Welcome to the iGPS Standard Degree Maps video.
This is one of a series of videos on the tools
to help you with academic degree planning.
The Standard Degree Maps are your guides for planning you way to degree completion.
Be sure to keep in mind that many of the maps are flexible
and reflect just one way to the degree, not the only way.
Departments have worked out general pathways
that allow you to graduate in four years.
They keep the maps updated as their curricula changes.
Links in the map help you know which courses
fulfill your degree requirements.
To begin, go to One.iu.edu and search for “iGPS.”
The task center tile entitled "iGPS tasks"
includes all of your tools for degree planning.
Add to your favorites by clicking
the heart in the lower right corner of the tile.
From iGPS Tasks, select "Degree Map Search, login required."
The starting point for using Standard Degree Maps
is to select your IU campus.
After clicking your campus, you are given options
to find the degree map you would like to see.
If you select a school on your campus and hit "Search"
you will see all of the degree options for that School.
The other option is to enter keywords
related to your academic program.
For example, a South Bend student skilled in computers
would be given degree options from multiple schools.
Once you have found a map you’d like to explore,
select the range of terms when you began
as a degree-seeking student at your institution.
Let’s take a tour of this standard degree map to see
all the features and information you can use.
After choosing a Degree Map, you’ll be asked
if you want to “Return to Search” or “Add to My Maps.”
This lets you keep browsing if your initial search
gave you multiple options to explore.
Once you’ve found the degree program you want to pursue,
select “Add to My Maps.”
This will save this program’s degree map for you,
making it quick and easy to return to it as you plan.
Below the buttons is specific information about this
degree map, including Plan title (degree/major),
the campus and school offering the degree,
the Student’s Catalog Year, and number
of credits to complete this degree.
The description tells you what fields
this degree covers and the sorts of skills and knowledge
you’ll gain from a degree in this field.
Links to Career Services and Financial Aid Information
specific to this degree or campus
are located near the top of each standard degree Map.
Along with a list of courses needed
to complete your IU degree,
faculty have listed Critical Courses
and Milestones you should tackle.
As stated on each Standard Degree Map,
“completing a critical course or milestone by the associated term
is considered crucial to graduation in 8 semesters.”
Next you can scroll down to view courses by year.
Let’s look at the information you can see in those lists.
Critical courses are identified by the red exclamation point.
Degree maps may list specific courses
or they may show “placeholders” (like Critical Thinking above)
which are labels for the type of courses necessary for the degree.
If you click the arrow to the right
of the Critical Thinking placeholder,
the required semester of completion appears
as well as the View Courses button.
This displays courses that meet the requirement.
Having to complete a course by a certain semester
used to be a stumbling block for students.
Now, we can see the classes that count
towards Critical Thinking,
and that the student must complete one by year three, fall term.
If a course is only offered in a certain semester,
that information may also be included.
Let’s see how you could use an IUPUI Applied Mathematics
degree map to plan upcoming semesters.
You can either select the checkbox
for Fall Term to select all courses listed,
or check only the courses you want to add to your Plan.
Then, choose the future term for these courses
from the "Add to plan for" drop-down menu.
Click "Add" to confirm.
Once you add a course or a term of courses to your Plan,
you can modify and rearrange as needed.
You can resolve placeholders from within your plan.
To resolve a placeholder, click the star
to bookmark for a future decision,
or click "+ Plan" to place in a future term.
You can access your bookmarks
by selecting the “Bookmarks” link at the top of all iGPS tool pages.
The Degree Maps are meant to provide a foundation
for your academic career through transparent, real-time information
you need to plan your personal journey through college
and reach your individual goals.
Degree Maps need not be followed rigidly—
many of them are flexible and can adjust to your circumstances.
You may be bringing dual credit, test credit,
AP or IB credit with you to college.
The maps will help you see where that credit applies
and the Plan gives you flexibility
to move things around where needed,
while ensuring you understand where you cannot move courses
to stay on track to graduate in a timely fashion.
The Office of Completion and Student Success (OCSS)
works closely with academic advising offices
on each campus to assist you with using these tools.
Please let us know how we can support your academic goals
at Indiana University.