Brookings Main Campus
What are my interests? What major is right for me? What about my future career?
If you are uncertain about your major and have questions about career planning, you are not alone. Exploratory studies program for academic and career success is the most common program chosen by SDSU first-year students, and a good fit if you are unsure of your major and career focus. With the exploratory studies program, courses are available to help you reflect, evaluate and identify a major and potential career. In the exploratory studies courses, students explore options by weighing pros and cons of majors and interest areas while applying that knowledge to select a major.
The exploratory studies program offers a series of courses focused on academic and career success to assist students in acclimating to the university and finding a clear direction for their studies. Benefits of the academic and career success courses include:
- Save time and money by finding the right major early in your college career.
- Raise awareness of yet to be discovered majors and careers.
- Utilize career research resources to make an informed major/career decision based on your interests.
- Select a major by the end of the first year at SDSU (on average, 80-90% of exploratory studies students declare a major by the end of their first year).
- Experience greater overall satisfaction with your college experience by focusing on a holistic approach to success.
The exploratory studies program is designed to: assist students with their transition to college, build a strong academic foundation and create and set academic, career and personal goals. SDSU has identified five exploratory studies tracks, which are listed below. When you apply to SDSU, select the track of your choice during the application process. Each track exposes you to distinctive insights about careers and opportunities within related fields of study.
Is this for you?
Exploratory Studies Course Tracks:
- Education, social sciences and management (focusing on working with others).
- Humanities, fine arts and design (developing and creating something meaningful).
- Health sciences (having a career that focuses on helping others).
- Engineering, technology and math (thinking in numbers and working with concrete resources).
- Agriculture and natural sciences (working in a hands-on environment).
In addition to the course ACS 102 Exploratory Studies, students are encouraged to enroll in ACS 119 First Year Seminar and ACS 143 Mastering Lifetime Learning Skills. These courses are designed to help students get started on the right track with studying, managing time and utilizing resources to be successful. The exploratory studies program has more details about the program and tracks.
Email an advisor or call 605-688-4155 to learn more about the exploratory studies program.
Still Deciding?
There are Other Opportunities!
FOCUS 2 Career, a self-guided assessment, education and career planning program, will help you reflect on your values, interests, personality traits, and skills to provide valuable insight as you explore major and career choices. SDSU students may access FOCUS 2 Career by using their student email and password. After completing FOCUS 2 Career, you may find it helpful to discuss your results with a career coach in the Office of Career Development.