How should I decide if the “new” Calvin Core is right for me?
Consider what opportunities might be available to you (e.g., adding a double major) if you change your core program. Then, fill out the Core Curriculum worksheet and schedule an appointment to talk with your advisor. This will help you to decide if the new Calvin Core might be right for you.
How should I request a program change to the new Calvin Core?
Complete the Core Curriculum Worksheet and, after consulting with your advisor, upload the completed worksheet to the Core application form, which will be available beginning on April 10. Once you submit the form, your advisor will be invited to approve it and the registrar’s office will change your core program.
Will my previously completed courses count in the new Calvin Core?
Some of the courses that you've taken will count towards the Calvin Core, but others might not. A list of approved courses is available here.
Will course substitutions be allowed for students who change to the new Calvin Core?
Developing a Christian Mind (DCM) may substitute for Community and Commitments and Cross-Cultural Engagement (CCE) may substitute for the Engaged Citizenship Commitments: Diversity and Difference tag. No other substitutions will be allowed.
Will transfer courses count in the new Calvin Core?
Yes, assuming that the transfer course has been approved as a transfer credit equivalency to a Calvin course that has been approved to meet the Calvin Core.
Can some courses satisfy more than one requirement in the new Calvin Core?
Courses fulfilling requirements in the Engaged Citizenship Commitments category may also satisfy other requirements in the core. Many courses in the Knowledge and Understanding category, for example, are tagged to indicate that they also satisfy one of the Engaged Citizenship Commitments.
Some courses must be taken from different disciplines. What does that mean?
One of the purposes of the core is to provide broad knowledge and understanding. This means that courses in the Knowledge and Understanding categories must be taken in different disciplines. A list of approved courses with their disciplinary designations is available here and on the core worksheet. Note that these designations are not intended to define disciplines in a general sense but rather to ensure to ensure that students complete the core program by taking courses from a broad range of disciplines.
Do I have to switch to the new Calvin Core if I’m interested in taking tagged courses?
No. You are welcome to take tagged courses that interest you, regardless of your core program. Some of them may even count towards the old core.
Should everyone try to switch to the new Calvin Core?
No. Switching to the new Calvin Core will require most students to take different courses than they would under the current core. For students who have completed most of their current core requirements, switching to the new core may not be advisable. Likewise, for students who would fall short of the 124 credits required for graduation, switching to a smaller core may not be advisable.
Students who switch to the new Calvin Core will graduate under the 2021-2022 catalog. In some cases, this will change the requirements for your major. Before changing to the new Calvin Core, you should talk with your advisor and make sure that any changes to your major will be easily accomplished.
Does moving to the new core also require a move to that year’s major program requirements?
Yes. Students move to the new Calvin Core by declaring a catalog year of 2021-22, which will also include the major program requirements for that catalog year. It is not possible to combine the new core with an old major.
I participated on an athletic team for one year. If I change to the new core, will I lose my PER exemption because new core requires two years of a sport?
Yes. The new Calvin Core requires only two PER credits, but it does require you to have completed two years on an athletic team to get an exemption.
What academic programs/majors are eligible for the “Take eight of ten” in the Knowledge and Understanding core?
All programs that result in you earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree or that are granted by a professional program (e.g., accounting, education, engineering, nursing, social work, speech pathology and audiology) are required to take eight of ten courses in the Knowledge and Understanding category. This provides additional flexibility for students in these programs while still ensuring that they complete a broad range of courses.
Will I be able to graduate sooner if I switch to the new core?
It depends on how much of the current core you already have completed. For some students, switching to the new Calvin Core will enable them to graduate sooner, but for others it might extend their time at Calvin. A conversation with your advisor can help you to figure out if the new Calvin Core is right for you. Keep in mind that students must still reach at least 124 credit hours to be eligible for graduation, so if you intend to move to a smaller core program you should have a plan for how you will satisfy the remaining hours needed to be eligible for graduation.
If I was exempt from the world language requirement due to four years of high school language in the old core, will I be exempted from both the World Language I and World Language II requirements?
If you have taken three years of high school language with a grade of B or higher, you are automatically exempt from World Languages I. In order to be exempt from World Languages II, you will need to take WL 201 (or higher), pass an exemption exam with competency beyond the WL 201 level, or complete WL 102 or higher in a third language. (Near) native speakers of a language other than English are exempt from both World Languages I and II.
If I was exempt from the world language requirement due to two years of high school language on the old core, will I be exempt from both World Language I and World Language II requirements?
Two years of high school language will no longer automatically exempt you out of either World Languages I or World Languages II, although there are ways that you can leverage your previous experience, including taking an exemption exam to place out of one or both categories (depending on how well you do) or by taking WL 101 and 102 in a different language than the one that you took in high school. The new core program, then, could provide you with an opportunity to explore a new language while still satisfying core requirements.
If I have not taken DCM, should I register for CORE-100?
It depends on whether you intend to pursue the old core or the new Calvin Core. For those who are still planning on finishing the old core, sections of DCM will still be offered during the 2021-22 academic year.
Will there be a minimum GPA requirement for the foundational writing requirement?
Yes, you will still need to complete the Foundational Writing requirement with a grade of C or better to get credit for this requirement.