Creating a Degree Plan
Creating a degree plan is helpful in gaining a better understanding of graduation
requirements. It will allow you the opportunity to approach each registration season
with a specific list of courses you will need to take. Keep in mind that degree plans
may need to be adjusted due to changes in course offerings or scheduling issues. Talk
to your Academic Advisor to find out when and how to get started on your degree plan.
See the degree plan process below.
- Meet Your AdvisorThe first step in creating a degree plan is meeting with your Academic Advisor. If you do not know who your Academic Advisor is, use the Find My Advisor tool and contact him / her and let them know that you want to get started on creating a Degree Plan.
- Degree Guide
Your Degree Guide is a personal statement that shows your requirements and progress to degree completion. It includes three main sections: (1) your General Education requirements, (2) your major, concentration, and minor requirements, and (3) your unit and GPA requirements.
To find your Degree Guide click here, then click "View All Details". (You must be logged in to InsideCBU). The video below shows navigation to your degree guide.
Step-by-Step Instructions on Accessing and Reading your Degree Guide
To access your Degree Guide, start by logging in to InsideCBU.
Once logged in, click the Academics tab, followed by the Traditional Students link.
On the right, under Establishing My Academic Plan, click Degree Guide
In the My Degree Progress Box click View All Details...
followed by Printable Degree Guide (PDF File).
When your Degree Guide loads, take note of your major and catalog year (note: your Catalog Year might be different than "2019-2020").
Each requirement area will be noted Incomplete or Complete. Incomplete, looks like this...
and complete looks like this...
To graduate, all sections, categories, and courses must be Complete.
When reading your degree guide, pay special attention to requirement descriptions. Below, we see a student who has completed 3 units of a 6-unit requirement area.
A course that is Incomplete will be blank,
a course that is in-progress will include the course number, semester, unit value of registered class, and IP,
a course that is completed will include the grade earned,
a course or exam that has been transferred will include a transfer code and will be noted with a T,
and finally, a course that is exempt will be noted with an EX.
An exemption (EX) means you have not earned units for the required course, but have met the course requirement through other means, such as:
- Completion of a higher level class than you were originally placed (more information on placement exams will be provided later)
- Sufficient grade(s) earned in CBU approved high school course(s). Foreign language is the most commonly exempted GE
- CBU approved certifications. First Aid & CPR certification through the American Red Cross being one example
It's important that you refer not only to your Degree Guide in registering and planning, but that you also access your Major Planning Guide. Your Major Planning Guide includes helpful information on which GE's might be met in your major, course offerings, requisites, recommended sequence, and unit requirements. Please expand the next section to learn about your Major Planning Guide.
- Major Planning Guides
In addition to your Degree Guide, your Major Planning Guide is helpful in that it provides a summary of your major and GE requirements, and a sample degree plan you might consider following. Please see your academic advisor and refer to the University Catalog as offerings are occasionally subject to change.
Click here to access your major planning guide.
- Recommended GE Courses Lists
To determine which General Education classes you might consider registering in you can view / download the Recommended Courses to Meet General Education Requirements list. For any General Education categories you wish to complete, we recommend only taking courses from this list. This list provides you with recommended competency courses, and lower and upper division general education offerings. You must have at least 30 units completed to take upper division courses.
Click here to download the Recommended GE list.
Click here to download the Recommended GE list for Engineering majors.
Click here to download the Recommended GE list for Construction Management majors.
Click here to download the Recommended GE list for Pre-Nursing / Nursing majors. - Degree Course Planning Worksheet
Using your degree guide, major planning guide, and recommended GE course list, you can now create a degree plan using our Degree Course Planning Worksheet.
Once you have created a degree plan be sure to email it to your academic advisor so he/she can check for any needed adjustments.
Keep a copy of your degree plan in your files so you are able to make future edits as needed.
Click here to download the Degree Course Planning Worksheet.
Students involved with CBU's Music program should use the (Music) Degree Course Planning Worksheet.
- University Catalog
The University Catalog provides information about campus offices, departments, policies, and academic programs, including course descriptions. An new catalog is built every academic year.
Be sure to access the correct catalog for your question. If you need to look up specific degree requirements for your major, minor, or concentration, choose the catalog that corresponds with your catalog year. You can find your catalog year at the top of your Degree Guide.
If you need to look up the most up-to-date course offerings or campus policies, please choose the current catalog.