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New Student Registration Guide & FAQ Page — Pre-Seminary Program

Welcome to Martin Luther College! The information found on these pages will help you get registered for the proper courses as you begin your preparation for enrollment at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary!

You are ultimately responsible for understanding your degree requirements and meeting them. The dean and your advisors stand ready to help you.

Scheduling Resources

Use this page as a “registration central” for your process. It contains important instructions and links to help you. The Navigation panels on the left give quick access to important sections. Here are links to helpful scheduling resources:

  • The MLC Undergraduate Catalog 
    • pp. 44-46 provides details about general education requirements. These pages also list all the general education course menus.
    • pp. 74-80 provide details about the pre-seminary requirements and curriculum.
    • pp. 86-107 provide course descriptions for specific courses.
  • MLC Portal is where you access your Program Plan and the Schedule Planner.

Video Tutorial

The MLC Registration Guide Video walks you through the process of registering for your courses. Before proceeding, watch it and follow its guidance, step by step. 

No, really. Before proceeding, watch the MLC Registration Guide video tutorial. Nothing else will make sense unless you do! (Note: First, watch the whole thing. Then, go back and follow the instructions step by step.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

First, click here to access the MLC Portal. Log in using your MLC username and password. Click on your name in the upper right-hand corner to get to your individual Portal Directory page. Here is where you will start putting together your schedule. 

Before you start, please note the following: 

  • The Program Plan PDF linked on your Portal Directory page is dictated by your emphasis/minor choice. 

      • Read the general information in the yellow box at the top and note what applies to you.

      • This is a template; it shows all the specific courses or course menu requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree with your chosen emphasis/minor. You may have to adapt it to your specific situation.

      • The pages that follow the template provide a full list of all courses in the various menus that are part of your degree. 

          • To see what options you have, refer to the list of courses in the Program Plan PDF, in particular the "Literature Seminar Elective" menu and the "Pre-Seminary Vocal Music Course" menu. Clicking on any course in this list will take you to the course description.

  • In the Portal (Scheduling>Program Planner), create a Program Planner by clicking Create New and selecting your plan under Use Standard Plan.

      • For most first-year students, the majority of the specific courses you need to take will automatically populate in the Program Planner. The only courses you will need to choose are the ones in the gray boxes. 

      • Make any necessary adjustments to your first two semesters based on . . . 

          • course requirements you’ve already met (AP tests, dual-enrollment courses)

          • non-biblical language placement (applies only to German, Latin, Confessional, and Spanish emphasis/minor). The MLC Registrar’s Office has already enrolled you in your initial German, Latin, or Spanish course(s) based on the results of the language placement test.

  • For any gray box in your Program Planner (if applicable), select a specific course and drag it into that box. (The lists of courses you can choose from are on the Program Plan PDF.
  • If you are entering the Pre-Seminary Program with no non-biblical language experience, you must delay Greek until your sophomore year. (The Registrar’s Office will already have enrolled you in the elementary level of a non-biblical language.)
  • If you want to change your emphasis/minor, contact the pre-seminary dean via email at danelljc@mlc-wels.edu.

Please note that the following have already been (or will be) scheduled for you:

  • Non-Biblical Language (if applicable): Automatically scheduled based on your language diagnostic placement exam. (Any placement adjustments will happen during the first two weeks of the semester via the Deans’ Office).

  • THE1401 Early Ministry Experience I: The Registrar’s Office will schedule this course. The director will meet with you early in the semester to explain it.

  • 000x Courses: Any pre-assigned English, math, or study skills courses.

Your plan is automatically saved. You can go back to it at any time through the MLC Portal.

MLC Scheduling Help Desk

If you have any questions, call the MLC Scheduling Help Desk. The people at the Help Desk are there to help you with your scheduling needs. 

MLC Scheduling Help Desk Availability

June 23 - July 11, 2025

  • By phone 507.233.9102
    • 8 am to 4 pm CDT M-TH
    • 8 am to noon CDT Friday
  • By email to records@mlc-wels.edu 

July 14 - July 18, 2025

  • By phone 507.233.9102 
    • Monday, July 14-Wednesday, July 16 from 8 am to 8 pm CDT
    • Thursday, July 17, from 8 am to 6 pm CDT
    • Friday, July 18, from 8 am to noon CDT
  • By email to records@mlc-wels.edu 

After July 18, 2025

Important Dates

  • June 23, 2025 | You should receive (via postal mail) instructions to register for your courses online.
  • June 23 - July 13, 2025 | Begin planning your schedule in the MLC Portal Schedule Planner.
  • June 23 - July 11, 2025 | MLC Scheduling Help Desk available for questions 507.233.9102
    • 8 am to 4 pm CDT M-TH
    • 8 am to noon CDT Friday
  • July 14 - July 18, 2025 | Online course registration is open. Please note the day and time for scheduling.
    • The MLC Scheduling Help Desk is available: 
      • Monday, July 14-Wednesday, July 16 from 8 am to 8 pm CDT
      • Thursday, July 17, from 8 am to 6 pm CDT
      • Friday, July 18, from 8 am to noon CDT
      • 507.233.9102
  • July 18, 2025 | Final Day for Self-registration

FAQs

As much as possible, please follow the plan that has been laid out for your first year. Once you arrive on campus, your advisors will help you plan out your subsequent years and offer you guidance on which courses to take.

