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Using Degree Audits
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Although somewhat confusing
the first time it is used, an audit can be a very useful tool if used
correctly. Since the audit system is far from perfect, it's important
for students and advisers to understand how a degree audit works, its
abilities, and its limitations.
How the System Places
Courses on the Audit
The basic operation of the audit
is that the computer takes courses that a student has previously taken
and in which s/he is currently enrolled and places them on the audit.
The computer starts with Area 1 and continues through the subsequent areas
until it finds the first place that it has determined each course should
go.
Why Courses Don't Go
Where You Think They Should
There are times when the audit
system will not necessarily place a course where one would anticipate.
The system is looking to match course with requirement. If the match
is not perfect, the course will not meet a requirement. The following
are situations where this might occur.
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multiple courses are needed
to fulfill a requirement and all of these courses have not been taken
Example
A student is enrolled
in SPAN 101 this semester with the intent of taking SPAN 102 next
semester to fulfill the foreign language requirement. If this
student were to look at this semester's audit, SPAN 101 may appear
under Area 4, Communication or under electives and not under Area
2, Foreign Language.
Explanation
The audit system is looking
for SPAN 101's "mate" and won't pull the courses in appropriately
until the "mate" (SPAN 102) is found. Once the "mate"
is found, the audit system will handle things correctly.
-
a student has transfer courses
on his/her record that are "generic" (no ISU equivalent)
Example
A student has transferred
a history course from another school and it has been evaluated as
HIST 100- or HIST 100A. The course may fall into the elective area
or the COURSES NOT APPLIED TO
DEGREE PROGRAM section at the
bottom of the audit.
Explanation
Although all ISU history
courses are acceptable in Area 3, Group I Arts and Humanities, the
computer has been programmed to exclude "generics" from
various area requirements. This does not mean that the transfer
course isn't acceptable, but rather that it will take some intervention
or further approval before this class may be placed in that area.
(See Making Degree Audit Changes.)
If a final transcript has not been received, transfer courses that
are considered to be "in progress" will fall in the COURSES
NOT APPLIED TO DEGREE PROGRAM
section at the bottom of the audit until grades are reported.
-
a required minimum grade
has not been obtained in a course
Example
An advertising major takes
ENGL 104 and gets a "D." ENGL 104 is found in the
COURSES NOT APPLIED TO DEGREE
PROGRAM section at the bottom
of the audit.
Explanation
Advertising majors are
required to get a C+ or better in ENGL 104. Since the minimum
grade requirement has not been met, the computer places the course
in the COURSES NOT APPLIED TO
DEGREE PROGRAM section at the
bottom of the audit.
Note:
Transfer students' generic courses are usually evaluated by LAS Staff
and placed appropriately before their first audits are run.
Reviewing the Degree
Audit
Each semester students should
thoroughly review their audits. (This downloadable checklist
may help with this process.)
-
Note where there are still
remaining requirements.
-
Note discrepancies in terms
of where classes are being placed on the audit.
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Note whether the information
on the audit is accurate (projected graduation term, catalog, degree,
program and option (if applicable)).
After reviewing the audits themselves,
students should then review them with their advisers. Advisers can
help students
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determine the best strategy
for fulfilling any remaining degree requirements.
-
better understand the degree
audit.
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make appropriate changes
to their degree audits. (See Making
Degree Audit Changes.)
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