Degree Works FAQs

Degree Works is an online degree audit and academic planning tool that helps students track their progress toward graduation, review completed and remaining requirements, explore potential majors with the “What If” feature, calculate GPA scenarios, and create academic plans. Students can use Degree Works to stay informed about their academic status, while Success Coaches and Advisors are available to answer questions and assist with any concerns.

If you can't find your answers here, contact your Success Coach/Advisor.

How do I read my Degree Works worksheet?

The horizontal block headers divide the worksheet into various segments of data blocks:

Student Information: displays information about you as a student, such as program/major, English/math placements, GPA, academic standing, and name of the student’s Success Coach/Advisor.
Degree Progress: includes a visual of your degree progress, overall GPA, and the ability to ‘uncheck’ in-progress or preregistered classes temporarily to view your audit without current/preregistered coursework.
Degree: contains data specific to the degree you are pursuing (i.e. Associate in Science) and graduation requirements, including credit requirements, documentation of High School Graduation or Equivalent, etc.
Prerequisites: is an informational block for advising purposes only. It may include additional prerequisite courses, including non-credit coursework, that are required based on your program and individual placements in math and English.
Program: lists the courses necessary to meet degree requirements for graduation based on the catalog term you are matriculated in. It indicates which courses are completed, in-progress, and
‘Still Needed.’ Courses that are ‘Still Needed’ will include a clickable courselink to course descriptions and availability or a link to a SUNY General Education category.
SUNY General Education Requirements: is an informational block for advising purposes only. It identifies completed and registered SUNY GE courses which fulfill Knowledge and Skills Areas and/or Competencies required for A.A., A.A.S., and A.S. degree programs.
Additional Courses: displays courses not used in the degree audit or the SUNY General Education block, such as non-credit math or other courses not being applied to your current program. All credit bearing courses count in your overall GPA.
Insufficient: includes courses that were withdrawn, excluded, repeated, or did not meet the minimum grade requirement. This block will not populate for all students.
In-progress: a snapshot of registered courses.
Exceptions: includes a list of approved course substitutions or waivers, if applicable.
Notes: a record of your meetings with your Success Coach/Advisor. Notes help you remember what you were advised – particularly coursework – but may include other information related to your academic goals. They are also a helpful reference for Success Coaches/Advisors. Notes may also reference a course adjustment to your worksheet or graduation eligibility.
Legend: explains the various symbols you see on the worksheet

For further assistance with how to read your worksheet, please consult your Success Coach/Advisor.

When should I review my degree audit?

Anytime, but it is recommended you check your audit at the following times and consult with your Success Coach/Advisor:

Before registering for an upcoming semester
After registering to ensure that the courses apply to the intended requirements
After grades are posted each semester
Anytime changes are made to your schedule
If you are considering or have recently changed your program/major

How current is the information in Degree Works?

The information in Degree Works is updated systematically over night, but can be ‘refreshed’ instantaneously by clicking on the refresh button above your Student ID and Name, then the ‘Process’ button in the second block next to ‘Degree progress.’ Any changes that are made to your schedule will be reflected on your worksheet by one of these two ways.

Please note: withdrawals and final grades may require 24-48 hours to post from Banner to Degree Works.

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

Can I print and save my worksheet?

What is an ‘attribute’?

A course attribute is a way to identify courses that meet certain criteria. Many Programs require courses that qualify as a SUNY General Education Requirement (SUNY GE) and/or meet MCC requirements, such as Writing Intensive (WR) and Honors Studies (HON). Each course that meets these criteria is ‘tagged’ with its respective attribute(s). When planning registration, students are able to search for classes using this attribute.

What is the ‘What If’ feature?

The ‘What If’ function allows you to explore different programs at MCC. The What If audit will show you what coursework is required for the new major, what courses you have taken that satisfy requirements, and what courses are still left for you to take. To view requirements for another program, click on the ‘What If’ tab. The current Catalog year will be the default. Select the program/major you wish to review and click ‘Process.’ If you are considering changing your program/major, please contact your Success Coach/Advisor.

