UWW Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Planning Instructions and Login
Getting Started
- The preferred browser for the UWW Degree Plan Form is Google Chrome.
- Create an account on the UWW Degree Plan Form as a new user by creating a username and password. We recommend creating a new username and password that you do not use for SPIRE.
- Once you create an account, you can edit and save your progress at any time. When your final draft is complete, you will select submit at the bottom of the page. At that time, you will receive a confirmation email and your degree planning instructor will review your degree plan.
- The degree plan consists of seven sections: UWW Program Requirements Overview, Area of Concentration, Transferred Credits, Credits To Be Earned, Portfolio, Special Transcript Credits, and Total Credits.
Documents Needed to Complete Degree Plan
- Your Unofficial Transcript accessed in SPIRE.
- Your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) accessed in SPIRE.
- Your Degree Development Worksheet you completed with your instructor.
- Official documentation of professional training and/or certificates (special transcript).
Seven Degree Plan Sections
This section identifies the University and UWW program requirements that need to be met in order to complete your degree. Your degree plan allows you to identify work you have already completed and what you still need to complete to meet these requirements.
Please note, every care is made to make sure your degree plan reflects your remaining requirements, however, it is your responsibility as the student to ensure all requirements are met. You can do this by utilizing the reports listed above, your degree plan, and by keeping in contact with your academic advisor.
- Complete the information:
- Last and First Name
- Email address (student email recommended, as this should be checked daily)
- Last four digits of your student ID (located in SPIRE)
- Degree Type (B.A. – Bachelor of Arts or B.S. – Bachelor of Science)
- UWW 305 (degree plan) Instructor
- Entry Semester (season and year)
- Expected Grad Term (month and year) – this should match what is in your SPIRE account. You can update SPIRE if it is incorrect.
- Select the area of concentration (AOC) title you determined when working with your faculty advisor from the drop down list (please refer to the Degree Development Worksheet you completed).
- Definition field:
- If you have selected a UWW Area of Concentration Title, the definition will automatically populate in the definition field.
- If you have selected Custom in the Concentration Title drop down menu, you will write in the definition you created when you determined your area of concentration with your faculty advisor.
- Special Focus:
- You may have a particular focus within your area of concentration. If so, describe it briefly in the Special Focus field.
- A special focus is not required, but it may help clarify why certain courses are selected over others in your degree plan.
- Additional Explanatory Notes:
- Use this field to give the reviewers information that may be helpful in evaluating the plan.
- Indicate information such as: plans to continue on to graduate school, complete certification or licensure, changing career paths, or looking for career advancement.
- General Education Requirements:
- Indicate how your general education requirements will be fulfilled. University and general education requirements should be verified by viewing the Academic Records Report (ARR) located in SPIRE).
SAVE PROGRESS and select NEXT to move forward.
This section should identify every course or credited learning experience already on your SPIRE transcript.
In Concentration – Previously Earned
The purpose of this section is to indicate the previously completed courses that are relevant to your area of concentration.
Refer to your unofficial transcript to see a snapshot of your transfer coursework. You can review the UMass Amherst evaluation of the transfer courses, which is listed directly under each course.
- Complete this section by listing the original course department, number, and title as listed by the institution from where you completed the course.
- In the same field, indicate if the course is indicated as an equivalent UMass Amherst course and what that course is in parentheses. For example, you could enter “MATH 142 Statistics (STATISTC 111)” under “Dept, Number, Title” to show that the Math 142 course in statistics you took at your previous college transferred into UMass Amherst as Statistics 111.
- Indicate if the course you completed was transferred or completed at UMass Amherst.
- Indicate the number of credits awarded. If it is a course in transfer, indicate the UMass Amherst credits awarded.
- If you have more than 20 courses to enter in this section, write “Please see Additional Courses Section” and the number of credits remaining on the last line in that section. Enter the course information in the ‘Additional Courses: In Concentration – Previously Earned’ box on the next page (scroll to bottom and select NEXT).
Out of Concentration – Previously Earned
The purpose of this section is to indicate the previously completed courses that are not relevant to your area of concentration.
- Complete this section by listing the original course department, number, and title as listed by the institution from where you completed the course. Indicating equivalent UMass Amherst courses is not necessary for courses that are not relevant to your area of concentration.
