Degree Works: What-If Feature Guide

Issue / Question
  • What is What-If in DegreeWorks?
  • How do I use What-If?
  • What is in What-If?
Environment
  • Platform
    • DegreeWorks
    • MyISU
  • Audience Affected
    • Students
    • Advisors
Resolution
 
 
DegreeWorks: What-If Guide
The What-If tool in DegreeWorks allows students to explore different majors and degrees. (For example, an Engineering student might explore the requirements for a degree in Computer Science.) However, DegreeWorks is only a tool and should not replace the student’s advisor. Students should meet with their advisors to discuss the information in DegreeWorks. DegreeWorks only contains information for currently enrolled students. It is not an academic transcript and should not be treated as such. An advisor must be contacted to change a major, minor, or concentration officially.
  1. Log in to MyISU and click on the ISU DegreeWorks (Graduation Cap) icon in the upper left.
  2. Students: Your name and academic information will appear in the first block.
    • Advisors: Enter the student's Banner ID in the Student ID field. If you don't know it, click Advanced Search and use the search options featured. (Note: the Student ID here is the SPRIDEN ID #, NOT the student's ISU ID/Bengal Card #.)
  3. Two main tools are listed beneath the first block (Academic and What-If); click on What-If. (Instructions for the Academic tool are available in a different article and handout. This tool shows the status of your current degree.)
  4. At the top of the What-If Analysis block, you can check the Use current curriculum, In-progress classes, or Preregistered classes. Checking Use current curriculum bypasses entering the following information, matching it to your current degree and allowing you to add future classes. Check the In-progress classes or the Preregistered classes to include that type of class in the analysis.
  5. Under Program, is listed the current Catalog year (generally the student's first year at ISU); Degree, and Level. Change these to explore something other than what is listed.
  6. Under Areas of study, select a Major (and a Minor, College, or Concentration, if desired). Only the Major field is required.
  7. To add additional areas of study to the What-If analysis, such as a double major or minor, click Additional areas of study and then the plus sign. Choose additional options from the boxes shown.
  8. The Future classes section allows the addition of planned classes to the What-If analysis to help with future registration decisions. Type in the Subject and Number of the course, and click ADD.
  9. Click PROCESS (bottom right).
  10. The analysis that appears shows whether the requirements for the degree have been met and which classes have already been taken that would meet the requirements for this course of study, along with what courses remain to be taken. (Note: Degree and major combinations not offered at ISU will pull incorrect results (i.e., Bachelor of Arts in Pharmacy).)
  11. To save a copy or print this analysis, click the printer icon in the upper right, choose the dimensions, and click Open PDF. In this corner are also tools to contact the advisor (envelope icon) and access a GPA Calculator, the Class History, and Notes, all three options under the three vertically arranged dots.
  12. To explore something else, click on the What-If Analysis block to expand it and view the parameters, then choose different options as explained above.
Any questions about the information in DegreeWorks should be discussed with an advisor or the Office of Academic Advising.
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC ADVISING
Museum Building 12
     3rd Floor, Room 307
     921 S 8th, Stop 8054
     Pocatello, ID, 83209
AskanAdvisor@isu.edu
(208) 282-3277
https://www.isu.edu/advising
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