Cameron Students posing for a picture on Campus

Academic Services

Preparing for Academic Advising


1) Look at your degree plan*

You can find a semester by semester plan for any degree here. These plans are an excellent guide for planning your schedule. They incorporate two very important factors for planning: course prerequisite order, and course rotations. 

  1. Course prerequisite order refers to taking courses in the right order so that you have the necessary prerequisites when it is time to take the next course in your degree plan. 
  2. Course rotations refers to when an academic department is planning to offer a particular course. High demand courses may be offered every semester, while lower demand courses may only be offered during the spring semester of odd years for example. Following the degree plan ensures you are ready to take courses whenever they are offered.

*If you are undeclared, talk with your advisor (In the Student Enrichment Center).  They have many resources to help students start to narrow down their career goals and intended major.  


2) Look at Degree Works

To get to DegreeWorks: 

  1. Log into AggieAccess 
  2. Go to the MyInfo tab, then look for the Student Quick Links.  
  3. DegreeWorks is the third option under Quick Links. 
Once you have DegreeWorks open, you will need to enter your ID number in the top left (include the 3 zeros before your ID number), then hit enter.  This should load your DegreeWorks which will show you all the requirements for your declared major as well as which of those requirements has been met (Green check mark), is in progress (Blue squiggle), or is unmet (empty check box).  Use Degree Works in conjunction with your Degree Plan to figure out what you have already completed towards your degree, and then what is left.  For more information on using DegreeWorks, click here.


3) Look at the course schedule

Now that you have looked at your Degree Plan and Degree Works, you should have some idea of what classes you should be taking next.  Now use the course schedule to see what times and modalities (in-person, online, Zoom) are available.  Go to "Search Current Course Offerings" to see the most up-to-date course schedule. 

Tips for using the Course Schedule


4) Consider your situation

As you are identifying classes to take, make sure you consider all aspects of your own situation.  How many classes can I afford?  How many classes will I have time for? How do I learn best?  In-person or online, morning or afternoon, etc.  Be realistic with yourself.  Don't set yourself up to fail.  Slow and steady is better than crashing and burning. 


5) meet with your advisor

Now that you have a plan of what classes you should choose based on your Degree Plan, DegreeWorks, and what is available that will work with your unique circumstances, it is time to actually meet with your advisor.  If you aren't sure who your advisor is, you can find this information in the top information box in DegreeWorks.  Different Academic Departments have different preferences for how you should meet with your advisor.  If you have a Departmental Blackboard Shell, there may be information in there, or your advisor may email you about making an appointment.  If you are not sure who your advisor is or how you should get in touch with them for advising, contact your Academic Department's main office. You can find contact information for departments on their webpages.

When you meet with your advisor, take your planned enrollment with you.  Show the advisor what you were thinking.  They can then offer advice if they see other opportunities or potential problems.  They should provide you with your PIN so that you can then go and enroll yourself in classes. 


6) use your PIN to enroll.  

For specific instructions, click here.


7) who to call if things go wrong

  • What if I am undeclared?  Contact the Student Enrichment Center
  • What if I want to change majors?  Fill out a Change of Program form and send it to the Registrars Office.  Seek our your new department for advisement.  
  • What if I tried to enroll and I got an error that I don't understand?  The Registrars Office can assist.
  • What if I have transfer work that should be counting for a requirement in DegreeWorks, but it's not?  Contact your advisor.
  • What if I can't get into AggieAccess?  Password help here.