- Indicate if the course you completed was transferred or completed at UMass Amherst.
- Indicate the number of credits earned. If it is a course in transfer, indicate the UMass Amherst credits awarded.
- If you have more than 20 courses to enter in this section, write “Please see Additional Courses Section” and tally the number of credits remaining on the last line in that section. Enter the course information in the ‘Additional Courses: Out of Concentration – Previously Earned’ box on the next page (scroll to bottom and select NEXT).
The four fields that indicate credit totals following this section are automatically calculated, and therefore, you will not need to enter anything in these sections.
You will use this section to indicate the courses/CLEP Exams you plan to complete to meet UWW and UMass Amherst program requirements.
- UWW Core Curriculum Courses
- Upper level courses related to your area of concentration (300 level or higher)
- Courses needed to round out the area of concentration
- Prerequisites
- Remaining outstanding general education courses
- Intended CLEP Exams
Refer to the Sample Online Course List in the degree planning tab in the Student Headquarters. This list provides Univ+ (UWW) courses that have been offered online over the previous three years. Be aware that the presence of a course on this list does not guarantee that it will be offered in the future. You will work with your academic advisor if substitutions need to be made as you progress through your program.
Some courses have prerequisites. A prerequisite is a course that is required before enrolling in a higher-level course. Refer to the course description in SPIRE for this information, and consult with your faculty advisor about whether you should plan to take the prerequisite(s) or request a waiver.
If you find that you have additional courses to add, list them in the “Additional Courses: To Be Earned” sections. Be sure to write “Please see Additional Courses Section” and include a tally of the credits in the last line of the respective section, so the credits will be calculated in the totals section.
Credits To Be Earned: UWW Core Curriculum Courses
- Select the number of credits for the degree planning course (305 is 4 credits).
- Select the number of credits for the UWW 370 Writing About Experience course (this course is 3 credits).
- Choose the two Experiential Reflections courses you are currently taking or plan to complete.
In Concentration – To Be Earned
- Complete this section by listing the courses you select by department, number, and title.
- Indicate if you plan to complete the course in transfer or at UMass Amherst.
- Identify if the course meets a general education requirement at UMass Amherst.
- Indicate the number of credits.
- Indicate if the course has prerequisite(s).
- Additional/Alternative Courses can be indicated in the designated section on the last page of the degree plan form.
Out of Concentration – To Be Earned
- Complete this section by listing the courses you select by department, number, and title.
- Indicate if you plan to complete the course in transfer, at UMass Amherst, or by exam.
- Identify if the course meets a general education requirement at UMass Amherst.
- Indicate the number of credits associated with the class.
- Additional/Alternative Courses can be indicated in the designated section on the last page of the degree plan form.
- Indicate if you will be seeking portfolio credits.
- Enter the number of portfolio credits you think will apply to your area of concentration and the number of credits that may come in as general elective credit (not related to your area of concentration).
- Provide information about the positions or roles you plan to discuss in your portfolio.
- Indicate the portfolio areas of learning.
PLEASE NOTE: Estimated portfolio credits is a target; approval of the degree plan does not indicate any assurance the target will be met.
- Indicate any credits sought for professional trainings/certifications related to your area of concentration and the estimated number of credits you may be able to receive.
- Generally, 16 hours of professional trainings equate to 1 academic credit.
- There is a fee to have special transcripts evaluated.
PLEASE NOTE: Special transcripts are reviewed by professionals in the field in which the training occurred. The number you enter on your degree plan is an estimate, not an official award of credit. Only the special transcript evaluator and UWW Records & Registration can provide an official award of credit.
The numbers in this section will automatically populate based on the information you previously entered.
- The “Already Earned” fields will show you how many credits you have already earned toward each requirement.
- The “To Be Earned” fields will show you how many credits you indicated you still need to complete in the “Credits To Be Earned” section of the form.
- The “Totals For Degree” fields add both the “Already Earned” and “Credits To Be Earned” to help you ensure you are meeting degree requirements and transfer credit requirements.
SAVE PROGRESS and select NEXT to move forward.
If you have any questions for your advisor, indicate them in the ‘Student Questions for Advisor’ section.
When complete, please select SAVE PROGRESS and SUBMIT at the bottom of the form.
Your form has been submitted to your faculty advisor for review.