This is the DegreeWorks User Guide.

DegreeWorks is a web-based academic advising tool that helps advisors and students track progress toward degree completion. It provides a clear, organized academic evaluation by matching a student’s completed coursework with North Carolina Central University’s degree requirements.

The DegreeWorks worksheet allows advisors to quickly:

• Review a student’s academic progress at a glance
• Confirm how completed courses apply to degree requirements
• Identify remaining courses and unmet requirements
• Support accurate academic planning and graduation timelines

By presenting degree requirements in an easy-to-read format, DegreeWorks serves as a key advising resource for monitoring student progress and guiding informed advising conversations.

DegreeWorks is also available for:

• Currently enrolled undergraduate students
• Students who first attended North Carolina Central University after Fall 2016
• Students using the 2016–2017 catalog or a later catalog year to meet degree requirements

How to Access DegreeWorks

1. Log in to MyEOL.
2. Navigate to the Administrative & Academic Services section.
3. Click the DegreeWorks icon.

Once selected, DegreeWorks will open in a new window and display student academic audits based on your access level.

DegreeWorks Features and Navigation

This section provides an overview of the key features and navigation tools within DegreeWorks. It explains how advisors can move through the system, access important links, locate student information, and use built-in tools to efficiently review academic audits and support advising decisions.

Important Links

Within DegreeWorks, locate the IMPORTANT LINKS tab near the top of the page.

• Click Important Links to access:
  • The NCCU Undergraduate or Graduate Catalog
  • The DegreeWorks Information Page

These links are helpful when reviewing degree requirements or confirming catalog rules during advising sessions.

Advisor Assignment and Advisee List Management

Advisors who are officially assigned to students will see their advisee list automatically populated with up to 500 students. This list may include:

• Currently enrolled students
• Graduated students
• Former students who are no longer attending NCCU

To locate a specific advisee, you may:

• Click the Select Student field to choose from your assigned advisees, or
• Enter the student’s ID number directly into the Student ID text box

To prevent graduated or former students from continuing to appear in your advisee list, the advising assignment must be ended in Banner.

For assistance with ending an advising assignment, please contact:

• Your department’s Administrative Assistant, or
• The Office of the Registrar

Faculty/Staff with No Assigned Advisees

Faculty and staff members who do not have advisees officially assigned can still access a student’s DegreeWorks audit by:

• Entering the student’s ID number in the Student ID text box, or
• Using the Advanced Search feature to locate the student whose audit you wish to view

IMPORTANT: 
For advisors, the Select Student field will automatically display all assigned advisees. However, when using the Advanced Search feature, the Select Student field will update to reflect the student(s) returned from the Advanced Search results.

Advanced Search Process

The Advanced Search feature allows users to locate students by applying one or more filters, such as name, program, major, minor, college, degree, level, or classification. This tool is especially useful when the student ID is unknown or when searching for a specific group of students.

To use Advanced Search:

1. Click Advanced Search.
2. Click inside one or more filter fields and select the appropriate value(s).
3. Scroll to the bottom of the Find Students box.
4. Click Search to display the results.

Advanced Search Filter Options Explained

• Name
  Allows you to search by a student’s first or last name. This is helpful when the student ID is not available.
• Program
  Filters students by academic program, such as Undergraduate or Graduate.
• Major
  Searches for students enrolled in a specific major (e.g., Biology, Computer Science, Business Administration). Useful for department-level advising and reporting.
• Minor
  Identifies students who have declared a specific minor, supporting interdisciplinary or secondary area tracking.
• College
  Filters students by the college or school they belong to within NCCU (e.g., College of Health & Sciences, School of Business).
• Degree
  Allows searches by degree type (e.g., BA, BS, MA, PhD), helping identify students based on degree goals.
• Level
  Refers to a student’s academic level, such as Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior, Graduate, or Doctoral.
• Classification
  Categorizes students by class standing (e.g., Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, or Senior).

Information Block Display

The Information Block appears at the top of the DegreeWorks audit and provides key student details at a glance.

In the first block, you will see:

• The student’s Banner ID
• The student’s name

The Degree drop-down menu allows you to switch between degrees if the student is pursuing more than one degree.

