Map your term. Then navigate eight checkpoints.
You will first map a four-course term with a fictional program mentor. Then you will move through course planning, academic support, assessment preparation, and pacing decisions. A detour does not end the experience, and you can replay the route.
Learn the route
- Practice adding W123, W456, W789, and W999 to a term plan in sequence
- Review the Course Planning Tool report when each course opens
- Keep one course as your primary focus
- Use your Course Instructor for course support
- Complete a qualifying First-Term Critical Action
- Move to the next registered course when ready
Earn trail badges
The badge case begins locked. Strong route decisions will reveal what each badge rewards.
Estimated route time: about eight minutes. Practice weeks are illustrative, not expected course durations. No student information is collected or saved.
Map your four-course route
Your program mentor recommends the sequence W123, W456, W789, and W999. In this practice representation, you will add the courses to the term plan one at a time, then begin with W123 as the primary course.
The real student portal may present registration differently. This activity teaches the planning concepts, not the exact portal clicks.
Start with the planning conversation
What matters most as you and your program mentor map the term route?
Register the planned course route
Add each course separately. All four will be registered before the term begins.
Degree Plan Map
For this practice scenario, add the recommended courses in sequence. The start and end dates were created from the mock Course Planning Tool reports, your schedule, and the mentor planning conversation.
Registered Route
The sequence becomes your official term plan.
Course route registered
W123 is your first primary course from August 1 through September 14. W456, W789, and W999 are also registered with mock start and end dates. After W123 is completed, you may move to W456 because it is already in the registered term plan. That move is not acceleration.
Start with the W123 Course Planning Tool report
Choose the strongest next step. This checkpoint stays locked until you identify the action that uses the right support, protects your time, and keeps the route accurate.
What kept you moving
Where the route narrowed
Keep these six ideas
- Course Planning Tool reports, your schedule, and the mentor conversation help shape each course start and end date.
- Registration builds the official term plan by adding each course into the sequence.
- One course usually remains the primary focus, but the next registered course is already available after the current course is completed.
- Your program mentor supports term planning, pacing, and changes to the plan.
- Your Course Instructor supports course content, study strategy, and assessment preparation.
- Acceleration means adding work beyond the registered term plan and requires a program mentor conversation.
Ready to register? Tell your program mentor.
Open a prewritten Outlook message confirming that you completed the First-Term Wayfinder and are ready to discuss and complete term registration.
Outlook opens a draft—not a sent message. Add your name, review the message, and select Send when you are ready.
Official WGU references
These sources anchor the prototype. Production copy should be checked again before launch because policies and student guidance can change.