Class Registration Process for First-Year Students
During Orientation, you will meet with an academic advisor to discuss course options, ask questions, and finalize your course schedule.

How to Graduate in Four Years
Registration Terms 101

Academic advising process
During Day One, an academic advisor will help interpret your placement test scores and answer your questions. On Day Two, you will meet individually with your assigned advisor to finalize your schedule and discuss any concerns before you register.

How Academic Advising Works

Choosing courses; choosing a major
Many students take courses in several areas before they discover a major that is a good fit with their interests and abilities. The best way to begin this process is to take courses that sound interesting to you. At Orientation, your advisor can show you the requirements for a number of majors and help you make an informed decision.

Tips for Choosing a Major

General Education course requirements
If you have selected a major, review the General Education Program requirements affiliated with it. These "general education" requirements are designed to ensure that all Iowa students have the skills for a lifetime of learning, and they vary slightly depending on the college offering your degree. First-year students typically take at least one general education course, a course related to their major, and an elective during their first semester.

College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
College of Engineering
Tippie College of Business
College of Nursing

Explore your course options online
Go online to investigate Iowa's course options before attending Orientation. The General Catalog itemizes required course work related to specific majors. Using the Online Guide to Courses, students can search for specific course descriptions and schedules, which vary by semester.

How Many Classes to Take

Be flexible
Usually, the University offers several sessions of the most popular General Education courses, and we work closely with the Office of the Registrar so that even students attending Orientation programs held later in the year can get into some of the most sought-after courses. However, there's no guarantee that every course you want will be available your first semester.