Course Catalog / BMU 103 / Wrap up
BMU 103
BMU 103 Wrap Up: Your Degree Plan, Checked
A plan you can hand to an advisor is worth more than a dozen saved web pages. This page helps you check your one page plan, see what you can now do, and keep it moving after the course.
In this lesson you will
- Score your degree plan against a five part rubric
- Rate yourself on each course outcome and pick one to review
- Schedule a 7 day and a 30 day check in
Your capstone
Your capstone is the one page degree plan from Lesson 5. Check it with the rubric below before you take it to an advisor or education center. Nobody grades it but you. A row at Not yet just tells you which lesson to revisit. Bring the printed plan and your credit folder to your meeting. Ask the advisor to mark anything that is wrong or out of date. Then update the plan the same day, while the answers are fresh.
| Criterion | Not yet | Getting there | Ready to use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target (Lesson 1) | No role named | Role named, credential guessed | Role, minimum credential from five postings, and a backup |
| Credit (Lesson 2) | No records gathered | Records requested, nothing in writing | Credit folder complete, accepted credit in writing |
| School (Lesson 3) | One school | Two or three, cost per credit only | Three schools ranked on total cost to finish, accreditation checked |
| Funding (Lesson 4) | No order | Sources listed, no official source | Sources in order, each with an official source to verify it |
| Pace and checkpoints (Lesson 5) | No finish date | Finish date, no checkpoints | Realistic pace, finish date, and checkpoints on the calendar |
Aim for "Ready to use" on every row. Any row at "Not yet" tells you exactly what to fix: go back to the lesson named in that row and redo that piece.
Worked example: a plan that scores Ready to use
- Target: IT support specialist, certification first, associate degree next. Backup: an associate degree in IT.
- Credit: 15 credits accepted in writing.
- School: community college ranked first on total cost. Accreditation checked in the federal database.
- Funding: TA, then FAFSA, then GI Bill saved. Each verified with the education center or StudentAid.gov.
- Pace: two classes a term, about 2 years and 8 months. Checkpoints every October, January, and June.
Why it scores well: every line is specific and checked against an official source or a written answer.
Try it: finish and score your capstone
- Open your one page plan from Lesson 5.
- Score each rubric row.
- Fix any row below Ready to use, using the lesson named in that row.
- Book a meeting with your education center, advisor, or school certifying official to review it.
Do it by: within 30 days
Check your understanding: end of course self-assessment
For each line, pick the answer that is true for you today. No one else sees this.
| I can... | If "not yet," revisit |
|---|---|
| Name a target role and the minimum credential it needs | Lesson 1 |
| Build a credit folder and ask for written evaluations | Lesson 2 |
| Compare schools on total cost to finish | Lesson 3 |
| Put funding in a protective order and verify it | Lesson 4 |
| Estimate a finish date and set checkpoints | Lesson 5 |
Score each line: 1 = not yet, 2 = getting there, 3 = I can do this. Anything at 1 is your first review stop.
Your job aid
Printable one page degree plan.
- Target role and minimum credential: ________
- Backup credential: ________
- Credits accepted in writing: ____ Credits left: ____
- Top school and backup: ________
- Funding stack, in order, with official source: ________
- Pace (credits per term): ____ Estimated finish: ________
- Checkpoints (FAFSA, benefits, progress): ________
Also useful: the free Degree Plan Checklist, Get Your Degree Checklist, and Scholarship Tracker.
Use it: 7 day and 30 day check in
In 7 days, ask yourself: Did I request every transcript and book a meeting with an advisor or education center? Which line of my plan is still a guess?
In 30 days, ask yourself: Do I have a written credit evaluation? Have I filed this year's FAFSA? Is my first class or exam on the calendar?
Put both dates on your calendar now, with the question in the reminder.
Tell us how it went
Recap
- Your capstone is a one page degree plan.
- The rubric shows what to fix before you meet an advisor.
- The self-assessment points you to the right lesson.
- Check ins at 7 and 30 days keep the plan moving.
You now have: a checked degree plan, a self-assessment, and two check ins on your calendar.
Next up: Now take the post-test to see how far you came. Score 80% or higher to earn your certificate. You can retake it as many times as you need. After you pass, a short survey comes up. It is optional, so you can skip straight to your certificate.
Sources
- Tools adapted from MM3, Mission: Debt-Free Degree (2026 to 2027 edition). Used for its tools, not as evidence. Claims are checked against the sources below.
- StudentAid.gov. Checked October 29, 2026.
- VA education and training benefits. Checked October 29, 2026.