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MyDegreePath - Schedule Builder - FAQ

Schedule Builder — FAQ

Schedule Builder helps you build class schedules from courses you need and your time/preferences. You can compare options, set breaks, and save a primary schedule to register from your student portal.

Getting Started

  1. Open Schedule Builder from MyDegreePath and select the term.
  2. Use your audit to identify requirements you still need, then search for those courses here.

Select Term (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Selecting your term in Schedule Builder.


Search & Add Classes

Search by subject (e.g., MATH), course number (e.g., MATH 011), or title (e.g., Calculus I). Review details and add the class to your schedule cart.

  • Details shows description, meeting days/times, prerequisites/co-requisites, instructor, room, and waitlist availability.
  • Seats/Waitlist show current availability when supported.
  • Add puts the course into your working schedule (you’ll choose sections later or let the system generate options).

Search results for a course (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Course search results with Details/Add actions.


Add Busy Times

Block out recurring time you cannot take classes (work, commute, practice). Schedule Builder will avoid these blocks when building schedules.

  1. Select Add Busy Time.
  2. Name it (e.g., Work), set start/end times and days, then Save.

Note: Busy Times are term-specific—you’ll re-add them each term.

Busy Time entry (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Adding a Busy Time.


Build Your Schedule

Option A: Create Your Own (Manual)

Pick sections yourself and see them appear on the calendar.

  1. Open each course and view available sections.
  2. Check meeting times/days, instructor, room, capacity, and any co-requisite pairs (e.g., lecture + lab).
  3. Select Add to place a section on your calendar.
  4. Resolve conflicts (time overlaps, busy time conflicts, full sections, or missing co-requisites).

Manual section selection (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Manually adding a specific section.

Option B: Auto-Generate

Let Schedule Builder generate multiple schedule options based on your courses and preferences.

  1. (Optional) Add Busy Times and set Preferences.
  2. Choose how many schedule options to generate.
  3. Open View Details on any option to see the selected sections.
  4. Lock a section to keep it in every re-generation, then re-generate if needed.
  5. Save the option you like best and mark it as your Primary Schedule.

Auto-generate schedule options (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Comparing auto-generated schedule options.


Configure Preferences

Preferences help tailor the auto-generated options. Available settings may vary.

  • Time Between Classes (including between campuses)
  • Days of Week emphasis (fewer days with more classes vs. more days with fewer classes)
  • Time Blocks (times you prefer to take classes — different from Busy Times)
  • Co-Requisite pairing (e.g., lecture + lab together)
  • Course priority (which to prioritize when conflicts occur)
  • Instructor preferences (where supported)

Preferences panel (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Setting Time, Day, and Instructor preferences.


Save, Share, Export

  • Save your schedule and choose one Primary Schedule (used when you register).
  • Export/Print/Email your schedule for planning and advising.
  • Share with Friends may be available if enabled by campus; you can share schedules with specific classmates.

Save, export, and share (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Saving as Primary; exporting/printing.


Registering for Classes

When your registration window opens, use your Primary Schedule to complete registration through your student portal. If Schedule Builder provides a “Pre-Enroll” or “Send to Registration” action, follow the prompt. If not available, use your portal to enroll in the sections shown on your saved schedule.

Tip: If a section is full, consider available waitlists (where offered) or try alternate sections.

Register from Primary Schedule (placeholder)
[Placeholder] Registering from your saved Primary Schedule.


Troubleshooting

My generated schedules are empty or few.

  • Loosen time/day preferences and remove or narrow Busy Times.
  • Check for co-requisite pairs (e.g., add both lecture and lab) and linked components.
  • Try alternate sections or courses that meet the same requirement.

I can’t register even though my audit shows I meet the prerequisite.

  • Confirm you’ve chosen all linked components (e.g., lecture + discussion) and that the section isn’t restricted to a specific major/class level.
  • Check for time conflicts, holds, or full/waitlisted capacity.
  • If you still can’t enroll, contact your advisor to review options.

A course isn’t applying where I expect.

Re-run your audit. If it still doesn’t apply, ask your academic advisor—if needed, they can submit an Academic Records Review to the Registrar.


Need Help?

  • Academic Advisor — First stop for course choices, prerequisites/co-requisites, and schedule planning. (UC Merced Academic Advising)
  • Office of the Registrar — Contacted through your advisor for record-related issues (missing credit, discrepancies). (Contact Us)
  • OIT Service Desk — Technical or login issues with MyDegreePath/Schedule Builder. (Submit a Ticket)