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
and provides deep exploration, experiential learning, and ultimate flexibility.
We are flipping traditional classroom delivery on its side and modernizing it for the students of today ... one class at a time.
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.
