Registration and Planning
Do you know the types of classes you want to take but aren’t sure where to look for them? Maybe you have a full plan but don’t know how to register. Don’t worry—in this step by step guide I will tell you the fundamentals of registering and pre-planning to get you academically set each year.
First of all, depending on when you want to graduate, you’ll need to plan on a certain number of courses each semester. You’ll need 12 credits to be considered a full time student. Classes are usually three credits each, with some exceptions like one-credit physical education classes or four-credit lab classes. You can take up to 18 credits a semester, amounting to about six classes per semester. If you plan on graduating in four years like most traditional students, you’ll want to take about 15 credits each semester (about five classes of three credits each). This might change toward your senior year, with less or more classes or internships, but to finish within four years, sticking to a consistent five classes per semester is one method that works well. There are, of course, many different ways to plan, but it’s all up to your own comfort.
Now, on to the fun stuff—a good way to look ahead on classes is with the website DegreeWorks, found through your student portal. DegreeWorks will help you look through the requirements of your major(s) and minor(s) but can help if you’re undecided too! There is a tab called “What if?,” where you can experiment with having different majors and minor without actually changing them, allowing you to see the classes you would need to take and how many credits the concentration requires.
The last important part is the actual registration page under the “Registration Dashboard” in the student portal. Here is where you’ll be able to browse the classes, class times, and professors; prepare and plan for registration; and actually register on the day selected for you. With the “Plan Ahead” feature, you can create a plan for the upcoming semester and, then, use that plan on registration day rather than manually registering for classes one at a time. Under “Prepare for Registration,” you can see if you have any holds on your account; view your registration pin, once you’ve been approved; and see the time you are scheduled to register.
