BLOCK SCHEDULING
The World has Changed. We Believe the College Experience Should Too.
Aquinas College is the first in Michigan and one of very few in the country to offer block scheduling—a simple name for an innovative model that maximizes your investment while providing deep exploration, experiential learning and ultimate flexibility. Think of it as taking one class at a time.
We are flipping traditional classroom delivery on its side and modernizing it for the students of today.
What You'll Gain
- FLEXIBILITY: Afternoons and evenings are open for work, athletics, hobbies, study, and leisure.
- CONCENTRATED LEARNING: Deeply explore one topic at a time.
- HANDS-ON, REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE: Extended class times allow for experiential learning and theory application.
- DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS: Really get to know your classmates and professors. Faculty mentoring and community connections extend learning beyond the classroom too.
- EXTENDED BREAKS: Each 3 1/2-week class ends with a 4-day weekend.
Block Scheduling for the Academic Year
FAQs on Block Scheduling
You are able to concentrate on one subject at a time which translates into greater depth of learning with an emphasis on application of learning, experiential learning, problem-based learning, and relationship development. This kind of learning tends to be especially impactful, and, as reported by many students, more relevant to the kinds of experiences they encounter after leaving college.
Yes. The block schedule is delivered in a standard 15-16 week semester.
Yes. Breaks and holidays should be mostly unaffected by block scheduling.
No. Class meets every day for 18 straight days. Then after a Thursday-Sunday break, the next course begins.
There should be no negative effect on transferring. A course completed in a block schedule is treated the same as any completed course in a traditional scheduling model. Transcripts will present the same as traditional-schedule transcripts.
In the block model, labs are generally integrated with lectures, though some courses will have additional lab time scheduled.
Internship experiences are likely to vary. For example, an internship could be scheduled as the enrolled class during a regular block period, over the course of more than one block in the afternoon, or during the summer, as is currently the case.
Activity classes like choir and instrument training will continue to be one-credit semester-long classes scheduled as appropriate to the activity.
No. As is currently the case, degree requirements are established by the faculty of the College and comply with best practices and accreditation requirements.
As is currently the case, if you withdraw from a class at the start of the block. You can switch to a different course. If you do happen to miss or fail a block, you still have plenty of time in the course of your attendance to meet the 120 credit hour graduation requirement. Four years (eight semesters) of block classes should total 128 credits, eight more than the minimum required for graduation.
Continuing education classes will continue, though the quad format will need to be reviewed. Four-credit classes and accreditation requirements will necessitate a change in how we schedule all classes. We anticipate that evening classes will continue, though possibly in a semester-long form more typical of traditional scheduling (one evening per week) and more intentionally offered to align with Continuing Education student needs.