Academics

Understand how academics work at 17c��.

These videos and details will help you understand how to fill out your Course Registration Form and prepare for your first semester of classes at 17c��.

Students starting in the fall will also have a dedicated Summer Navigator: an academic counselor who can answer your questions and help you prepare for academic life at 17c��.

Look for emails from your Summer Navigator starting in late May. You can also schedule a meeting with your them as needed, either online or in-person.

Pathway to Graduation

Credits and Scheduling

Understand the building blocks of academics at 17c��, like credits and course load, the Workday system, and more.

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 �䲹��’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 .

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

There are four main things to complete before graduating:

At least 120 semester hours (some programs require more)
All core requirements
Courses required for your major must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 (some programs require a higher overall average)
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!

For details about credits and scheduling:

Check your emails from your Summer Navigator! You can find them listed at the bottom of this page.

Explore a wide range of subjects

The 17c�� Core

The set of courses all students take outside their major.

The 17c�� 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 17c�� 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 17c�� 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.

For details about the 17c�� Core:

Go to The 17c�� Core page

Help with your academic path

Academic Advising

Guidance on your courses, schedule, major, and more.

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.

�䲹��’s 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 17c��, 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.

For details about registration and advising:

Go to our registration page for new students

Or contact your Summer Navigator to set up a call or visit!

Key tips

Pay attention to emails from your Summer Navigator for important info about registration and advising.
Remember: you're not in this alone! Schedule a call or visit with your Summer Navigator to ask any questions or talk about your concerns.
Get comfortable using Workday, since that is where you’ll manage academic tasks, finances, and student employment.
Make the most of Academic Advising. Your academic advisor is there to help you make decisions, plan ahead, and answer questions. Don’t hesitate to reach out, even if it's outside of advising days.
Register on time. When it's time to register for future semesters, be ready when your registration window opens so you have the best chance of getting the classes you need.