Exploratory Major and Exploratory Advising Center Download to print

The Exploratory major affords a tremendous opportunity for students to discover, create, and learn about themselves, majors, and careers. Students who are exploring majors, have yet to select a major, or wish to change their major benefit from the guidance, advising and support offered in the Exploratory Advising Center. Beginning with the required introductory course during the first semester of classes (US 10097 Destination Kent State: First Year Experience), academic advisors and faculty assist students in choosing a focus in one of 14 broad interest areas: general; business; health care; performing arts; sport and recreation; hospitality and tourism; education and teaching; design and visual arts; science and the environment; communication, journalism and media; computers, mathematics and technology;  human services and social sciences; languages, literature and culture; and law, public safety and government.

If students are undecided about a direction after the first semester, they will be encouraged to enroll in Career Construction, a 1-credit hour course designed to facilitate student self-understanding that is translated into incorporating meaningful work into a satisfying and productive lifestyle. For students who remain undecided about a major, a second course, Career and Life Planning, is offered to examine strategies that will lead to choosing a major that matches the their life goals.

Each exploratory student is assigned an academic advisor who monitors academic progress and assists the student in choosing a degree program. Academic advisors also encourage students to take advantage of specialized advising, workshops and other university resources in developing career goals and making informed decisions. Exploratory academic advisors are housed in the Exploratory Advising Center; students have a minimum of one required meeting with an advisor each semester during the first year of study.

Because a degree cannot be earned while in the exploratory major, it is important that students declare a major or have an approved plan for major declaration by the time they have earned 45 semester hours to facilitate timely progress toward a degree.