You will receive your fall schedule at the Summer Orientation events held in late June/early July.
**Be sure to get into the habit of checking your Cord email regularly. This is how the college keeps in contact with you and where you will learn more about any changes to your first semester schedule.
There are several things that could impact your fall schedule:
Full-time status is 12 credits. Students pay the same tuition for 12-17 academic credits. A typical schedule will have a total of 15-17 credits, usually four full-semester courses. “Overloading,” or taking more than 17 academic credits, is not advised or recommended, especially within the first year. Any credits over 17 are billed an overload fee per credit. Music ensembles are worth 0 credits, but students are billed a fee for participation. Music lessons are 1-2 credits each and billed at a special rate.
All incoming first-year students will be registered for an Inquiry Seminar (INQ 100) and either an Inquiry Written or Inquiry Oral Communication course (IWC 100 or IOC 100) for fall semester, unless a student has transfer credit. For the remaining two courses, the Registrar’s Office will use the First Year Registration Guide, along with your responses on the Student Registration Inventory, and any official college transcripts or AP/IB coursework you intend on transferring to Concordia College, to register you. The Registrar’s Office will contact you sometime during the summer, via phone or your Concordia email, if more information or clarification is needed to finish your schedule.
Your Inquiry Seminar is a unique (4-credit) course that you will take during your first semester in college. Inquiry Seminars are designed to help you develop valuable critical thinking skills and are offered on a wide variety of topics like current world events, life experiences, literature, history, creative processes, ethics, technology, leadership, and more! You will have the opportunity to rank order the Inquiry Seminars on the Student Registration Inventory. Choose an Inquiry Seminar that appeals to your interests but not necessarily your intended major. These courses are truly designed for you to explore ideas through new perspectives. The students in your Inquiry Seminar will make up your Orientation Club.
In your first semester, you will also take a communication course – either written or oral. If you have already taken a college level writing or communication course, please make sure you submit your official college transcript to the Admissions Office as soon as possible. Your transfer credit will be evaluated for possible equivalencies and then added to your academic record at Concordia.
Each first-year student will take an Inquiry Seminar course (4 credits), either a written or oral communication course (4 credits), and typically two more 4-credit courses. A typical schedule is 15-17 total credits. The First-Year Registration Guide contains sample first-year schedules for all majors. Don’t worry about declaring a major right away if you are not sure. Many students even switch their major within the first year of college. The liberal arts and the Core Curriculum are designed to help you find the best major for you! Your Inquiry Seminar may even lead to a potential major.
The Core Curriculum includes a group of courses all students take within the liberal arts, as part of the Concordia College degree requirements. You may have heard of them as Gen Ed or general education courses at other colleges or universities. First semester is a great opportunity to take a Core course or two, especially if you are exploring different majors.
The foundation of a Concordia education is a strong curriculum in the global liberal arts. Across all disciplines, you learn to think critically, develop a broad global perspective and consider creative responses to the world’s most important concerns.
Professors draw on the principles of the liberal arts by challenging you to think deeply about what you are learning and to write and speak persuasively. No matter what their major, Concordia students become lifelong learners with the intellectual depth and agility they need to thrive in any circumstance.
If you change your mind about your major or anything you answered previously, please email registrar@cord.edu. That way, we can update your academic record and assist with any changes to your class schedule if needed.
Your fall schedule was carefully created based on the following information:
- The answers you provided on the Student Registration Inventory including information about transfer credit you have completed and your co-curricular interests.
- Degree requirements and recommended courses for your area of study as noted in the First-Year Registration Guide.
Because your fall schedule has been tailored to your survey responses and your program of study, schedule changes should only be needed for the following reasons:
- Transfer credit: If you haven’t already done so, you will need to request that your final official college-level transcript(s) and/or AP exam results are sent directly to the Office of Admission as soon as possible. This will ensure that you are not taking courses for which you have already taken equivalencies.
- World language courses: If you take the Language Placement Inventory, we may need to adjust the course level to reflect your placement score.
