First-Year Exploratory Studies

What is an exploratory program?

First-Year Exploratory Studies is designed to provide undecided students with the opportunity to explore Drexel's academic options and interests before selecting a major. Students who enroll in this program complete a one-year, full-time plan of study in their first year and then transfer to a full-time major at Drexel at the end of that year. Whether you have many interests and need guidance in defining your path, or have a path in mind, but want to sharpen your focus, our advising team and faculty can help you succeed.

Not only can you discover what you want to study, you also gain career counseling for your future co-op opportunities and beyond. Similar to any other major at Drexel, you can select a four-year with one co-op, five-year with three co-ops, or a non-co-op option. By harnessing Drexel's professional networks and diverse academic offerings, you can build a future around the subjects and careers that excite you.

Did you know?

Exploratory Statistics: 33% of students change their major at least once; The average worker has 12 jobs in their lifetime; 22% of people change their jobs or careers ever 12 months; those who wait to declare their major are more likely to graduate on time

So, is it better to apply undeclared or have a major? In First-Year Exploratory Studies, you don't do either. Wanting to explore multiple majors and careers is not only common, but it's also beneficial to your future success. According to LinkedIn, the most versatile majors include business administration, marketing, psychology, communication, economics, political science and sociology. By opening up your academic options through First-Year Exploratory Studies, you can start building a well-rounded profile that's attractive to employers and graduate programs — all before declaring a major.

Benefits of an exploratory program

Exploring in your first year is different from enrolling as undeclared. First-Year Exploratory Studies spans multiple colleges across Drexel, giving you the flexibility to truly explore your options. If you enroll undecided within one college, your studies will likely focus on that school only. We offer two academic tracks and custom course schedules based around your unique goals.

The personal advising our program offers also ensures that you stay on track with credits to graduate on time and take the courses most relevant to you. We provide the resources you need to declare a major and find a career fit – including our exploratory courses – FYE 102: Academic Exploration and Planning and FYE 103: Career Exploration and Planning.

Finally, attending Drexel is more than an academic experience, it is a social and personal journey. As many students build friendships and networks in their first year around their major and classmates, we build a community amongst our students to create a sense of belonging at the University.

The First-Year Exploratory Studies program assists and empowers you to:

Examine your academic options
Find the major and career that best suit your goals
Make a smooth and academically sound transition from First-Year Exploratory Studies to your chosen degree program

The Goodwin College staff provides one-on-one guidance as you narrow your academic and career interests. We also help you complete course planning and major selection. This support enables you to make well-informed decisions in selecting the right degree program and career path.

Program Features

Strong developmental academic and career advising
Manageable credit loads to encourage exploration and reflection
Seminar courses that provide guidance and support specific to Exploratory Studies students
Use of campus resources to discover academic options and plan for the post-baccalaureate years
Engagement with peer mentors and other students in the exploratory program as well as in prospective majors