Using a Degree Audit
Purpose: To help you understand the focus and content of a major by analyzing the characteristics of required courses and relating them to your personal characteristics (interests, abilities, personality, etc.).
Requesting and Using a Degree Audit
- Use eLion to request a degree audit for a major that interests you. (If you need help, see Step-by-Step Instructions for requesting a degree audit.)
Stop! If you haven't explored your options, use Major Themes in eLion to help you identify majors that match your interests. If you have a major in mind, check out related majors using eLion Alternative Majors.
- Print the audit.
- Look at the courses on your audit in the sections titled “College Requirements,” “Major Requirements,” and “Option Requirements.” (Note: The audits for some majors do not include all three sections.)
To determine how well these courses relate to your personal characteristics, ask yourself the following questions while using the resources below.
Questions to ask yourself about each required course:
- Does this course sound interesting to me?
- Do I have the ability to do well in this course?
- Is this something I want to learn about?
Resources to help you answer the questions:
- Read the course descriptions in the Bulletin.
- Contact the department to see if a syllabus is available.
- Go to a bookstore and look through the textbooks.
- Google the textbook.
- Sit in on a class if the courses are offered this semester. (Ask the instructor's permission.)
- On your audit, circle the courses that are a good match for your interests and abilities.
If this major doesn't seem like a good match for you, go back to your list of majors from Major Themes and find another major that interests you; then repeat the four steps above.
- Be sure to bring your audit with you when you meet with your adviser.
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