button at the top of the planner.

  • How should I show that I intend to take a class at another institution this summer?

    So that your advisor or counselor will be able to track what you intend to take at another institution, please do the following: in the course field enter the subject you intend to take beginning with a hyphen for example “- Math” (make sure to include a space between the hyphen and the subject). In the Notes field, enter the institution and course you intend to take at the other institution, such as, “Bakersfield College, MATH B22”.

Using 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, or certificate, what courses you have taken that satisfy requirements, and what courses are still left for you to take.

Calculators


  • What does the Term Calculator show?

    The Term Calculator will show you your estimated cumulative GPA after you fill in hypothetical grade information. By putting in your current earned units and GPA and placing your in-progress courses in the table (this all will default in for you) along with the grade you anticipate receiving for each course; you will see a revised cumulative GPA based on the estimates you provided.

  • Is this calculated GPA guaranteed?

    No. This is an estimate only.

  • Why can’t I select a grade of “P”?

    "P” grades do not count in your GPA. Remove courses for which you expect to receive a “P” from your course list before calculating GPA.