Academic Planning

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Plan your courses, experiences, and goals so you can move confidently toward graduation.

Academic planning involves more than choosing classes for next semester. Your majors, minors, general education courses, transfer credits, study abroad plans, work and internship experiences, and electives can all affect which courses you take and when you graduate.

By considering these pieces together, you can identify clear steps toward your goals for next semester, next year, and beyond. Use the following resources and steps to guide your planning:

Step 1: Reflect

Consider your strengths and the areas where you want to grow. Talk with your advisor and a career specialist to deepen your understanding of God’s calling for your life.

Over time, you’ll gain a clearer sense of how your career goals, major, activities, and experiences can prepare you for the life you’re called to live.

Choosing a major is an ongoing process, and many Bethel students graduate with a different major than they first expected. Explore majors to find strategies for identifying a program that fits your interests and goals.

You can also:

As you make decisions, keep your official records current by notifying the Office of the Registrar about changes to your major or minor.

Step 2: Review your credits

Make sure Bethel has a record of all your previous academic work, including:

  • Advanced Placement (AP) courses
  • College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams
  • International Baccalaureate (IB) courses
  • College in the Schools courses
  • Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) courses
  • Previous college or university coursework

College-level credits completed before you came to Bethel may affect your general education requirements (pdf). Confirm that your credits have been recorded before meeting with your advisor and registering for courses.

Review how to check your academic transcript for details. You may submit a petition if a course did not transfer as expected.

Step 3: Understand your academic requirements and financial aid

Before graduating, you’ll complete the required courses for your majors, minors, and Bethel’s general education curriculum. You’ll also meet university requirements, including earning at least 122 credits, with at least 37 credits at the 300 or 400 level.

The academic catalog from the year you entered Bethel contains your official graduation requirements. If you transferred credits, review your entry standing to confirm your general education requirements and exemptions.

Review your degree evaluation

Your degree evaluation shows which requirements you have completed and which remain. Check it regularly as you and your advisor plan each semester.

You can learn how to check your degree evaluation online. Your advisor can help you interpret your degree evaluation and course requirements.

Understand Course Program of Study

Course Program of Study (CPoS) is a federal financial aid requirement. It requires your financial aid eligibility to be based on courses that apply to your program and graduation requirements.

Courses that do not apply to your program may affect your scholarships, grants, or loans. Careful semester-by-semester planning can help you stay on track academically and financially.

Review the Advising CPoS Information Google document or visit the financial aid CPoS page for details.

Step 4: Plan for the future

You’ll work closely with your advisor to plan future courses and experiences. The following tools can help you get started.

Academic plans in the catalog

Bethel provides a sample four-year plan for each major. These plans show how a student entering without previous college credit could complete the program in four years.

Find the plan on the program’s catalog page for the year you entered Bethel.

Academic planning sheet 

We have developed this tool so you can store and manage course planning. You received a personalized planning sheet through your Bethel Google Drive. The file name follows a format similar to: "2021-2022_LastName_FirstName_BUAcademicPlanningSheet".

Keep your planning sheet current so you can sequence courses correctly and meet Course Program of Study requirements. Watch the academic planning sheet video for help getting started.

As you plan:

  • Review prerequisites and course availability for general education, major, and minor courses.
  • Talk with your advisor early about study abroad and other off-campus study opportunities during January Session or a semester.
  • Before taking a course at another institution, use the Transfer Evaluation System (TES) to confirm that the credits will transfer to Bethel.
  • Explore the Honors Program for additional academic opportunities.
  • Meet with a career coach to connect your calling and career goals with your academic plan.

Step 5: Talk with your advisor

Once you have drafted your plan, review it with your advisor to confirm that you’re on track.

Your advisor can support you throughout the academic planning process by:

  • Helping you understand your transcript and degree evaluation
  • Clarifying requirements for your major or minor
  • Reviewing your course sequence
  • Discussing study abroad and internship opportunities
  • Connecting your academic plan with your goals

May God bless you as you learn, plan, and serve!

More advising resources

Catalogs and programs

Academic opportunities

Explore additional academic pathways and learning opportunities.

For additional help, talk with your advisor or email advising-center@bethel.edu.