This case study served to investigate the current practices of career-planning advisement through the usage of degree maps as a tool at an urban university (New Jersey City University). The focus of the study involved the undergraduate STEM student community, which has historically faced high levels of attrition, with proper advisement and support designed to increase the retention rates of this population. In order to frame the focus of this study Krumboltz's concept of happenstance was overlaid with an interpretivist viewpoint to examine the perspectives of students and their advisors in relation to the degree map's role and usage. This study engaged in a multipronged approach to gather data from subjective (advisors and students) and objective resources (documents) to clarify the process of using the degree map as a tool to support career advisement. Based on the findings of the study it was possible to determine the actual role of the degree map as an interconnected tool, with certain limitations, that enabled advisors to collaborate with scholars to build college degree pathways that aligned to career objectives. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]