Move to Semesters Coming Soon

The countdown is on.

In less than a year, Seattle University will make the move from a quarter-based academic calendar to a semester-based system and teams across campus continue to be hard at work preparing for the shift.

The transition, which starts in summer 2027, will better support student success, academic flexibility and access to opportunities including internships, education abroad and graduate program opportunities nationwide.

Moving to semesters will align SU with the academic structure used by most U.S. colleges and universities and position Seattle University for long-term growth. Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University and the SU School of Law already operate on a semester calendar.

The change was carefully planned with input from faculty, staff and students with a focus on ensuring academic quality, continuity and student support. Staff is also working to raise awareness of the local Capitol Hill/First Hill community that students will be on campus longer than they had been in the past, which could impact housing/rentals, traffic and other logistics in the area.

By offering a longer academic term, students will have more time to engage deeper with course work and recover from early challenges. It will simplify degree planning, educational opportunities and advising, helping students move toward their broader academic and professional goals.

“The move to semesters is an exciting change for SU,” says Kevin Krycka, director of Academic Calendar Conversion. “Faculty and staff have been hard at work for over a year now and doing an amazing job. Courses are being migrated and workflows are being reshaped to our new academic rhythm, all with the goal improving student experience and success. It’s a big lift for everyone and we’re well on our way to our first semester in summer 2027.”

What’s Changing

While SU’s commitment to academic excellence and a values-based education will stay the same, there will also be some changes. This includes:

• Academic calendars will follow a fall/spring rhythm (see our 2027-2028 Unified Semester Academic Calendar).
• Greater opportunity for early graduate admission to Seattle University's law school through accelerated undergraduate pathways.
• Cornish students will be able to pursue a wider range of courses in our other schools and colleges. Conversely, students on the First Hill campus will be able to enroll in arts courses at the South Lake Union campus.
• Summer sessions will offer flexible options including access to more internships and education abroad.

None of these changes will impact the university’s academic quality and rigor and faculty will continue to provide mentorship and opportunities including experiential learning and whole-person education.

Programs are being thoughtfully converted to semesters to ensure learning outcomes remain strong and coherent within the semester format, while providing students with a clear path to complete their programs efficiently through a mix of quarter and semester classes.

A seamless transition for students has been vital to the planned move. Academic advisors are prepared to ensure every student understands their path, including individualized planning, guidance on internships, summer experiences and education abroad and support in understanding transfer credits and requirements.

Learn more about the move to semesters.