Exploratory Studies

Department Contact:

Center for Academic Success
Dr. Renee Bernard, rbernard@francis.edu

Program Description:

Exploratory Studies is designed to help students in their academic and career exploration process, including self-discovery, self-assessment, exploring various careers, and creating an academic plan. This is a temporary declaration and students are encouraged to declare a major by the end of their fourth full-time semester. Students are not able to graduate with exploratory studies designation. When students declare a major, they then follow the catalog requirements at the time of formal change, in accordance with the change of major policy.

There are six different tracks students can choose from:

1. Arts, Humanities, and Culture
2. Business, Industry, & Communications
3. Discovery
4. Education and Public Service
5. Health and Human Services
6. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Students are encouraged to choose at least one of these tracks. The discovery track is designed for students who want to explore various tracks.

Student Learning Outcomes:

The learning outcomes include:

• Develop research and critical thinking skills by learning how to find, use, evaluate, and apply multiple resources and knowledge related to academic and career decision making;
• Integrate self-assessment results and the influence and impact on academic and career choice;
• Acquire significant knowledge of the processes and tools available for exploring potential majors and careers, including the development of short and long-term action plans for academic and career pursuit;
• Understand and utilize personal, academic, and career resources offered by the University to support personal and academic success;
• Identify and apply effective approaches to time management, goal setting, critical thinking, and written and verbal communication.