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. 

science student looking at liquid in a glass vessel

How The Program Works

Every Exploring Student who wants guidance in selecting a major will be assigned to Carroll’s Exploring Advisor, who will walk them through self-discovery and academic career discernment on the way to a major or academic area they are passionate about. They will help choose courses, navigate Carroll, and design the most beneficial academic and experiential path.

Individual Appointments

Your Exploring Advisor wants to know you and your interests, skills, values, and goals, and the best way to do that is through individual appointments! Exploring Students must meet with an advisor at least once each semester but are welcome to meet as many times as needed.

Strategic Scheduling

Carroll University has a General Education Core, or Pioneer Core, that gives students a broad foundation across many disciplines. It’s an opportunity to explore your interests across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. The PioCore can help you meet degree requirements while you explore major interests!

Self-Assessments

Typically, the exploring process starts with assessing yourself. Your hobbies, interests, skills, values, goals, strengths and weaknesses, and past academic experiences will help you understand yourself better. All of this information can be used to help you explore majors and find options that are best suited to your goals and style!

About the Program

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

“I’d like to become a trainer for service and therapy dogs.”

— Britany Mueller '21

Read Britany's story

More Resources

Carroll offers many resources and tools to help you find your path. We'll look at personality, value and skills quizzes, databases that match your strengths and preferences to careers, articles on discovering your major and more.

Every Pioneer Needs Guides and Support

Explore Student Services
Panoramic View of campus