Degree Works for Winthrop Students

Degree Works is a web-based auditing tool that allows students and advisors to monitor progress toward completion of program requirements. It combines Winthrop’s degree requirements and the coursework that has been completed with easy to read worksheets. These worksheets will show how completed courses count toward degree requirements and show which courses and requirements still need to be completed.


What are the benefits of using Degree Works?

  • Provides a way for students and advisors to plan for future courses by determining which requirements are still needed to complete a degree program

  • Shows individual course grades, overall GPA, major and minor GPA, transfer credit

  • Provides a “What If” audit that allows students to see how a change of major or minor could impact degree progress

  • Provides a “Future Classes” audit to see how planned courses would meet requirements

  • Provides a Planner that allows students and advisors to map out courses by term

  • Shows the progress toward the Cultural Events Requirement

  • Provides a GPA calculator to determine what is needed to achieve a desired GPA


How do I access Degree Works?

Go to https://wingspan.winthrop.edu. Log in using your Winthrop University username and password. A link for Degree Works can be found under Student Tools.


Degree Works Resources for Students

Degree Works Overview for Students Video
Degree Works What-If Analysis Video
Degree Works Planner for Students Video
Degree Works Student Instruction Guide  (PDF - 1.1 MB)


Frequently Asked Questions


General Questions

    A Degree Works worksheet or audit is a review of past, current and “planned” coursework that provides information on completed and outstanding requirements necessary to complete a degree, major, minor, or concentration. Your audit will also show your minimum GPA requirements, academic standing, advisor(s), Cultural Events check, catalog, and overall hours required for degree completion.

    Yes. Degree Works is accessed through your secure Wingspan login account. Advisors, faculty, and selected staff will also have access for the purpose of supporting your progress through your academic career. Your Degree Works audit is part of your education record and is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

    As with any other personal information that you access online, you should be sure to logout of your account before leaving a public computer.

    The information in Degree Works is refreshed each night. Any changes made today (e.g. grade changes, or classes added/dropped) will be seen in Degree Works tomorrow. It is highly recommended that you click on the "Process New" button next to the Save as PDF button to ensure that the most up-to-date information is being displayed.

    Your degree audit is a tool to provide you with academic information related to your degree progress. It displays courses required and completed in your degree program. Your transcript is your official university academic record and provides a chronological list of all courses completed along with your grades.

    Yes, to see a printable list of courses taken at Winthrop as well as transfer courses, click on the three vertical dots found in the upper right corner of your audit. Then select the Class History option. This will display a chronological listing of courses with the grade received and credit hours. This is not the same as a transcript since it does not list the term GPA. Also, keep in mind that any transfer work not accepted will not be displayed.

    Yes. Degree Works is laid out in block format displaying degree, major, minor, and concentration requirements information. Look for unchecked boxes to identify requirements that you still need to complete.

    Yes, your Cultural Events requirement will be displayed in the top section of check boxes on the audit.

    Yes. Once grades have been processed at the end of the semester, they are viewable in Degree Works following the nightly refresh; however, final grades are not available in Degree Works until after the final grading period for the University has ended.

    Courses from which you have withdrawn will appear in the Incomplete, Withdrawn, Repeated and Failed Courses block on your audit. They will be indicated with an “N” grade.

    Courses from which you have been given an incomplete grade will appear in the Incomplete, Withdrawn, Repeated and Failed Courses block on your audit. They will be indicated with an IB, IC, ID, IF, or IU grade. In addition, a note to resolve any incomplete grades will be displayed in the top section of check boxes on the audit.

    Repeats with insufficient grades, failed or withdrawn, will appear in the Insufficient block on your audit. Repeats with a passing grade will only show here once the course has been completed, otherwise it will show in the minimum degree hours block until after the grade for the most recent course is entered (hopefully with a higher grade).

     This does not apply to courses that are allowed to be repeated for additional credit.