Additional student information displayed in the upper block includes:

• Curriculum information
• Academic level
• Classification
• Citizenship
• Previous college(s)
• Sport (visible only for student-athletes)
• Registration holds
• Veteran benefits
• Current semester advisor assignment

Important Notes:

• The Sport field appears only if the student is a registered student-athlete. If the student is not a student-athlete, this field will not display.
• Academic status information (such as academic suspension or probation) will display when applicable. If the student is in good academic standing, this information will not appear.

DegreeWorks Worksheet Views

DegreeWorks offers multiple worksheet views to support different advising needs. Advisors can switch between these views to focus on degree progress, graduation readiness, or course registration planning.

Student View (Default Format)

The Student View is the most detailed and comprehensive worksheet format. It provides a complete overview of a student’s academic progress and is the primary view used during advising sessions.

This view includes:

• Student Header – Displays key student information such as name, student ID, major, catalog year, and GPA
• Degree Progress Bar – Shows the percentage of degree requirements completed
• Requirement Blocks – Organized sections for Degree, Major, Minor, and Core Curriculum requirements
• Course Details – Lists completed, in-progress, and preregistered courses, including grades, credit hours, and terms
• Status Indicators – Clearly marks each requirement as Complete, Not Complete, or Complete with In-Progress Classes
• Legend – Explains the symbols and icons used throughout the worksheet

This view is ideal for academic advising, long-term planning, and monitoring overall degree progress.

Graduation Checklist

The Graduation Checklist provides a simplified view focused specifically on graduation readiness.

This view:

• Displays only requirement statuses (complete or incomplete)
• Excludes detailed course information such as grades, credits, and terms
• Clearly highlights any unmet graduation requirements

This format is best used when reviewing graduation eligibility or confirming final requirements.

Registration Checklist

The Registration Checklist is designed to support course planning and registration.

This view:

• Shows only unmet requirements
• Hides completed requirements and course details
• Provides a streamlined list of what the student still needs to complete

This format is especially useful during registration advising to identify remaining coursework.

Degree Progress Percentage

The Degree Progress Percentage shows how much of a student’s degree requirements have been completed. It includes completed, in-progress, and pre-registered coursework and is typically displayed as a progress bar or chart. This allows advisors and students to quickly assess progress toward graduation.

Understanding Degree Progress Percentages

• 98%
  Usually indicates the student is on track to graduate, with only in-progress coursework remaining.
• 99%
  Often means all degree requirements are met except for final credit totals or course completion.
• 100%
  Indicates that all degree requirements have been fulfilled. However, this does not guarantee graduation. Students must still:
  • Apply for graduation, and
  • Receive final approval from the Office of the Registrar

In-Progress and Pre-Registered Courses

In DegreeWorks, In-Progress and Pre-Registered courses are included in the Degree Progress Percentage even though they have not yet been completed.

• In-Progress Courses
  Courses the student is currently enrolled in for the active term. These courses are assumed to satisfy degree requirements once successfully completed.
• Pre-Registered Courses
  Courses the student is registered for in a future term. These are counted as planned coursework that will meet degree requirements if completed successfully.

Top Right Corner Information & Resources

The top right corner of DegreeWorks contains several important tools and features that advisors can use to print/save audits, contact students, calculate GPA projections, view term history, and add notes.

Printing or Saving an Audit

• Print Audit:
  Click the Print icon in the top right corner. Follow the print dialog options to print the audit. 
  • Notes: DegreeWorks audits can print many pages (sometimes over 15). You can reduce the number of pages by adjusting the print-scale settings in your printer dialog.

1. Save Audit as PDF:
   Instead of printing, you can save the audit as a PDF:
   1. Click the Print icon.
   2. Change the default printer destination to Save as PDF.
   3. Follow prompts to save the file.

Contacting a Student

• Click the Envelope icon in the top right corner.
  
• A window will open displaying the student’s name and email address.
  
• Click the email address to open a new message in Outlook with the student’s email pre-filled.
  

Ellipse (Three Vertical Dots) Menu

The Ellipse menu provides quick access to three features: GPA Calculator, Term History, and Notes.

GPA Calculators

Students or advisors can enter parameters into GPA calculators to estimate future GPA outcomes.

