Knowledge Base - Article Details

What Is a Program Plan and How Do I Use It? 

Overview: This article explains what a Program Plan is, where to find it, and how to use it to plan your academic journey. 

 

What Is a Program Plan? 

A Program Plan shows you what courses are required to complete your degree. It also shows the order we suggest you take courses in to stay on track to graduate. Of course, you can change the number of courses you take each block to meet your needs. 

 

Where to Find Your Program Plan 

Program Plans are found in the Academic Catalog.  

  • Go to All Catalogs in the top menu. Select the catalog year from your degree progress audit. 

  • Click Explore Degrees. Find your program version (e.g., “Applied Health [Bachelor]”). 

  • Select your Program Plan at the top of your catalog page. 

If you have questions, see What Is an Academic Catalog?

 

How to Use Your Program Plan 

Your Program Plan is organized by academic block. It shows a suggested order for taking required courses. It brings together everything in your Academic Catalog into one helpful schedule. We usually recommend taking 4–6 credits each block—usually one academic course and either a General Education or religion course.  

 

What a Program Plan Includes 

  • The courses you need to take to complete a credential  

  • The number of credits per course  

  • The course codes (e.g., MKT 120)  

  • The order of courses (because of prerequisites)  

  • How many blocks it will take you to graduate at this recommended pace 

  • Some Program Plans indicate when a new course has replaced a course that is no longer offered. This is called a course substitution. Completing either the old course or the new course will satisfy your degree requirements. 

Use your Program Plan alongside your degree progress audit and the Academic Catalog to successfully plan your courses. 

 

How Closely Do You Need to Follow Your Program Plan? 

Your Program Plan is a helpful resource, but you can take more courses (or fewer) based on your circumstances. We recommend using your Program Plan because it shows the required courses you need to complete in the proper order. It will help you stay on track toward graduation. 

 

How Your Program Plan Can Help You 

  • It helps you take courses in the right order. 

  • It makes sure you complete any prerequisites. 

  • It keeps you on a balanced pace of 4–6 credits per block. 

If you’re still unsure about how to use your Program Plan, your mentor can help.