First-Year Student FAQs

Yes, students are asked to fill out a Course Registration Preferences form. This form helps your Student Success Counselor in assigning your courses for your first academic year. You will be assigned a preliminary schedule based on general education and major degree requirements as well as your course registration preferences. 

Your course schedule will be available in early January (for spring) or mid-August (for fall). Once it's complete we'll send you an email to let you know it is ready. Since we have many incoming first-year students, this process may take some time. We will do our best to accommodate your registration preferences based on major requirements, general education requirements, and course schedule. Please know that we take your major requirements, IDEAS general education requirements, as well as your registration preferences form into account when registering you in your courses. 

Incoming students must complete the IDEAS general education requirements. All of the courses you are registered for will meet at least one of your IDEAS and/or major requirements. . 

Some majors don't have any courses that must be taken during the first year. Space permitting, you will be registered for any first-year level courses required for your declared major. You will be able to discuss any questions about your major with your faculty advisor or a faculty member from that major during orientation.

This should not be an issue. Just be sure to mention to each professor when you meet them that you have a class immediately before or after. Professors are usually very understanding about this. Cal Lutheran is a small campus so it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to get to your classes.

All students will have the first two weeks of the semester to make schedule changes during the add/drop period. In the case of an extreme situation, we may be able to make limited adjustments before orientation. Keep in mind that you need to stay in at least 12 credits to be considered full time and around 16 credits if you plan to graduate in four years.

Most classes meet either Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday. Some students may be assigned classes that all meet on the same days. We recommend that you take advantage of any open or lighter days to study, get involved on campus, or fit in a part-time job.

Unlike in high school, at Cal Lutheran you don't need to take courses in every subject every year. We require all students to take certain classes during their first year, and you should be registered in those classes. All of the other IDEAS requirements can be completed at any time. Some courses may overlap with your major requirements which will be completed in a future semester.