Why we love
the Block Schedule
What’s the Block Schedule?
You take one class at a time. It meets every weekday for 3.5 weeks — typically 9 a.m. to noon, for a total of 18 days. We call those sessions “blocks.”
Then you take a four-day break.
And then you do it again: one class, one topic, one immersive learning experience at a time, adding up to four blocks each semester.
5 things to know about the Block Schedule
Learn in lots of different ways
Just like you, your professors also focus on only one class at a time. It allows them to create as many immersive, active learning experiences as they (and you!) can imagine.
No more class juggling
You won’t have the stress of prioritizing homework, papers, and exams for multiple classes.
Time is on your side
You’ll have more uninterrupted time in the afternoons, which makes it easier to get and stay involved in campus activities, athletics, and work experiences.
It can take you anywhere
You can devote an entire block to a customized, short-term study abroad. Or field research. Or an internship or job shadow experience with one of our alumni. We offer grants to make it affordable, too.
You’ll keep moving forward
You learn just as much (and earn as many credits) in one block as you would over the course of a regular semester. If you come in with college credits, you can take advantage of our summer blocks and year-round dorms to graduate sooner.
What does a block schedule look like?
Take a look at the below sample block schedule for a first-year Fashion Marketing and Management major. The Block offers the rare opportunity to focus on what matters: learning, doing, and getting ready for your future. Want to know more? Contact an advisor: academicaffairs@stephens.edu.
How the Block Schedule works
How many times have you finished a course, earned a good grade, and still wondered what you actually learned, why it matters, and how you’ll use it in your professional life?
There’s a better way to learn — and a better way to find your path. Learn what you love and leave behind what you don’t.
How many classes do I take?
You take one class at a time. It meets every weekday for 3.5 weeks — typically 9 a.m. to noon — for a total of 18 days. We call these sessions “blocks.”
How many blocks do I need?
You’ll take up to four blocks per semester for a total of 12 credits, a full-time course load. You’ll have a four-day break between each, and then you do it again: another class on one topic. Students who want to take more than 12 credits can enroll in an online class they can select from a catalog offered by a consortium of private colleges across the nation.
What can I do on my break?
Take a break, of course, whether that means hanging out on campus or participating in one of our Block Break off-campus trips and adventures.
have questions?
Office of Admissions
Stephens College Visitors Center
(573) 876-7207
(573) 876-7237
admissions@stephens.edu1215 E. Broadway, Columbia, MO 65215