Advising
Your faculty advisor is here to help you chart your academic course. You will meet with your advisor each semester to make sure you register for the right classes, have access key resources, and stay on track to graduate.
Did you know that 10 percent of incoming students have not chosen a major? If you are part of this group, you have plenty of time to explore your academic options. Start by choosing courses that meet core curriculum requirements in areas that interest you. Here are some other things that might help you decide:
- Meet with professors who teach in majors that interest you.
- Take a test in the Career Center to assess your strengths.
- Have coffee with a chaplain in the Campus Ministries office to explore God’s calling in your life.
Calvin’s core curriculum is a set of liberal arts courses designed to give you a breadth of knowledge in many areas. Often called “general education” by other colleges, Calvin’s core will strengthen your academic life and future career while also helping you explore new academic options. Taught from a Reformed, Christian perspective, core classes will help you become a deeper, more knowledgeable person.
Here's how core fits into your academic program:
CORE COURSES +
YOUR MAJOR +
YOUR OPTION* +
= YOUR ACADEMIC PROGRAM
*Options include a second major, minor or two minors, pre-professional courses or electives.
In numerous core categories, you can choose from many course options. Are you planning to major in biology but love art? Take an art history class to satisfy a core requirement. Want to study abroad? Many study abroad courses also fulfill core.
If you’ve taken AP courses or several years of foreign language in high school, you may be exempt from some core courses.
Find out more about core requirements.
Many Calvin students graduate within four years. Here’s how you can do the same:
- Take an average of 15.5 credit hours per semester.
- Complete all core and major/minor requirements.
- Maintain good academic standing. This means achieving a minimum 2.0 GPA (C average), though some majors may have higher requirements.
One of the keys to your success at Calvin is making a meaningful connection with your faculty advisor. This professor will help you make wise decisions about the courses you take, the major/minor you choose, and your career options.
To make the most of your advising relationship, make sure you’re prepared for each session. Take advantage of our new advising checklist.
Frequently Used Terms
Here are some of the terms you may hear when registering for class, meeting with your advisor, or looking at the course catalog.
Real-time personalized page tells you what is needed for your core and program requirements. You can access it by logging in to Workday with your Calvin account and going to your Academics Hub.
This is our office, which also includes the registrar and registrar's staff.
You contact or visit us to change your schedule, change your major or minors, and obtain academic documentation.
The number of credit hours you take each semester.
The average course load consists of 14–16 hours (usually about five classes, ranging 1–5 semester hours each).
Students are required to complete 124 credits to graduate, so to complete your program in 4 years, you should plan to take an average of 15.5 credits per semester.
- Add a course only during your first week of classes.
- Drop without consequence by the 10th calendar of the semester.
- Withdraw (W on transcript) from a course through the ninth week of classes.
Are you an academic advisor?
This handbook explains how to use Workday to assist with advising:
