Charting your academic course
You’ve sent in your enrollment deposit and you’re excited about coming to Calvin this fall, but you still may be wondering how to register for classes. This guide will help you navigate the academic planning process and get you ready to begin your first semester at Calvin.
- Ways to plan for academic advising at your new student orientation session
- Course registration for first-year students
- Answers to common questions about the academic planning process.
Related pages
Orientation
Information about new student orientation schedules and academic advising appointments.
Planning Tools
Four-year plan
Create a four year plan in Student Planning.
Core curriculum requirements
See Calvin’s general core curriculum requirements, or modified requirements for various professional programs.
Academic catalog
Browse the Calvin University Catalog.
Program requirements
See course requirements for each major, minor and program.
How to prepare for your academic life at Calvin
If you’re a checklist sort of person, follow these steps to prepare for your academic life at Calvin.
First-Year Academic Planning Checklist
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JUNE 1
- Complete the required checklist items on your Applicant Status page to ensure that Calvin has all the information needed for proper course selection during orientation.
- Register for new student orientation.
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BEFORE ORIENTATION
- Review Calvin’s catalog to check out core requirements and look for interesting classes to take.
- Know your major? Use your program’s website to explore course requirements and other important information.
- Check your Calvin Applicant Status page for links to online placement tests for Spanish, French and German.
- Ensure that your AP test scores and any transfer credits are sent to Calvin.
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IN YOUR ADVISING APPOINTMENT
- Let your advisor know if you’re interested in a program such as teacher education, engineering or pre-med so you can get into the right courses.
- Planning on being involved in music or athletics? Make sure your advisor knows this so your classes don’t get scheduled during practice times.
- Want to study abroad? Let your advisor know—some core requirements are met by off-campus programs.
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IN YOUR FIRST SEMESTER
- Learn where resources like academic support (tutoring/coaching, course schedule changes), The Rhetoric Center (paper-writing help), Career Center and the Center for Counseling and Wellness are located.
- Make an appointment at the Career Center.
Frequently asked questions
Find answers about planning your academic life at Calvin. If you don’t see an answer to your question here, email advise@calvin.edu or call (616) 526-6155.
Sample schedules for first-year students
The following schedules are intended to give you an idea of the kinds of courses you might be registered for in your fall semester. Your actual schedule may look quite different, depending on your major or program of interest, involvement in things like music or athletic practices, and/or exemptions from certain courses.
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #1 - UNDECIDED STUDENT
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
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First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
Introductory Psychology: Perspectives on the Self | 3 |
Christian Theology or Biblical Literature | 3 |
Optional Elective: Campus Choir | 1 |
Total semester hours = 15 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #2 - PRE-MEDICINE
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
---|---|
First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
Biology | 4 |
Chemistry | 4 |
Total semester hours = 16 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #3 - ENGINEERING
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
---|---|
First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
General Chemistry | 4 |
Intro to Engineering Design | 3 |
Graphical Communication Lab | 1 |
Calculus I | 4 |
Total semester hours = 16 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #4 - SPEECH PATHOLOGY
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
---|---|
First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Introduction to Speech Pathology and Audiology | 3 |
Introductory Psychology: Perspectives on the Self | 3 |
Fundamentals in Technology | 1 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
Total semester hours = 15 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #5 - PRE-NURSING
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
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First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Cell Biology and Genetics for the Health Sciences | 4 |
Introductory Psychology: Perspectives on the Self | 3 |
Chemistry for the Health Sciences | 4 |
Cardio Cross Training | 1 |
Total semester hours = 16 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #6 - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
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First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
The Content and Nature of Science for Elementary Teachers | 4 |
Introduction to Education | 1 |
History of the West and the World | 4 |
Total semester hours = 17 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #7 - OTHER SCIENCE MAJOR: BIOLOGY (B.S.)
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
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First Year Seminar | 1 |
Written Rhetoric | 3 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
Living World: Concepts and Connections | 4 |
General Chemistry | 4 |
Foundations of Information Technology | 1 |
Total semester hours = 17 |
SAMPLE SCHEDULE #8 - OTHER MAJOR: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION
COURSE | SEMESTER HOURS |
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First Year Seminar | 1 |
Oral Rhetoric | 3 |
Beginning or Intermediate World Language | 4 |
American Politics | 3 |
History of the West and the World | 4 |
Optional Elective: Orchestra | 1 |
Total semester hours = 16 |