The reference materials you'll use to determine which classes to take can vary depending on where you are in your academic journey at University of Maryland Global Campus. Here are some quick guidelines to make sure you're using the right information.

  • Degree planning worksheet: Use the degree planning worksheets below if you're in your first year at UMGC and haven't had a tentative or official transfer credit evaluation. We encourage you to reach out to an advisor to get a preliminary estimate of transfer credit and submit official transcripts to start your official evaluation.
  • Preliminary estimate: A preliminary estimate is a personalized version of a degree planning worksheet where your advisor identifies which degree requirements could be met by your transfer credits. We encourage you to submit official transcripts as soon as possible to confirm your transfer credits.
  • Academic advisement report: After you've submitted official transcripts, you can find your Academic Advisement Report by logging in to MyUMGC. This is an official record of your transfer credits and remaining degree requirements.

You can always refer to the course catalog for the year you began attending UMGC for full degree requirements, but your Academic Advisement Report in MyUMGC is the only place you can see your official progress toward your degree.

Degree Planning Worksheets

 There are four key benefits to using a degree planning worksheet:

  • You can view all requirements for your entire degree at a glance.
  • Course requirements are presented in a recommended order to ensure you fulfill all prerequisites before you take on more complex material.
  • Recommended courses simplify course selection.
  • Recommended courses are widely available at UMGC sites in Maryland, overseas and online.

To find the degree planning worksheet (in Adobe Acrobat format) for your major, simply click on the appropriate link below. Questions? See the frequently asked questions below or contact an academic advisor.

Degree Planning Worksheets by Major

FAQs: Degree Planning

The degree planning worksheet is designed to give you more explicit guidance in the form of course recommendations and sequences. If you work through the courses in this order, you can be confident you're fulfilling graduation requirements and gaining an academic foundation before signing up for more advanced courses. Here are some questions and answers to help you use the worksheet at UMGC.

How are the courses in my UMGC degree plan presented in the degree planning worksheet? +

The course sequence supports your academic success by preparing you for each course before you take it. Your first courses as well as the preceding placement exams for English and math help build skills needed in all college-level courses. General education requirement courses provide the initial study and broad academic context to prepare you for more complex material later on. Then, you'll move into the heart of your degree: the remaining courses for your academic major (and perhaps minor) as well as electives to complete degree requirements and round out your personal interests.

Do I have to take the specific courses listed in my degree planning worksheet? +

Sometimes, the specific course is required. In that case, the notes after the course number will indicate this. Sometimes, the course fulfills a requirement, but there are other options. In that case, the notes will say "or other." For example, "or other behavioral/social science GER course." GER stands for general education requirement. These options can be found in the catalog.

Why are specific courses recommended on my degree planning worksheet if I can choose others? +

The recommended courses are widely available, are appropriate in focus and subject matter for that place in the degree plan, are appropriate for the variety of students who can take the course, and are among the best academic courses you could select at this place in your degree plan. They simplify your choice, so you can identify and schedule your next course more easily.

If my degree plan says "or other," how do I find my other options? +

If the option is listed as "GER," refer to the list of General Education Requirements in the catalog. If there is a short list of options, it will normally be included in the course note.

Do I have to take courses in the order listed on the degree planning worksheet? +

The LIBS 150 and the first English and math courses must be taken in your first 18 credits at UMGC. Depending on placement test results, however, you may need to take preparatory English or math courses first. So, for example, you may need EDCP 103 before WRTG 101 or MATH 009 or 012 before the math course listed.

Some courses have one or more prerequisites. Prerequisite courses are listed before the later courses. For example, the prerequisite for Clinical Psychology is Introduction to Psychology. This means that you need to take Introduction to Psychology first. The worksheet will present the courses in the appropriate order.  

Otherwise, the sequence is recommended rather than required. Just remember that there is a logic to the sequence. If you change the course selected or the sequence of courses, it could affect other elements of the degree plan. For example, if the recommended course satisfies two requirements, substitution could force you to take two courses instead of one. Or if you choose a lower-level course where an upper-level one is recommended, you will have to take additional upper-level credit elsewhere to meet the minimum.  

You can also mix elective courses into this sequence, even though they are listed at the end of the degree plan. But make sure that you are progressing on the degree requirements as suggested, so you will not end up having to take extra courses at the end of your studies. 

We strongly recommend against taking upper-level courses before you have finished most of your lower-level courses or taking many courses in your major before you have laid the foundation with general education requirements.

If I haven't chosen a major, how can I start progressing toward my degree? +

Many of the General Education Requirement courses are the same regardless of your degree, including LIBS 150 and WRTG 101, so you can get started while thinking about your choice of major. You might want to compare a few degree plans to see which courses are most common across the majors.

If I am transferring from another university, can I use that coursework in my degree plan? +

Yes. Subject to the limits on maximum credit, source of credit, and application to the degree requirements, you can use transfer credit toward your UMGC degree. Credit for military or professional experience can also be applicable.

Which classes should I take while I am waiting for my official evaluation of transfer credit? +

Start at the beginning of the degree planning worksheet with the first and introductory courses, and select the first course you have not taken before. (Except for placement testing, first and introductory courses generally do not have prerequisites.) Work your way through the courses in sequence.  

For example, if you have taken no library research or first-year English courses, take LIBS 150 and/or WRTG 101 (based on the placement exam) first. If you do have freshman English but aren't sure of the equivalency, take other first or introductory courses until you receive your evaluation. You should select courses in disciplines that you know you have not yet studied. An advisor can help you with this process.

If I'm transferring as an upper-level student, how can I get started with my degree plan? +

You will proceed like any other transfer student but will likely start further along on the degree plan. If you have an associate degree, for example, you probably have covered most of the General Education Requirements and can find yourself beginning with foundation courses or even additional major courses. Just be careful not to select a course for which you can have an exact duplicate or a course with a prerequisite. If you know there will be a lot of overlap, for example, you are bringing more than 60 credits in transfer and have already taken many courses in your major at UMGC, you might want to start on your minor or some of your electives until you secure your evaluation.  

In addition, you probably have acquired enough lower-level courses that you might need to concentrate on upper-level choices, especially in the major and minor. Your advisor can help you find the right courses.