Exploring Students

Exploring is the largest program on college campuses. By sheer numbers, more than 65% of American students are exploring—discovering and choosing among majors and career paths—during their college years. Carroll's Exploring Program aims to support you in that process. Academic advisors, faculty, and peer mentors will help you develop the skills of self-discovery—without wasting your time, money, or effort.

If you have multiple interests and are struggling to fit them around a specific major, the Exploring Program may be a good fit for you! Our Exploring Program is an academic advising program designed to assist undecided students in selecting a major that suits their personal and academic goals.

As a student in this program, you will take the time you need to make informed decisions about your academic and career path as you prepare to choose a major. You will be supported as you engage in a series of intentional experiences designed to help you create a unique and meaningful undergraduate experience and choose a major that will lead to a satisfying and rewarding degree.

With more than 95 areas of study, starting your journey in the Exploring Program is a smart choice. We have many resources to help you test out your academic interests, connect with faculty and students in majors, and explore possible career paths

• First Semester– Select PioCore courses and dive into your options with a Career and Major Exploration course!

  • CCS100: Cultural Seminar for Exploring Students – CCS100 is required for all incoming freshmen and is designed to support a student’s successful transition into Carroll University, as well as an introduction to cultural awareness and competency. This section of this course explores how cultural norms and attitudes shape people’s relationship with and understanding of work.

  • IDS100: Career and Major Exploration – This course helps students learn and apply career planning, goal setting, and networking strategies that can assist them in selecting a program of study and building networks that support their academic and professional aspirations. A hybrid pedagogical model combines in-person class instruction with self-directed exploratory activities through which students will explore the components that make up their unique vocational personalities and identify methods to nurture these through academic, co-curricular, and professional pursuits.

• End of First Year– By the end of your first year, you should feel ready to make a confident decision about your major; if you are still undecided after completing your first year, you can continue to receive individualized support from your Exploring Advisor.

Recommended Exploring Courses:

Classes in your first year can introduce you to the 95+ areas of study we offer here at Carroll.

Here are some courses that we recommend exploring:

• IDS100: Career and Major Exploration
• IDS200: Career and Job Preparation
• ENG120: Introduction to Professional Writing
• COM101: Principles of Communication
• COM207: Intercultural Communication
• LEA190: Leadership and Personal Effectiveness
• PHI106: Ethics, Values, and Judgment
• PSY101: Introductory Psychology
• SOC101: Introduction to Sociology
• SOC102: Sociology of Social Problems

• Carroll University Catalog
• Pioneer Core Program
• Career Services