Academics

To graduate in four years (8 semesters), you'll need to average 15.5 credits per semester. Most students take 14–16 credits per semester. To be considered a full-time student, you can take between 12–18 credits per semester

Most students take four classes at any one time.

• 4-credit classes meet four hours a week and run the whole semester
• 2-credit classes generally meet four hours a week and run only the first half or the second half of the semester.
• Most students take Core 100 (called "Community and Commitments") in their first semester.
• The rest of your schedule will be filled out with major courses, core courses, or other electives that interest you.

Sample schedule for first-year science-related major:

• Core 100 (2 credits)
• Data 102 (2 credits)
• Biology (4 credits)
• Chemistry (4 credits)
• Christian Theology (4 credits)

Sample schedule for first-year humanities-related major:

• Core 100 (2 credits)
• Sociology 151 (2 credits)
• English 101 (4 credits)
• Statistics (4 credits)
• Christian Theology (4 credits)

Workday is Calvin’s online system for managing your student information—like course registration, finances, employment, and personal details—all in one place.

For academics, Workday is the system you'll use to:

• View your schedule and progress
• View your program requirements
• Plot your 4-year plan
• Plan and register for courses
• View your grades

Access Workday at workday.calvin.edu.

Find Workday support at calvin.edu/go/workday.

There are four main things to complete before graduating:

1. At least 120 semester hours (some programs require more)
2. All core requirements
3. Courses required for your major must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (some programs require a higher overall average)
4. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 (some programs require a higher overall average)

Nervous about the transition from high school to college academics? Excited to learn as much as you can from your university courses? Want to maximize your grade point average from Day 1? 

Find out more and register for Academic Transitions ASC111 »

First time college students: Check your New Student Portal for easy registration!

The Calvin Core is the set of courses all students take outside their major, designed to give you a broad foundation across different fields and create a shared academic experience. It's not just a list of general education requirements to "check off." 

Core helps you explore new subjects, ask bigger questions, and discover interests beyond your major over your four years. 

Core helps you develop transferable skills like critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving, which prepare you for future careers and lifelong learning.

You’ll engage with key values of a Calvin education, including:

• Diversity and difference—valuing each person’s voice and perspective
• Environmental sustainability—caring for creation through stewardship
• Global awareness—learning from cultures and communities around the world

The Calvin Core is organized into four main categories that guide your academic journey:

• Foundations (first-year courses): Foundations courses help you build a strong academic base using ideas from Scripture and across disciplines. All students take Core 100 in their first semester.
• Competencies and skills: These courses build practical academic skills, like writing, critical thinking, and physical well-being, that help you succeed in college and beyond (for example, English 101 or recreation courses).
• Knowledge and understanding: This is the largest part of the Core, where you take courses in areas like math, science, social sciences, and humanities. These give you exposure to a wide range of disciplines (and sometimes help you discover a new major).
• Engaged citizenship: These courses help you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to the real world. You'll think about justice, community, and how to live out your learning as an engaged citizen.

Your advisor is a professor in your academic program who helps you choose the right courses, balance your schedule, and stay on track to graduate. 

For your first semester, the registrar's office will register you for classes. After that, there are two days set aside each semester for academic advising. 

During this advising time, you'll make an appointment with your advisor to talk about your plans for the next semester. After meeting with your advisor, you can register for your classes at your designated registration time.

During the summer, your Summer Navigator will be available to meet with you as needed. Once you arrive for Welcome Week, you'll have the opportunity to meet with your specific faculty advisor in your program.

If you're undecided, you'll be assigned an advisor from Student Success.

Don’t be discouraged—many first- and second-year students haven’t decided on a major. You’ll have plenty of opportunities through core courses, academic clubs, and activities and internships to explore different fields.

It's a good idea to take core courses in a few areas that interest you. These courses will help you decide if a specific field is for you. Talk with your professors about potential career options related to their fields. 

Calvin’s Career Center is another excellent resource that is open to all students. Career counselors there can help you talk through options, connect you to internships and administer strengths tests.

• For your first semester at Calvin, you'll complete the Course Registration Form found in your New Student Portal. 
• After that, you can meet with your Summer Navigator to discuss any questions or specific needs.
• Then, the Registrar's Office will build your schedule.

For future semesters, you'll meet with your advisor during Advising Days mid-semester, and then register for the next semester's classes in Workday.