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Degree Progress Report
WHAT is a Degree Progress Report?
A personalized report showing your progress in meeting graduation requirements.
WHEN do you get it?
You or your advisor can view your Degree Progress Report any time through SPIRE.
HOW can you modify it?
Ask your advisor to authorize exceptions to your requirements.
WHY does it exist?
To advise students on degree requirements and course choices, and to expedite graduation clearance.
WHO should pay attention?
You, the student, since it is your graduation which may be delayed if your requirements are not satisfied.
Does the Degree Progress Report Replace Advising?
Absolutely not! The report should reduce the amount of time an advisor spends counting credits and reviewing routine requirements, time which is better spent discussing academic and career goals. Advisors are invaluable in helping a student develop a focus within a major, select courses best suited for such a focus and plan a future beyond the classroom. Advisors must also authorize modifications to requirements for individual students, such as applying transfer course-work to major requirements, thus informing the student about courses still outstanding. Your advisor must send a Student Exception Form to the Registrar's office so that the approved modifications will appear on your Degree Progress Report.
Transfer Work
The Degree Progress Report recognizes only UMass course numbers. Therefore transfer work must be assigned UMass equivalent department names and course numbers.
If, however, the admissions office lacks sufficient information to assign an exact Umass equivalent, it assigns the course a "generic" course number, such as ITRA or IEXB, along with gen. ed. designations (URQMT) where appropriate. It is then up to the student and his/her advisor to determine whether a transfer course will satisfy major requirements. The advisor must authorize the substitution of a generic transfer course for a Umass course in the Degree Progress Report by sending a Student Exception Form to the Registrar's Office.
Exchange and Five College Courses
Exchange and Five College courses are not assigned UMass equivalents. They can only be used to satisfy requirements if an advisor authorizes an exception for you.
How to Read Your Degree Progress Report
1. Read the introductory messages. They tell you where to go for help, clarify policies, and alert you to any new announcements. The legend also explains abbreviations used in the report.
2. University wide graduation requirements appear first, followed by requirements of your college and major. Be sure to review your in-progress courses. If they are not what you are taking, check it out at the Registrar's Office.
3. Unsatisfied requirements appear in red type.
4. Courses not currently used in any requirement appear in "Additional Electives."
5. Check to see that all your courses appear where they belong. If not, see the appropriate advisor or go to the registrar's office.
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