Student Resources
Everything you need to prepare for fall semester.
Residence Life FAQs
Find out more about residence life this fall.
Next Steps for Accepted Students
A step-by-step list for you so you know exactly what you need to do before you get to campus!
Academic FAQs
You will receive your fall schedule via your Concordia email in late June/early July. If you have not, please check that you have completed the necessary requirements to receive your class schedule.
**Be sure to get into the habit of checking your Concordia 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 class schedule:
- Transfer credit: If you haven’t already done so, you will need to request that your final official college-level transcripts 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.
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Music lessons and ensembles: You will have an opportunity to audition for ensembles and sign up for music lessons when you arrive on campus in August.
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World language courses: Students are required to complete a world language course at the second semester level or higher to fulfill the world language core requirement. Some departments strongly suggest a student completes their world language requirement within their first year. Also, if you are undecided about your major, working on your world language requirement in the first year is a good option. If you chose to take French, German, or Spanish, and have had previous experience with a language, you must take the Language Placement Inventory to be sure you are placed into the correct proficiency level.
Full-time status is 12 credits. Students pay the same tuition for 12-17 academic credits. A common 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 as an overload fee per credit. Music ensembles are worth 0 credits and are billed separately. Music lessons are 1-2 credits each.
All incoming first-year students will be registered for a First-Year Seminar and either a Writing to Engage or a Communicating to Engage (ENG 110 and COM 110) course for the 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 First-Year Seminar is a unique (4-credit) course that you will take during your first semester in college. First-Year 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 First-Year Seminars on the Student Registration Inventory. Choose a First-Year 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 First-Year 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 Admission 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 a First-Year 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 First-Year 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. The 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 and 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 (e.g., 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.
Complete list of FAQs on the college‘s World Language requirement
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 COM 110 unless they enter Concordia with college credit for the equivalent course (COM 110). If you’re unsure, contact the Registrar’s Office.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level public speaking course listed as COM 1-- on your transfer report, it is not equivalent and you must take COM 110 at Concordia.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level public speaking course listed as COM 101 on your transfer report, you have two options to fulfill the Oral Communication requirement: COM 110 or an advanced oral communication class from the options listed in the Course Catalog. Ask the Registrar’s Office for more information.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level public speaking course listed as COM 110 on your transfer report, you do not need to take Communicating to Engage (COM 110) at Concordia. Your Oral Communication requirement is fulfilled.
All students must take ENG 110 unless they enter Concordia with college credit for the equivalent course (ENG 100). If you’re unsure, contact the Registrar’s Office.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level composition course listed as ENG 1-- in your transfer report, that is not equivalent and you must take ENG 100 at Concordia.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level composition course listed as ENG 101 in your transfer report, you have two options to fulfill the Written Communication requirement: ENG 110 or an advanced writing class from the options listed in the Course Catalog.
- If you are bringing in transfer credit for a college-level composition course listed as ENG 100 in your transfer report, you do not need to take ENG 110: Writing to Engage at Concordia. Your Written Communication requirement is fulfilled.
To transfer credits to Concordia, courses must be taken from a regionally accredited college or university and a standard letter grade of C- is required (grades of “P” or “S” are not accepted unless it was the result of a COVID-19 pass/fail grading policy). A final official transcript from the previous institution must be sent directly to Concordia.
Once your official transcript is received, transfer credit (with C- or above) will be entered to show all “S” grades (Satisfactory) and you will receive an email (via your Concordia email) from the Registrar's Office with instructions on how to check your transfer report. When you view your transfer report, be sure to check this report against the classes that you are registered for to make sure there is not an equivalent course that you transferred in on your fall schedule. While the Registrar’s Office performs multiple checks and balances to reduce the possibility of registering you for equivalent courses, it is your responsibility as a student to ensure that transfer credit is accounted for and that your course registration is accurate.
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.
All transfer courses in which you receive(d) a standard letter grade of C- or above will be transferred to Concordia as “S” grades (Satisfactory), not the grade you received at the other institution. You cannot pick and choose which courses transfer in and which do not. Grades cannot be removed or deleted off an academic transcript.
Advanced Placement (AP) courses work a bit differently. If you took AP courses while in high school and took the exam(s), you can elect to NOT send or transfer those credits to Concordia. AP credit must be recorded during your first year.
The Registrar’s Office works closely with the Athletics Office and music department 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 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, 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.