Academic Career and Student Services
Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS)
The Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) is part of UW–Madison's commitment to academic advising for undergraduate students. An automated summary of a student's degree progress, DARS is particularly helpful when combined with the professional experience and insight of a skilled advisor.
Most undergraduate students may order a DARS through the Student Center online. DARS reports which requirements have already been completed, are complete with in-progress courses, and which remain unsatisfied. The report also suggests courses that meet unsatisfied requirements. In addition to requesting a DARS for their official degree program, students (and advisors) can run "What-if" DARS reports that analyze degree progress in a program of interest. In many cases, the DARS also calculates and reports eligibility to declare a major. This helpful service allows students to proactively engage their educational choices and to take ownership of their degree progress.
DARS is not intended to replace a student's contact with the assigned academic advisors. Instead, the quick and thorough analysis provided by DARS allows more time in an advising appointment to discuss course options, research opportunities, study abroad options, plans for graduate school, and other issues of interest or concern to students. Students should check with their assigned academic advisor to learn whether a college of school provides a DARS for certain programs, and to bring a current DARS to their advising appointments.