- Change of major: If you change your mind about your intended major, we can update your academic record and assist with any changes to your class schedule if needed.
If you need to change your schedule for these three reasons, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@cord.edu.
As noted in the FAQ above, your fall schedule has been carefully created based on the information you provided in the Student Registration Inventory (SRI) and the recommendations in the First-Year Registration Guide.
The Registrar’s Office will assist with schedule changes during the summer months for these reasons: transfer credit, language placement inventory score, change of major or program of study, or an accommodation obtained in consultation with our Counseling & Disability Services Office. Please email registrar@cord.edu if you need to change your schedule for these reasons, and we will be happy to assist you.
During fall orientation, you will meet with your First-Year Experience Advisor. This advisor will be able to assist with questions about your schedule once you arrive on campus.
The Core Curriculum requires all students to complete a World Language course at the second semester level (ex. SPAN 112) or higher, unless a student has transfer credit.
You are required to take the Language Placement Inventory if you studied Spanish, French or German during high school and will be studying the same language at Concordia. The Language Placement Inventory will ensure you test into and register for the appropriate level language course. The Language Placement Inventory is not available online for Chinese, Greek or Latin. Students studying those languages should contact the departments for placement information.
Students can also transfer in equivalent credit for a language course. If the equivalent is at a second semester proficiency or above (see Transfer Notebook) and meets the core outcomes, your World Language requirement will be fulfilled. If you wish to take a language not previously mentioned, please contact the Registrar’s Office to discuss your options.
For complete FAQ's on the college's World Language requirement, please click here.
College Algebra does not fulfill the math core, but it will transfer as a math elective (with a grade of C- or above). Students should refer to the Core Curriculum for approved math core classes.
All students must take IOC 100 unless they enter Concordia with college credit for the equivalent course (IOC 100). If you’re unsure, contact the Registrar’s Office.
All students must take IWC 100 unless they enter Concordia with college credit for the equivalent course (IWC 100). If you’re unsure, contact the Registrar’s Office.
Yes, you can receive college credit for earning a Bilingual Seal. If you have earned a Bilingual Seal, and it is listed on your high school transcript, if is your responsibility to inform the Registrar's Office. Bilingual Seals must be added to your transfer report during your first academic year at Concordia.
The Registrar’s Office works closely with the Athletics and Music Departments to be aware of athletic practice and music rehearsal times. Whenever possible, the Registrar’s Office accommodates athletic practice and music rehearsal times. However, sometimes a required course for your major or the only open section of a class conflicts with the start time of practice your music rehearsal. In these rare situations, please work directly with your coach or music instructor for accommodations. If you are unable to resolve the conflict, please contact the Registrar's Office.
Typically, music ensemble rehearsals start at 4:00 on Monday, Wednesday, Fridays and 4:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays which coincides with the end of the last class period. Music ensemble auditions and music lesson registrations will happen in the fall when you arrive on campus.
As a first-year student, it is an exciting time to explore different academic paths that match your interests and passions – and it is OK to be undecided! The Concordia Four-Year Graduation Guarantee states that you must declare a major by the end of your second semester on campus. Read full details on the Four-Year Guarantee.
Your academic advisor is a faculty member specifically chosen to work with you as a first-year student. This First-Year Experience (FYE) Advisor will meet you during orientation and connect you with other first-year students they are advising. They will check-in with you throughout the year and especially shortly after the fall semester has started. They can help you with future course planning, assist with degree completion plans, identify opportunities in your academic interest area, or explore new ideas. They will also help you navigate the college experience and encourage you to seek opportunities and resolve challenges as they arise. You will have this advisor for the entire first year. During the spring semester, you will be assigned to an academic advisor in your declared area of study. You are encouraged to reach out to your FYE Advisor with any questions or concerns.
If you have additional questions about your fall schedule that are not answered in the FAQs above, please reach out to the Registrar's Office and we will be happy to help you.