Academic Planning

Why is it important to have an academic plan?  Because college is a lot more than a checklist of courses and credits. Yes, there are requirements, but the way you meet those requirements and how satisfied you are with your college experience depends a lot on you. Smart planning also means you’ll complete your degree sooner, without turning it into a stressful race to the finish!

Creating an academic plan should always start with your interests and values, goals and life circumstances. How many courses you take each semester and which courses you take at any given time will be up to you, but it’s important to understand that your degree is made up of three components: General Education Requirements, Major Requirements, and General Elective courses. Completing these requirements is kind of like putting together the pieces of a puzzle, and the way you approach putting those pieces together may be different from the way others do it. That’s totally fine. 

An Academic Advisor can help you develop and refine your plan, and inform you about  interesting opportunities that can make your time at John Jay even better as you prepare for graduate school and/or the professional world. Wherever you are in your college career, we hope this site provides you with useful information, perspective, and options as you create your own wonderful experience at John Jay. Remember there are many resources available to help you with questions or issues that arise, so please use them!