Exploratory Studies

The program is designed to support all students; however, it is not the best fit in the following two circumstances:

• Students with extensive Transfer or Dual Enrollment credits: If you enter PennWest having completed most, if not all, of your General Education requirements, your ability to receive federal financial aid may be impacted by the Course Program of Study regulation. This regulation requires that financial aid only cover courses that are officially required for your degree. While Exploratory Studies courses are valuable for exploration, not all of the courses may apply to your final degree plan. This can affect how many semesters of financial aid you have remaining, especially if you enter with a high number or existing credits. That’s why it’s important to speak with your faculty advisor early and often. If you want to learn more, contact the Office of Financial Aid to ensure your aid remains secure and avoid ineligibility.
• Students with 60 or more credits: If you have already earned 60 or more credits, you are no longer eligible for the program. Instead, we encourage you to explore the Interdisciplinary Studies major, which is designed for a customized degree path.

In most cases, starting in the Exploratory Studies program won’t delay graduation. Your first-year courses are intentionally structured around foundational courses or General Education requirements that support all degrees, ensuring your credits count regardless of your final choice.

Good to know: Some majors, like nursing and education, follow a structured sequence of courses starting in the first year. That's why careful planning ensures you're prepared for hands-on experiences like clinical placements or student teaching at the right time in your program, and graduate on time.

Your best defense against delayed graduation:

1. Speak with your faculty advisor: Consistently meet with your faculty advisor to ensure every course you register for will count toward your future major, minor, or General Education requirement.
2. Focus on grades: Maintain good academic standing, as poor grades can necessitate retaking courses and delay your progress.
3. Declare in a timely manner: We encourage students to declare a major once they’ve completed all four program milestones. This ensures the decision is fully informed and allows you to start major-specific courses. Starting these courses on time is a primary factor that impacts time to graduation.

• Exploratory faculty advisors are campus based. Login to Starfish through myPennWest to view your advisor and their contact information.

Your Career Coach is assigned by major. Until you declare, learn who your Exploratory Career Coach is and how you schedule an appointment at the Career Center website.

Alongside FYS 1000, first year students will primarily take General Education courses that satisfy requirements for almost every major at PennWest. This strategy allows you to explore interests and complete credits simultaneously.

PennWest offers a variety of resources to support your major and career exploration, such as:

1. Career Assessments: Your Career Coach will guide you through various assessments to help you learn about careers and related majors that align with your interests, strengths, values, and skills. They will also teach you how to research job market and salary trends, so you feel confident in your path. To learn more, visit the Career Center’s Explore page.
2. Degree Works and “What-If” Report:
   1. You use Degree Works as your main tool for tracking course progress and answering registration questions. To access it, find the "Degree Works" tile on your myPennWest page and click the "Degree Audit" link. Alternatively, if you click on Student Self-Service and go into your Student Profile, you can access Degree Works via a direct link on the left side of the page. Learn more about Degree Works on our Degree Works FAQs page.
   2. The "What-If" Report is a powerful feature within Degree Works letting you instantly run reports that show you how your completed classes, currently registered courses, or future courses would apply to any major at PennWest, helping you compare your options side-by-side. Your faculty advisor can walk you through how to choose the "What-If" option at the top right of the audit when you meet with them. For a step-by-step guide with screenshots, view the What-If Tool PDF Guide.
3. FYS 1000: In your first-year seminar course, you will interact with students from a variety of majors and make cross-disciplinary connections.
4. Faculty Mentorship: You are mentored by various faculty members to include their Exploratory faculty advisor, first year seminar instructor, and have access to discipline specific faculty to further major and career exploration.

You can remain in Exploratory until you have earned 60 credits. At that time, you must declare a major following the changing your major process. If you do not declare a major, you will be placed into the Interdisciplinary Studies major, where you will work to complete a degree on time.

You can change your major at any time but must declare by 60 credits. If you do not declare a major, you will be placed into the Interdisciplinary Studies major, where you will work to complete a degree on time. We encourage you to declare a major once you’ve completed all four program milestones. This ensures the decision is fully informed and that you stay on track to earn a degree (in most programs) in a timely manner.

Follow the directions listed on the changing your major webpage to learn more.

Faculty advisors will work with you to maximize the value of your prior coursework by showing you exactly how your existing credits fit into PennWest's degree paths. If your courses are spread across many subjects, or you’ve earned 60 or more credits, your advisor will introduce you to the Interdisciplinary Studies major, a flexible option designed to combine diverse credits into a customized degree, ensuring you graduate as efficiently as possible.

PennWest offers a comprehensive selection of over 100 academic programs, covering everything from health sciences and business to education and STEM fields. For the most up-to-date listing, visit our Academic Programs page.