Can I schedule 1st-semester courses in 2nd semester and 2nd-semester courses in 1st? Can I move courses from one year to another year?  

Yes, but . . .

  1. Some – especially the language courses – cannot and should not be moved.
  2. Do not schedule ENG1303 (Rhetoric & Composition) and ENG130x (Literature Seminar) in the same semester.
  3. Do not schedule more than one Biblical History and Literature course (THE1001, THE1002, THE2001) in the same semester. Also, do not schedule Biblical History and Literature III (THE2001) as your first BHL course.
  4. Maintain the sequence HIS2112 (Rise of the West) first, then HIS2113 (Modern West).
  5. Don’t move any elective courses into the first year; at this point, you lack the prerequisites.

What are the (Gen Ed Menu) courses in my Program Plan?  

Some courses in your program plan appear as a grayed entry and do not specify a particular course. These represent general education courses required of every MLC student. Any course from a given menu can meet the Gen Ed requirement in that area. (Note that some areas require more than one course to fulfill the Gen Ed requirement - for example, Theology.) Here are a few notes about each area of the Gen Ed menus. (Note: Not everything here will necessarily apply to your individualized program plan.)

  • English. As mentioned above, you can flip-flop the semesters in which you take ENG1303 and ENG130x (Literature Seminar) if you need to. Just don’t schedule them both for the same semester. (ENG3310 must wait until at least junior year.)
  • Fine Arts. If you need a fifth course for one of your first two semesters, moving a Gen Ed Fine Arts course up in your program is an option.
  • History-Social Science
    • Of the three courses listed here, pre-seminary students are required to take HIS2113 Modern West and HIS3011 US History II as their Gen Ed courses. 
    • However, as was mentioned above, be sure to schedule HIS2112 Rise of the West before scheduling HIS2113 Modern West.
    • HIS3011 US History II must wait until junior year.
  • Intercultural. This can be a tricky one to choose. It’s probably best to wait and schedule this in consultation with your Advisor.
  • Mathematics 
    • MTH1012 Organizational Personal Finance — either semester
    • MTH2010 Calculus I — first semester only (pre-req is high school pre­calculus or equivalent)
    • MTH2020 Elementary Statistics — second semester only
    • MTH2022 Discrete Math – first semester only
    • If you need a fifth course for one of your first two semesters, moving a Gen Ed Math course up in your program may be an option.
  • Physical Education. You are required to take two activity courses. These are listed on pp. 100-101 of the Undergraduate Catalog. These courses all begin with PED11xx. Each of these courses lasts one quarter.
    • Note: If you have participated on a high school varsity soccer team, do not take PED1131 Soccer. This course is to be taken by students with beginning or intermediate skill levels only.
  • Science. Please note …
    • SCI1003 Biology  & 1004 Biology Lab and SCI1102 Physical Science are available either semester every year. 
    • SCI2021 General Chemistry I is available every year, but only in semester 1.
      • Of the other courses on the menu, SCI4102 Physics: Thermodynamics is available in semester 1, and SCI3102 Physics: Waves and Harmonic Motion is available in semester 2. A calculus background is recommended for each.
      • If you need a fifth course for one of your first two semesters, moving a Gen Ed Science course up in your program may be an option.
  • Theology. All three of these courses are required at some point and are generally taken during the first three semesters. They do not have to be taken in any specific order. Do not schedule Biblical History and Literature III (THE2001) as your first BHL course.

How do I schedule Music courses like Wind Symphony, Piano, Organ, or Choir?

Complete the Music Experience Inventory form online as soon as possible, even if you have no music experience. (It’s part of your New Student Checklist.) If you indicate an interest in joining Wind Symphony on the form, Wind Symphony will automatically be entered in your schedule planner. When this happens, it may move you over 18 credits. Please check your credit load. You must add all other music courses to your schedule planner.

Schedule section 01 for piano, organ, choir, instrumental, and vocal lessons. After your Music Experience Inventory form has been reviewed and after your brief audition during student orientation week, your music course level may be adjusted in your schedule. You will also then be assigned an instructor for keyboard, instrument, and/or vocal lessons. Students registered for lessons will receive an email from their assigned instructor before the semester begins. It will include their assigned lesson time.

