Overview of 7-Week Blocks
As of Spring 2025, most Ensign College campus courses are 7-week block courses, with two blocks in each semester. Students benefit from the opportunity to focus on fewer topics at a time.
Why Did We Change?
The reason for this change is simple: students do better in 7-week blocks. When we talked with other schools that have been using 7-week blocks, we learned that more students complete their courses and graduate on time. We want this for you, too!
Here are a few reasons students do better on the block schedule:
- FOCUSED LEARNING: Concentrate on fewer subjects for deeper understanding.
- FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE: Greater flexibility to fit your schedule and more opportunities to enroll in desired courses throughout the year.
- REDUCED BURNOUT: Experience less stress and burnout with shorter, more manageable academic periods and a week-long break between blocks!
*International students on F1 visas must attend both blocks of each semester in-person.
How It Works
Instead of taking 4-6 semester-long courses, full-time students take 2-3 courses at a time for only seven weeks (maximum of 9 credits per block). Between the blocks is a one-week break.
- A few classes, such as some lab and internship classes, still meet for 14 weeks. These classes still have the week-long break.
- Institute courses have been broken into A and B blocks.
- Domestic students can enter Ensign at any block and skip a block if needed.
- International students must attend both blocks in a semester in-person to maintain their student visa.
How Classes Are Different
Taking only 2-3 courses at a time is less overwhelming than 4-5 semester-long courses. Extensive research has found that students are successful in the 7-week block format, and many prefer it to the 14-week semester.
Restructured Classes
One misconception about 7-week courses is that they have all the same assignments and projects as a 14-week course, just "crammed" into a shorter time frame. This is not how we have structured 7-week courses. Every class and assignment has been redesigned to teach the most important concepts in a 7-week time frame.
If you feel that the workload is too high or focuses on busywork, please be sure to share your feedback in the post-course survey. We read every response and use your feedback to improve courses.
Homework Load
If you are a full-time student, you will spend the same amount of time in class and doing homework per week as you do now. While you may have more homework per class, you are taking fewer classes. So your total homework per week will be the same.
How to Manage Your Schedule
The best way to manage 7-week blocks is to PLAN AHEAD.
- Talk to your academic advisor to determine which courses you need to take.
- Use your Grad Plan to plan your next few years.
- Make sure you don't have any holds that would block registration.
- Register for your courses as soon as registration opens.
Some courses are offered only in one block—plan ahead so you don't miss them!
Click the button below to download a list showing when courses are offered for spring and fall semester.
International Students
To maintain their status, international students must:
- Register for both blocks before the second day of the semester. Any changes to your schedule after that day could jeopardize your F-1 status.
- Take at least 12 credits total over the semester.
- Enroll in at least 9 credits of in-person courses (not online or Zoom). [See Graphic Below]
- Take CPT within one semester. CPT is only authorized within one semester. For example, they cannot have CPT authorization in the second half of fall semester and the first half of winter semester.
Student Examples
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Ivan wants to make sure he maintains his F-1 status on the block. He knows he must register for both blocks at the beginning of the semester. He also makes sure he has at least 12 credits total, with 9 credits in person.