• Graduation Calculator:
  • Inputs: Current GPA, credits remaining, credits required, target GPA
  • Output: Average GPA needed on remaining credits to graduate with the target GPA.
    
• Term Calculator:
  • Inputs: Current GPA, credits completed, target GPA for the current term
  • Output: Projected end-of-term GPA.
    
• Advice Calculator:
  • Inputs: Current GPA, credits earned, target GPA
  • Output: Average GPA needed on remaining credits to meet the target GPA.
    

Class/Term History

The Class/Term History displays the student’s completed courses organized by semester, starting with the earliest term and continuing through the most recent, including any current in-progress courses.

You can print the Term History by right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting the Print option.

Notes

Advisors and staff can add notes to a student’s audit for reminders or important information.

• To add a note, click the Ellipse icon and select Notes.
• Written Notes: Write custom notes visible to other advisors and staff.
  
• You can choose to hide the note from the student by checking the “Not available to student” box.
• Hidden notes are visible only to advisors and staff with DegreeWorks access.
• Predefined Notes: Select from a list of common informational notes for quick entry.
  
• Don’t forget to click Save Notes after writing.

Program Block

The Program Block provides a summary of the student’s progress relative to the official catalog for their degree (Baccalaureate or Master’s).

• General Degree Requirements:
  Shows each requirement, what has been completed, whether it is complete or incomplete, and what is still needed to meet the requirement.
• Program-Specific Requirements:
  Includes a link to the detailed program requirements.

General Education Requirements Block

General Education (Gen Ed) courses provide a foundational, well-rounded education that all undergraduate students must complete, regardless of major. These courses develop critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, and cultural awareness.

Key Features:

• Displayed as a Block: Shows all Gen Ed requirements and their completion status.
• Common Subjects: English/communication, mathematics, natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, and fine arts.

Status Indicators:

✅
Completed

In Progress

⭕
Still Needed

Major Block

The Major Block shows all courses required for a student’s declared major and tracks progress toward completion.

Key Features:

• Lists completed, in-progress, and pre-registered courses for the major.
• Tracks progress toward major completion and identifies unmet requirements.
• Displays a provisional GPA calculated from courses in the Major Block (may differ from final official GPA).
• Helps ensure compliance with institutional policies, such as minimum GPA and course levels.
• Assists in planning future coursework.

Required General Electives Block

General electives are courses that contribute to the total credit requirement for graduation but do not satisfy specific major, minor, or Gen Ed requirements.

Key Features:

• Credits Required: Total elective credits needed.
• Credits Applied: Credits already completed or in progress.
• Credits Remaining: Credits still needed to meet the requirement.
• Provides flexibility for students to choose courses based on interest, availability, or schedule.

Concentration Block

Concentrations are specialized focus areas within a major (e.g., Molecular Biology within Biology). The Concentration Block tracks progress toward these requirements.

Key Features:

• Lists all required concentration courses.
• Status Alerts: If a concentration is required but not declared, DegreeWorks may display a message such as:
  • “Concentration is Required”
  • “If concentration is required for major, please update student record”

Status Indicator for each course:

✅
Completed

In Progress

⭕
Still Needed

Excess Electives / Credits Excluded Block

This block shows courses that do not count toward degree requirements but may still appear on the transcript.

Key Features:

• Includes courses that:
  • Exceed the maximum allowed elective credits
  • Are repeated (only one attempt counts)
  • Are not applicable to the student’s program or catalog year
• Credits in this block may still contribute to overall GPA and total earned hours but do not count toward degree progress or graduation credit totals.

This block helps advisors and students identify which courses do not contribute to graduation, aiding in future course planning.

Example:

• Total credits earned: 143
• Excess elective credits: 33
• Credits counting toward degree: 110 (143 – 33, unless additional in-progress or required credits are present)

In-Progress and Pre-Registered Courses

DegreeWorks tracks courses that are not yet completed through In-Progress and Pre-Registered categories. Both are included in the degree audit to show how these courses will contribute to degree requirements once completed.

• In-Progress Courses:
  Courses the student is currently enrolled in during the active semester or term. These courses are assumed to fulfill requirements once successfully completed and give a preview of how the current term affects degree progress.
• Pre-Registered Courses:
  Courses the student has enrolled in for a future term that has not yet started. Unlike In-Progress courses, these are planned courses and indicate how upcoming coursework will contribute to degree completion.

