Program Overview

Exploratory Program

Overview

The Exploratory pre-major affords a tremendous opportunity for students to engage in meaningful and experience-driven self-discovery — leading to confidence in themselves and their major declaration. Students benefit from the guidance, advising, and support offered in the Exploratory program.

Admissions

• First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum, and grade trends.
• First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent.
• International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program.
• Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing, and Enrollment Center.
• Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students.

Coursework

• Program Requirements:
  • UC 10001: FLASHES 101 (1 credit hour)
  • Exploratory Electives (8 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Composition (6 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Humanities (9 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Social Sciences (6 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Basic Sciences (6-7 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Additional (6 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 45

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history.

• Semester One:
  • UC 10001: FLASHES 101 (1 credit hour)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
• Semester Two:
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Exploratory Elective (3 credit hours)
• Semester Three:
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Kent Core Requirement (3 credit hours)
  • Exploratory Electives (5 credit hours)

Program Learning Outcomes

Completers of this program will be able to:

1. Identify their majors of interest.
2. Relate their major interests to future career possibilities.
3. Develop meaningful relationships within the Exploratory community.
4. Identify available resources and support for individual success.
5. Report feeling confident about declaring their major.

Full Description

The Exploratory pre-major does not lead to a degree. Students must declare a degree-granting major by the time they have earned 45 credit hours at Kent State University.

The Exploratory pre-major is housed in the Exploratory Advising Center. The Exploratory Advising Center values the following:

1. Validating and celebrating the uniqueness of each student
2. Relationship-building and authentic conversations
3. Openness to learning and curiosity
4. Building resiliency and confidence in decision-making
5. Being present in the now and being open to future possibilities

The Exploratory pre-major may be a good fit for students who are:

• Undecided in a major of interest
• Looking to take time to make an informed decision
• Wanting to gain a better understanding of themselves
• Looking to discover different career possibilities
• Wanting to build confidence in decision making

Exploratory students meet with their assigned exploratory advisor at least once a semester. These expert academic advisors are focused on partnering with the student. This partnership includes guiding students through their personalized exploration plan, keeping them on track to declare their major (and staying on track to graduate as planned), and celebrating their major declaration and graduation.