Students desiring to participate in a choir should register for section 01 of the course in one of the following ways: 

  • New students who are joining Wind Symphony, which meets fourth hour, should register for Chorale, MUS2048, which meets eighth hour.
  • New students who wish to sing in choir should register for MUS2039, Männerchor, which meets fourth hour. (Note: This does not exclude a student from being a part of Chorale, as a student will have an opportunity to express this at auditions.)
  • If you have added choir, MUS1103, or MUS1104 to your schedule planner, an audition time will be given to you during orientation week.

What is the MUSxxx Vocal Music (Pre-Seminary Menu) course I see on my Program Plan? 

Pre-Seminary students are required to take a one-credit vocal music course. The options are listed on p. 79 in the Undergraduate Catalog. Please note the following:

  • MUSxxxx Choir. The choirs available this year are MUS2048 (Chorale), MUS2039 (Männerchor), and MUS3036 (College Choir). 
    • All three are audition choirs.
    • MUS3036 (College Choir) is made up of mostly upperclassmen. A few spots may be open for first-year students. It is a traveling choir and meets five times per week.
    • While only one semester of a choir is required, our choirs (like a sports team) appreciate a student’s participation for the entire year.
    • Many pre-seminary students audit choir and/or Wind Symphony if their schedule is already at 18 credits, simply because they love music. If you choose to do this, you must still fulfill the one-credit vocal music requirement at some point.
  • MUS1103 (Sight Singing Fundamentals) is a course centered around learning the basics of reading music and is intended for students with little to no music literacy.
  • MUS1104 (Vocal Skills) is a course designed for those needing to develop the basics of singing technique and is intended for students with little to no singing experience. Please note that this course is not being offered in 2025-26.
  • MUS203x Applied Voice courses are meant for experienced singers who seek individual voice training. There are limited spots available.

Why is my first non-biblical language course already scheduled?

Your first non-biblical language course is determined mainly by the results of the language diagnostic placement exam you took. You were automatically scheduled based on the results of that test. This may mean that your first course is delayed until semester 2. During the first two weeks of the semester (the drop/add period), you will have a chance to confirm or change that placement. If you feel you were misplaced, please contact the Deans Office. Do not schedule another non-biblical language course.

Why is THE1401 Early Ministry Experience I already scheduled in Semester E? 

This program requirement has already been scheduled for you. Early in the semester, our pre-seminary director of Early Ministry Experiences will meet with you and explain what this is about.

Why are there English courses already in my schedule planner? 

If your English ACT score was 17 or below, you may be required to take ENG0001 Essential Skills for College Composition and ENG1303 Rhetoric and Composition concurrently during your first semester of studies. ENG0001 does not fulfill any of the English requirements for graduation. These courses will already appear in your schedule planner. If this applies to you, then you will have to take your English Literature Seminar course in semester 2. 

Why is there already a Math course in my schedule planner? 

If your Math ACT score was 17 or below, you are required to take MTH0003 Developmental Mathematics in your first semester. MTH0003 does not fulfill any of the Mathematics requirements for graduation. It can be taken concurrently with MTH1012 Organizational and Personal Finance (recommended) or before taking any other general education math courses.

Where do I find course descriptions?

See the MLC 2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog.

How many credits may I schedule?  

Students may not take more than 18 credit hours per semester. Pre-Seminary students normally take five (5) courses of 3 or more credits per semester. You must be scheduled for 12 credits per semester in your program to be considered full-time. (Note: those receiving the Minnesota State Grant must be scheduled for 15 credits in their program to receive the full benefit.)

May I audit courses?  

Yes, beyond 18 credit hours, students may audit courses up to 21 total credit/audit hours. Students often audit choir, Wind Symphony, etc., after they have reached 18 credits. (Audits do not earn credit. Refer to the 2025-26 Undergraduate Catalog [pg. 30] for audit policies.) 

Are my AP credits reflected in my Program Plan?  

In most cases, yes—though these credits are “pending” until MLC receives official notification from the College Board of tests taken and scores received. If you expect to receive AP credits, check your MLC Portal Unofficial Transcript after July 8. Once official notification of AP credit is received and processed, this will automatically show up in your Program Plan. Please be sure you have requested that your AP scores be sent to MLC. Our AP code is 6435.

Are credits earned from another college reflected in my Program Plan? 

In most cases, yes—though these credits are “pending” until MLC receives and evaluates an official transcript from the college from which you received the credits. If you expect to receive transfer credit from another college, please be sure you have requested that an official transcript from that college be sent to MLC. 

What if I need an additional course to reach five (5) content courses in a semester? 

Consider moving up one of the Gen Ed Science menu or Gen Ed Fine Arts menu courses to fill that spot.

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