Colleges with non-traditional academic schedules

Key takeaways

• Traditional college schedules use a two-semester plan, with one term in the fall and one term in the spring.
• However, some colleges use non-traditional academic schedules that focus on fewer courses per term or are shorter than a standard semester.
• Consider how you learn and compare colleges to determine if a non-traditional schedule is right for you.

Most colleges follow the same academic calendar – two semesters, one over the fall and the other over spring, each consisting of approximately 18 weeks each. However, there are several colleges that have “non-traditional” college schedules, including block plans, quarters, additional semesters, and more. Here’s a look at a few of these non-traditional schedules and some of the best colleges in the United States that have them.

What is a “traditional” college schedule?

Most colleges and universities use a semester system for their academic calendar. The first semester, Fall, starts in mid-August to early September and ends in mid-December. The Spring semester tends to begin in mid- to late January and ends in early to mid-May (some schools call this the Winter Semester)

Semesters last roughly 15 to 18 weeks. To graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years, students should aim for 15 credit hours a semester, which translates to four or five classes.

Many schools with semester systems also offer shorter terms over the summer or in January, but a majority of students stick to the fall/spring schedule.

Types of non-traditional college schedules

Not all colleges follow the traditional semester system. Instead, they use block plans, a quarter system, or something entirely different.

Block plan

Academic calendars with block plans are broken up into several time blocks, or mini-terms, where the student takes a single course during that time period. They’ll spend three to five hours in that class a day.

In general, schools have eight blocks per academic year (four per semester), with each one lasting around four to six weeks, and a week off between each block. Exact schedules depend on the college.

Schools with block plans tend to have smaller class sizes with unique off-campus and study abroad experiences. They’re ideal for students who perform well while focused on a single topic rather than four to five different courses at traditional schools.

Here are some schools that offer the block plan:

Cornell College

• Location: Mount Vernon, IA
• Cornell College splits the academic year into eight blocks, with each class lasting 18 days. They have several short- and long-term study abroad opportunities.

Colorado College

• Location: Colorado Springs, CO
• Block plans at Colorado College last three and a half weeks, with eight blocks a year. They also offer half blocks during winter and summer sessions. Some courses include field trips, including week-long camping trips.

University of Montana – Western

• Location: Dillon, MT
• The University of Montana – Western calls their block plan “Experience One.” With eight blocks per academic year, students study one topic over an 18 day period.

Spalding University

• Location: Louisville, KY
• Instead of taking a single class, students at Spalding University take at least two or three for an eight-week period.

Quarters

With the quarter system, an academic year is broken up into four 10-week terms in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Summer is often optional, but students graduate faster with this additional term.

Compared to semesters, the quarter system allows students to cover more material in an academic year, with three to five classes every quarter.

A few schools that offer this non-traditional schedule include:

California Institute of Technology

• Location: Pasadena, CA
• Students at Caltech attend 10-week terms, with around 45 units per term. A course that has three hours of class time is a nine-unit class, so students take about 5 classes each term.

Dartmouth College

• Location: Hanover, NH
• Dartmouth College has the D-Plan, which has slightly more flexibility than other quarter plans. Students choose when they take their classes and breaks, with more time for internship programs.

Northwestern University

• Location: Evanston, IL
• Northwestern University’s quarters last 10 weeks, with breaks in winter, spring, and summer. Fall courses start in late September, and spring classes end in mid-June.

Stanford University

• Location: Stanford, CA
• At Stanford University, students should attend all of the courses they’re interested in taking the first week of the quarter. Then, they can select the classes they’d like to focus on during that quarter by the end of week three (a minimum of 12 units).

Trimester

A trimester system is similar to a quarter system, with students taking courses during fall, winter, and spring terms. However, with a trimester system, there’s usually no summer term. A trimester can last between eight to 12 weeks and students take between three and five classes per term.

Here are schools in the United States that offer trimesters:

Knox College

• Location: Galesburg, IL
• Knox College runs on a 3-by-3 schedule, which means students take three classes per 10-week trimester. Students have over a month and a half off between the fall and winter terms, and Knox offers a summer term.

Franklin University

• Location: Columbus, OH
• Franklin University breaks up the academic year into fall, winter, and spring courses. Students are invited to cross-register (with limitations) at select schools, including The Columbus College of Art and Design, The Ohio State University, and DeVry University.

See more schools currently on a trimester schedule.

4-4-1 or 4-1-4 plans

4-4-1 and 4-1-4 academic calendars are similar to both semesters and trimesters. They have two longer terms averaging four months each and one shorter term lasting about a month.

For example, a 4-4-1 school has Fall and Winter sessions with a one-month Spring or Summer term. A 4-1-4 school has Fall and Spring sessions with a one-month Winter term (sometimes called a J-term).

Here are just two colleges that use a 4-4-1 or 4-1-4 system:

Alma College

• Location: Alma, MI
• Alma College’s Fall and Winter terms last 14 weeks. The Spring term in May is four weeks long, which students can use for classes, research, travel, or other opportunities.

Elmira College

• Location: Elmira, NY
• Elmira College’s 4-4-1 system has 14-week Fall and Winter terms and a 4-week May session. The school also offers nine and six week terms over the summer as well.

Augustana University

• Location: Sioux Falls, SD
• Augustana’s 4-14 system has a 15 week Fall semester, 3.5 week January Interim (J-term) and 15 week Spring semester. The J-term is a way for students to study abroad, take internships, or take time off.

Is a Non-Traditional Schedule Right For You?

Whether a non-traditional schedule is right for you comes down to personal preferences and the individual school.

For example, even though a college offers a quarter system, it doesn’t mean they’re going to follow the exact same schedule as another school that has a quarter system. Colleges and universities differ on term length, the number of courses a student has to take per term, and the time spent in classes each day.

It’s important to look at each school individually while considering your strengths, interests, weaknesses. Ask yourself questions, such as:

• Would you excel in a fast-paced 10-week quarter over a 15-week semester?
• Do you get your best grades when you’re immersed in a single subject?
• Would a six-hour class be too much for you to handle in a single day?
• How many hours of homework would you need to complete each week?

Answering these questions and others can help you compare your options.

If you have any questions about the school’s expectations, the academic calendar, or whether it’s right for you, you can absolutely reach out to the college, talk to current students online, or even visit the campus before applying to get clarification.

Some college students excel in non-traditional academic schedules, such as block, quarters, or trimesters, which generally focus on shorter terms with faster coverage of the subject matter. However, others perform better at a traditional semester school, where classroom time is shorter per day, stretched over a longer period of time, and the student takes more courses per term. Determining which type is right for you is a completely personal decision. Think about how you produce the best results before deciding.

Want to explore these and other colleges and universities with non-traditional schedules? College Match can give you insight into the best schools for you, your acceptance chances, financial information, and more. Get started here for free!