Don’t be put off by the name “degree audit.” Even though the word “audit” can bring up a mental picture of an IRS agent going over your tax return with a fine-toothed comb, this is a kinder, gentler audit. In fact, it is just computer software arraying your courses and measuring your progress toward completing the university’s requirements. Doesn’t that sound helpful?
In fact, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a long line of “Satisfied” notations on your degree audit report!
So what is included in a degree audit?
First, the degree audit shows where you stand on the university graduation requirements, such as 120 academic credits, 2 physical education courses, at least 45 upper level credits, as so on.
Second, it shows which general education program applies to you (GEP or GFR) and which categories are complete and which still in progress. It lists the courses you have taken that qualify as “Arts and Humanities,” for example, and makes clear that you have one or two courses left to complete.
Third and last, but not least, the degree audit shows where you stand on your major (s), minors, and certificate programs. Here there is a lot of great detail about exactly, precisely what courses you have taken and will need to take, by course number. There is even information specific to the concentration within the major, such as Graphic Design within the Visual Arts major.
How often and when do I need to review my degree audit?
The most important time to check your audit is when you are preparing to register for the upcoming semester. This helps you have a more useful conversation with your academic advisor. Identify the gaps in your program and pick courses to fill them; it’s that simple. But feel free to check it any time—it is continuously updated and available on myUMBC 24/7.
What do I do if I have a question about my audit or see something that appears incomplete or inaccurate?
You may want to point this out the next time you meet with your advisor, or you could submit a “Request Help” ticket to the Registrar’s degree audit staff using myUMBC. It is important to get any issues cleared up because your academic department(s) and the university will use the degree audit to determine whether you have completed requirements when you apply to graduate.
What is the “What if” degree audit?
This tool allows you to experiment with majors, minors, and certificate programs, applying your coursework (and hypothetical future coursework) in various scenarios. For example, if you are a Physics major and toying with the idea of adding Math as a second major, doing a “what if” degree audit could show you how many additional courses you would need to do the double major. Or, if you want to see the effect of dropping your current major and replacing it with a different major, that is a scenario you can explore. If you dropped your Political Science major and replaced it with History, how many and what courses would you have left to take?
Where can I find these tools?
Log on to your myUMBC account and click on the topic “Advising and Student Support.” You will see links to both “My Degree Audit” and “What-if Degree Audit.”
For more information:
Degree Audit –Click here
What-if Degree Audit –Click here
Extra Credit Discussion Question
Tell us about how you have used the “what if” degree audit by writing about it in the comment section below. Did you find it useful?
In fact, there is nothing more satisfying than seeing a long line of “Satisfied” notations on your degree audit report!
So what is included in a degree audit?
First, the degree audit shows where you stand on the university graduation requirements, such as 120 academic credits, 2 physical education courses, at least 45 upper level credits, as so on.
Second, it shows which general education program applies to you (GEP or GFR) and which categories are complete and which still in progress. It lists the courses you have taken that qualify as “Arts and Humanities,” for example, and makes clear that you have one or two courses left to complete.
Third and last, but not least, the degree audit shows where you stand on your major (s), minors, and certificate programs. Here there is a lot of great detail about exactly, precisely what courses you have taken and will need to take, by course number. There is even information specific to the concentration within the major, such as Graphic Design within the Visual Arts major.
How often and when do I need to review my degree audit?
The most important time to check your audit is when you are preparing to register for the upcoming semester. This helps you have a more useful conversation with your academic advisor. Identify the gaps in your program and pick courses to fill them; it’s that simple. But feel free to check it any time—it is continuously updated and available on myUMBC 24/7.
What do I do if I have a question about my audit or see something that appears incomplete or inaccurate?
You may want to point this out the next time you meet with your advisor, or you could submit a “Request Help” ticket to the Registrar’s degree audit staff using myUMBC. It is important to get any issues cleared up because your academic department(s) and the university will use the degree audit to determine whether you have completed requirements when you apply to graduate.
What is the “What if” degree audit?
This tool allows you to experiment with majors, minors, and certificate programs, applying your coursework (and hypothetical future coursework) in various scenarios. For example, if you are a Physics major and toying with the idea of adding Math as a second major, doing a “what if” degree audit could show you how many additional courses you would need to do the double major. Or, if you want to see the effect of dropping your current major and replacing it with a different major, that is a scenario you can explore. If you dropped your Political Science major and replaced it with History, how many and what courses would you have left to take?
Where can I find these tools?
Log on to your myUMBC account and click on the topic “Advising and Student Support.” You will see links to both “My Degree Audit” and “What-if Degree Audit.”
For more information:
Degree Audit –Click here
What-if Degree Audit –Click here
Extra Credit Discussion Question
Tell us about how you have used the “what if” degree audit by writing about it in the comment section below. Did you find it useful?