Why don’t I see my transfer credit on my worksheet?

Can I have transfer credit removed from my worksheet?

Why does the degree progress bar seem off?

Degree Works helps you track the percentage of your specific program requirements completed as well as your overall credits. Since many factors go in to how this percentage is determined, use the progress bar as a general guideline on your degree progress. The circle will not show 100% until all your final courses are complete and your final grades posted. Consult your Success Coach/Advisor with any questions about your progress toward a degree.

What if my coursework is out of semester-sequence on my worksheet?

It is possible that your coursework falls into different semesters on your worksheet – without filling up the prior semester(s). This is okay! Sometimes students need to take prerequisite coursework and courses apply in a different sequence. The important thing is that you complete all the requirements. Your Success Coach/Advisor can help you build your schedule to ensure you are taking the appropriate courses each semester.

Who do I contact if my information is incorrect?

Please see your Success Coach/Advisor for assistance if your information appears to be incorrect or is not filtering into requirement areas as expected. Degree Works looks for the 'best fit' when it comes to applying a course to a requirement, however, courses may move around to different requirements as you take more courses. If necessary, Success Coaches/Advisors will work with department chairpersons to troubleshoot and research reported issues.

Can I use a course with a higher grade in place of another course on my worksheet?

Degree Works is a computer application that selects a course based on whether it will fulfill a requirement (typically older courses first). As long as the grade for that course also meets the requirement, it doesn’t matter which course is used. Only you and MCC can view your audit; transfer schools will only see your transcript, not your Degree Works worksheet.

I was given permission to substitute or waive a course, but it's not showing in Degree Works.

Substitutions and waivers are called ‘course exceptions’ in Degree Works. First, follow up with your Success Coach/Advisor or your department chairperson to see if the appropriate form has been submitted. If so, you should contact Registration and Records to learn the status of the substitution or waiver. Once the course exception has been posted, it will appear on your worksheet and you will receive an automated email.

Do I automatically graduate if everything is checked off on my worksheet?

Not necessarily. You still need to submit an ‘Intent to Graduate’ application when you register for your last term. When you apply to graduate, Graduation Services runs a preliminary audit against your Degree Works and will inform you of your graduation status. The process will be repeated after final grades are posted. You may submit your Intent to Graduate application online.

How is my degree audit different from my transcript?

Your degree audit is a tool to help you plan and to give you a visual of your progress toward the completion of your degree. It displays the courses that are required and completed in your degree program. It is not an official document and is not sent to transfer institutions when you request your records.

Your transcript is your official academic record and provides a chronological list of courses completed, matriculation status, semester and cumulative GPA, as well as other academic information. You can request an official transcript.

What is the GPA calculator? How does it work?

The ‘GPA Calculator’ (top right corner, click on ‘More Options’) is a tool that allows you to do three different kinds of calculations:

Graduation Calculator displays your Current GPA – you will need to enter your ‘Desired GPA’ and process ‘Calculate’ to generate advice as to the average you need to maintain in your remaining credits to achieve your desired GPA.
Term Calculator displays your Current GPA, Credits Earned So Far, and your registered Classes – you will need to select the grade you anticipate in each of your registered courses and process ‘Calculate’ which will display the calculated GPA that you will have at the end of the term.
Advice Calculator displays your Current GPA and Credits Earned – you will need to enter your Desired GPA and process ‘Calculate’, which will give you an idea of how many more credits and the grade you would need to achieve your goal.

Please note: calculations from the GPA Calculator are not guaranteed, they are an estimation only.

What is the ‘Plans’ tab for?

Is my information confidential?

Yes. Like other processes you use through myMCC and Banner Self Service, Degree Works is accessed through your secure login. Remember that your Success Coach/Advisor, faculty, and authorized staff will be able to view the information contained in Degree Works.

Can I register for classes in Degree Works?