    Any waivers, substitutions, or exceptions for major, minor, or concentration requirements must be communicated to the Student Services Office of your college by the appropriate department chair, and submitted to the Registrar’s Office. Please keep in mind that no substitutions or exceptions will be entered if you are not currently enrolled in the class that is to be used as a substitution.

    There could be two reasons. First, the course did not meet the minimum number of credits and/or minimum grade requirement for use in your program of study. Second, all requirements have been met and this course is simply not needed.

    Look at the degree information next to your name at the top of the screen. You will notice that the degree box has a drop-down arrow. Use this to select your second degree.

    Degree Works looks at your entire program and places each course using a “best fit” scenario for courses applying to the general education, major, minor, and concentration requirements. The “best fit” process will not always be perfect, particularly when multiple possibilities exist.

    In most cases, yes. It is programmed to recognize that some courses may be used to fulfill more than one requirement. In some cases, one course will fulfill a general education requirement and a requirement for a major, minor, or concentration. There are some exceptions. If you have questions, you should consult with your advisor.

    Your major GPA is a calculated GPA based on coursework used to fulfill major requirements. This GPA will appear within the major block requirements of your audit.

    You can use the “What-If” tab located above the Degree Progress bar of your Degree Works worksheet. This function allows you to hypothetically change your major, concentration, or minor. It will show the coursework you have already completed as well the courses that are in-progress and will apply them to your hypothetical major, concentration, or minor. You must first select the major, concentration, or minor, and appropriate catalog year. Then you will select the “Process What-If” button to see your hypothetical program. The “What-If” function is for information purposes only. If you decide that you would like to change your program or add another one based on the “What If” scenario, you will need to contact your advisor or academic services department.

    You should contact your academic advisor or academic services personnel for a review of your audit. Any exception to your major, minor, or concentration requirements should be discussed with your advisor or academic services personnel.


Calculators

    There are three different GPA calculators: Graduation, Term, and Advice. This functionality will calculate the minimum grades needed to reach a target cumulative GPA. It can assist in accurate mapping of student paths to achieving honors, avoiding probation, and/or satisfying personal academic goals.

    The Graduation Calculator shows what grade average you must earn in order to graduate with a desired cumulative GPA.

    The Term GPA Calculator will show your estimated cumulative GPA after filling in hypothetical grade information. By entering your current earned credits and GPA and placing the in-progress courses in the table (this will default), you will see a revised cumulative GPA based on the estimates provided. Courses that are being taken for an S/U grade will need to be removed before processing the calculation since those grades will not affect your GPA. Please note that the GPA calculator does not account for Winthrop’s repeat policy.

    The Advice Calculator on the GPA Calculator tab will show the average you will need in your remaining credits to graduate with your desired GPA.


Using the Planner

    The planner is a tool for you to arrange course requirements into future semester blocks. You and your advisor may find this helpful as you forecast your academic career.

    The planner allows you to drag and drop courses from your audit into future semester blocks. You can also type courses directly into the planner boxes. You must enter the course as labeled in the catalog (e.g. MATH 101).

    No. Nothing entered on the planner will affect your actual audit; however, you can see how the courses you have entered in your planner will apply in your audit by selecting “Audit” after you have saved your plan. You will then see your audit with the planned courses in place. The planner audit is temporary and will not make any requirements complete on your main audit/worksheet. This temporary audit does not include unselected choice requirements, including wildcards with attributes for General Education.

    Yes; however, only one plan at a time may be kept as an active plan.

    Yes, Degree Works will allow you to save all plans you create; however, only one plan may be marked as active.

    Yes, your advisor can see your plan(s) and work with you in the planning process. There is a Notes feature, as well, for your advisor to add additional information about your plan. Please note that if your advisor chooses to lock your active plan, you will need to consult with your advisor to make any changes.

    No, your planner is for planning purposes only. You will register through Wingspan during your assigned registration time slot.

    No, your planner is for planning purposes only. Final course schedules are available to students online shortly before registration. If you discover that a course you had planned is not being offered, you should consult with your advisor or academic services personnel.

    Yes, there is a print button at the top of the planner.