What-If Scenario

The What-If feature in DegreeWorks serves two main purposes:

1. View degree requirements for multiple majors/credentials – For students pursuing more than one major, it allows advisors to see the full set of requirements for each major independently.
2. Explore hypothetical changes – Advisors and students can explore requirements for another major, minor, or catalog year without officially changing the student’s record.

IMPORTANT: Using What-If does not officially update the student’s program, minor, or catalog year in the system.

How to Use What-If

1. Select Catalog Year and Program
   • Choose the desired Catalog Year and Program.
   • The Level and Degree fields will populate automatically based on the selected program.
   • In-Progress and Pre-Registered Courses fields are selected by default.
   • Note: Level, Degree, and College fields are grayed out because they are linked to the selected program.
   • Areas of Study shows the current program and is also grayed out.
2. Check for Concentration Requirement
   • Some majors require a concentration. If required, an asterisk (*) will appear next to the field.
   • If the major does not require a concentration, no asterisk appears.
3. Change Program (Optional)
   • For example, changing the program from Information Technology to Interdisciplinary Studies will automatically update:
     • Degree Block
     • College Block
     • Areas of Study Block
   • If the new program requires a concentration, an asterisk appears, indicating you must select a concentration.
4. Add a Minor (Optional)
   • Use this field if the student is considering a minor.
     
5. Process the Scenario
   • After entering the desired information, click Process.
   • The worksheet will update to reflect the hypothetical changes:
     • Degree Block will show the new degree (e.g., Bachelor of Arts).
     • General Education Requirements for the new program will populate.
       
     • Concentration Block (if required) will populate with the relevant courses.
       
     • General Electives Block will populate with the new program’s elective requirements.
       
6. Exit What-If Scenario
   • Click Academic next to What-If to return to the student’s actual audit.
     

Exceptions in DegreeWorks

An Exception is a manual adjustment made to a student’s degree audit to override or modify standard curriculum rules. Exceptions are used by advisors, registrars, or curriculum specialists to account for special circumstances or approved substitutions.

Exceptions are student-specific and do not affect the catalog or other students. Each exception should be documented with a reason or approval source (e.g., department Chair or Dean approval).

Purpose of Exceptions

Exceptions allow you to:

• Substitute a course: Replace one required course with another (e.g., allow HIST 1100 to count for HIST 1320).
• Apply Here: Move a course to a different requirement area.
• Also Allow: Permit an additional course to satisfy a requirement.
• Force Complete: Mark a requirement complete due to external credit (reserved for Senior Advisors or Registrar).
• Add or Remove Courses / Change Limit: Adjust the number of courses or credits required (reserved for Senior Advisors or Registrar).

Common Types of Exceptions

How to Add an Exception

1. Open the Exceptions Tab: Click Exceptions at the top of the DegreeWorks worksheet.
   
2. Locate the Course: Click the blue plus sign next to the course you want to modify.
   
3. Select Exception Type: Choose the appropriate exception (e.g., Substitute, Apply Here, Also Allow).
   
4. Fill in the Exception Details:
   • Change: The course to be replaced (e.g., HIST 1320)
   • To: The course to be applied (e.g., HIST 1100)
   • With: Leave blank unless otherwise instructed
   • Description: Provide a brief note (e.g., “HIST 1100 Sub for HIST 1320”)
   • Details: Include approval source (e.g., “Approved by Department Chair / Dean”)
5. Add the Exception: Click Add Exception.
   
6. Verify: Click Worksheets in the upper-left corner and scroll to the course. The exception will appear in the audit.
   

How to Delete or Remove an Exception

1. Click the Exceptions tab at the top of the page.
2. Scroll to the course with the exception.
3. Click the trash can icon next to the exception.
4. Click Worksheets to refresh the audit. The exception will be removed.

Example Scenario

Scenario: A student took BIO 150 at another institution, but your program normally requires BIO 160.

• Enter a Substitute Exception to allow BIO 150 to fulfill the BIO 160 requirement.
• Fill in the Change, To, and Description fields.
• Include approval documentation (department Chair or Dean).
• After processing, the audit will reflect the substitution in the Major or General Education Block.