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First-Year Experience Program

Registration

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Steps To Take

Step One:
   Call the First-Year Registration Line at 253-535-7585 or 866-203-5288 to schedule your appointment time and date for Charting Your Course and registration. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-enrolled basis, so schedule your appointment early. If you cannot come to PLU for Charting Your Course in person and you live outside the local area, we can conduct a registration appointment over the telephone.

Step Two:
   Arrive at PLU on the date of your registration appointment to:
Check-in – 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Volunteers will be available to answer questions and provide you with information for the day. During your time on campus, you can visit campus office such as the Financial Aid Office, Student Services Center and others. You will also be able to obtain information regarding Luteworld and your LuteCard.
Attend a Group Information Session 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. or 2:30 p.m.
Academic Advising staff will guide you through points of interest in PLU's academic program. Plan to attend one information session prior to your individual registration appointment. (Example: If you schedule a registration appointment for 9 a.m., you will need to attend the 8:30 a.m. information session; with a 3 p.m. registration time, you can attend any of the information sessions.)
Meet with the Registration Counselor at your scheduled appointment time.
Continue reading for information regarding the first-year registration experience.
What to expect:
  1. Allow one hour for your reigstration appointment time.
  2. You and your counselor will review your Pre-Registration worksheet. Please complete this worksheet prior to your appointment. (pgs. 12-13)
  3. Your counselor will work with you to select and schedule your classes.
  4. You will leave the appointment with your Fall schedule.

*You will plan for January and Spring term with your academic advisor in November.

What You Should Know

First-Year Course Load
Most first-year students take 12 to 16 credit hours during their first semester.

A typical schedule includes three "solids" (four credit-hour classes) and a one-credit class (e.g. Physical Education, Career and Education Planning, or Study Skills).

Some science classes have a lab component, which will require additional time outside of class.

Math Classes
Students cannot register for a math class at PLU until they have taken the Math Placement Test. Complete the online placement at least two weeks before your registration appointment. Visit http://www.plu.edu/~aadv then click on Math Placement.

Foreign Language Classes
If you have studied French, German or Spanish and plan to continue your study at PLU in the fall, then you are required to take a Foreign Language Placement Test before classes begin. The test asesses what college level class will best suit your current level of language proficiency. It is recommended that you take this test two weeks prior to registration.

Access the placement online at http://www.plu.edu/~aadv then click on Language Placement.

WIth guidance from your instructor ou may change your class during the first 10 days of the semester.

Things to consider when planning your schedule
Time – If you aren't fond of early classes, try to schedule classes that begin in late morning or early afternoon.

Educational commitments – As a college student, your priority should be excelling academically. Therefore, it is necessary to attend all classes regularly, study, and write papers.

Study habits – If you prefer studying material right after you leave class, you may want to consider arranging your schedule so that you have study time immediately after each class.

Work – If you plan on working, be sure to keep it to a minimum.

Commuting – If you will live off campus, plan to spend as much as possible on campus. Students involved in at least one activity are more satisfied with their college experience.

Registration Tools

There are three resources you will need to prepare for your registration appointment:

2007-2008 First-Year Guidebook
The book includes:
  • Pre-registration Worksheet (Pgs. 12-13)
  • List of First-Year Experience classes and course descriptions (see back pocket)
  • List of GUR classes (online), Core classes (online) (Pgs. 14-15)
Fall 2007 Class Schedule
(willl be available online at http://banweb.plu.edu)

PLU Course Catalog
(available online at http://www.plu.edu/print/catalog)

Core Requirements
Core requirements give every student a common exposure to important PLU academic disciplines, methodologies, theories and values. PLU is one of a few universities which provides students with a choice of two cores: a distributive core which allows students to take courses from a wide range of disciplines, and an international core which consists of seminars that are thematically based.

Core I
The Distributive Core

   Encourages you to explore the liberal arts by requiring course work throughout a variety of academic disciplines. No matter what your major, if you choose Core I, you will take courses in a variety of academic departments.

   Students who choose Core I can meet the requirements in any order.		 Core II
The International Core: Integrated Studies in the Contemporary World

Built around the theme, "International Core: Integrated Studies in the Contemporary World," Core II focuses on thematic courses that are international in content and perspective, interdisciplinary in approach, and may be team-taught by faculty from different disciplines.
Students begin in Core II by enrolling in INTC 111 in the Fall. You will enroll in INTC 190 (112) in the Spring. Each are 4 credit courses. These courses survey the major developments in Western cultures, and their interactions with non-Western cultures, from ancient Greece and Rome through the turn of the twentieth century. After completing these courses, during their sophomore and junior years, students select four additional Core II seminars from a variety of thematic courses, e.g. The Experience of War, Imaging the Self, Gender, Sexuality, and Culture.




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