Advising
Your advisor is here to help you chart your academic course. Talk to your advisor to make sure you get in the right classes, access key resources, and stay on track to graduate.
Advising 101
Finding your path
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鈥檚 calling in your life.
听
What is core?
Calvin鈥檚 core curriculum is a set of liberal arts courses designed to give you a breadth of knowledge in many areas. Often called 鈥済eneral education鈥 by other colleges, Calvin鈥檚 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鈥檝e taken AP courses or several years of science or foreign language in high school, you may be exempt from some core courses. And depending on your planned major, you may have a modified version of the core curriculum.
Find out more about
Staying on track to graduate
Many Calvin students graduate within four years. Here鈥檚 how you can do the same:
- Take an average of 16 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.
Your academic advisor
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鈥檙e prepared for each session. Take advantage of our new advising checklist.
You
- Find out how and when you鈥檒l register for classes.
- Learn about core curriculum requirements.
- Talk to your advisor about majors, career options and other things (music? sports?) that might affect your academic life.
- Ask a lot of questions!
You'll also find these resources helpful in preparing for advising discussions:
- Are you a newly admitted student? Be sure to confirm your enrollment!
Your advisor
- Is a source of information about core and major/program requirements.
- Listens to your concerns and goals to help you make wise academic decisions.
- Refers you to other academic resources to aid your decision-making.
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 document tells you what is needed for your graduation. In the fall, you can access it by logging in to your Calvin account.
This is our office, which also includes the registrar and registrar's staff.
You contact or visit us to change your schedule, declare your major, meet with an academic counselor, request a tutor or academic coach, and find more resources to ensure your academic success.
The number of credit hours you take each semester.听
The average course load consists of 14鈥16 hours (usually about five classes, ranging 1鈥5 semester hours each).
- Add a course only during your first week of classes.听
- Drop a course through the ninth week of classes.
Are you an academic advisor?
This handbook explains how to use Workday to assist with advising:
