Creating a Plan to Complete Your Degree
The best way to reach a goal is to make a great plan! Mapping your degree path is an important task for every student. Students should consult with their academic advisors to create a plan for degree completion and to monitor it regularly. Consideration of opportunities, such as Study Abroad, internships, undergraduate research, is important when constructing your plan. Each degree plan at OU has a corresponding checksheet which outlines requirements to complete the degree. In addition, thoughtfully constructed semester by semester plans are included on the degree checksheets to help guide students in course selection in a four or five-year timeframe, depending on the requirements. View them at the OU Course Catalog.
In order to complete your degree in a timely way, it is critical to hit your mapped out milestones. We encourage students to FINISH 15 hours each full term. By completing at least 15 hours each fall and spring semester or 30 hours each academic year, a student can graduate in four years in a majority of OU degree programs. Taking just one class every summer allows many students to graduate one semester sooner than planned or minimizes the impact of having to drop a course.
There are many resources available to help students choose a major and/or minor, including, meeting with an expert to discuss options, taking assessments and reviewing them with an major expert, and meeting with an academic advisor to create your own degree program! For more information about the process of choosing a major and links to these resources, click here.
Finding the major that is right for you early in your college journey can help you gradute sooner! There are many resources available to help students choose a major and/or minor, including: taking assessments, meeting with an major and career exploration expert to review the results and discuss options, and even meeting with an academic advisor to create your own degree program.
The Center for Major and Career Exploration provides free one-to-one major and career coaching. Go to iadvise.ou.edu/majors to set up an appointment with a Major and Career Exploration Coach today!
You can also visit Career Services to talk with a staff member and check out resources on the majors and occupations you find interesting. The What Can I Do With This Major? website can help you to translate your OU coursework to your career path.
Students should meet with their academic advisors to create a plan for graduation. Advisors are experts in degree program requirements and can provide valuable advice and information about getting the most out of your OU experience! Most students have access to scheduling advisement appointments through iAdvise.ou.edu. Find out more about Academic Advising at OU by visiting ou.edu/advising hosted by the Academic Advising Resource Center.
