How to use the Planner and Schedule Designer

The BGSU Planner and Schedule Designer are easy-to-use tools to help you create your perfect class schedule and lay out the rest of your degree requirements organized by semester.

Creative Team
45 steps
9 minutes

Uachieve

Bgsu

Access the BGSU Planner

Select **undergraduate** or **graduate** and then **Continue**.

From the navigational menu bar select **Plans**.

Creating a new plan

The plans homepage will default to the **My Plans** tab. Previously created plans will be listed in this view.

If no plans have been created, choose **Create a New Plan**.

New plans will automatically sync the program to the current declared major. Use the **Select a different program** option to choose another program.

You can create multiple plans, so we suggest you create a unique **Plan Name**.

Set the **Term**, **Year** and **Years to Graduation** parameters.

Selecting the **Add Plan** button will add the plan to your **My Plans** list.

Plan Builder

The Plan Builder page will open with the new plan information saved. The left column displays the degree audit while the right column displays a term-by-term breakdown based on the **Years to Graduate** selection.

The degree audit will mirror your student record in real time, including current enrollment, transfer credit and processed exceptions. Use the legend to determine each requirement's current status.

Open the degree requirements by selecting the arrow beside them.

You can also choose **Expand All** at the top of the audit.

Building your plan

Expand any unsatisfied requirements to review the course options in the **Select From** line.

You can see additional course information by selecting any of the bolded courses.

All plans and plan builds are auto-saved.

Adding courses to a Plan

Courses can be added to any term using one of three options.

Option 1: "Add Course" button

Use the **Course Catalog Details** box to select a term. Then choose **Add Course**.

Option 2: Drag and drop

Move any course from the **Select From** line onto the term header under the plan column on the right.

Option 3: "Add Course" by course prefix

Select **Add Course** under any term.

Enter the course prefix and number. Then select **OK**.

Adding messages to a plan

Select **Add Message** under any term to add specific messages.

Choose the appropriate message from the list. Select "**Add Message** to proceed.

The selected message will display in the set term, just like a course.

Terms can be planned consisting of courses only, messages only or a combination of both.

Editing a plan

Drag and drop a selection into a different term header to shift courses and messages.

Update individual terms by using the **Edit** icon on each header.

After making necessary changes, select **Submit** to save.

Remove planned items using the checkboxes. Then select **Delete**.

The **Delete** button on each header can remove any term from the overall plan.

Select **Add** at the top of the plan builder to extend the overall plan or replace previously deleted terms.

Validating a plan

Begin the validation process by selecting the **checkmark icon**. Validation allows for planned coursework to be applied directly to the degree audit with the BGSU Planner. This ensures course selections are meeting your actual degree requirements.

Review the degree audit to verify that planned courses have been applied. Grades beginning with "PL" indicate planned courses. *A purple "planned" status indicates the course will be applied to a program requirement.*

Check the end of the degree audit for planned courses that are NOT being used toward degree requirements.

Plans can be validated at any time during the planning process and as many times as necessary!

Schedule planned terms

Confirm that the terms to be scheduled are part of the **Preferred Plan**. Non-preferred plans cannot be linked to the BGSU Schedule Designer.

In the preferred plan, open the specific term to be scheduled and select the **Schedule** icon.

Select "**Yes**" when prompted. **Note**: **only open terms in Schedule Designer can be successfully imported from the BGSU Planner.**

You will automatically be directed to the BGSU Schedule Designer where all available courses have been added.

Visit the [BGSU Schedule Designer Guide](https://www.bgsu.edu/registration-records/registration/registration-checklist/prepare-your-class-schedule/schedule-designer-guide.html) for instructions.

Courses that are not available will display an error message. **Note:** **that unavailable courses may require adjustments to the preferred plan, which will need to be completed manually in the BGSU Planner.**

Schedule Designer

With all courses added to the Schedule Designer, you can define a schedule that meets your needs.

Select **Schedules**

Select **Change Term** to change the term you're designing your schedule for, then select **Change**.

You can create your schedule manually or have the Schedule Designer generate one for you. 1. Select the **Create Your Own** button to chose course offerings based on the Class List and customize your ideal schedule manually. 2. Select the **Auto-Generate** button to let the BGSU Schedule Designer prioritize schedule options for you using preference settings.

Select **Add Classes**

In the search bar, enter the **course department, number or title of the class** you want to add to your schedule. Then select **Search Classes**.

Once you find the class, select **+ Class.** Repeat this step for each class you want to add to your schedule.

Once you are done editing select **Finished Editing Sections**

If you created multiple schedules you can select **Make Primary** to make one of them your primary schedule. The primary schedule will appear first the next time you select the schedules tab.