Advisor Review: Exploratory Students at UF

Advisor Liz Kazungu serves as chair of the exploratory committee in UF's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  This committee works to provide students who have not decided on a major with the information and resources they need to make timely and well informed decisions.

by Liz Kazungu

With the 2012-13 Academic Year just around the corner, I thought it would be a good idea to offer a review of how exploratory majors work.  To start, entering freshmen who aren’t certain about their major can declare one of three exploratory categories that most closely represents the major(s) they are considering:  Exploring Humanities and Letters, Exploring Science and Engineering, or Exploring Social and Behavioral Sciences.  Likewise, students who are having second thoughts about their declared major can change to one of these exploratory categories.  Students can remain in an exploratory major for the first three fall/spring semesters only (not counting summer).  Unless a student is attending part-time or withdraws from one of her first three terms, there are no exceptions to this policy.  By the end of the third semester--before registering for their fourth--exploratory students must declare a major.  As an example, students who entered UF as freshmen in Summer B or Fall 2011 must declare a major before they can register for Spring 2013. 

During their first three semesters, exploratory students should actively explore possible majors, narrow their choices, regularly meet with advisors who advise for the majors they are considering, and take tracking courses for their prospective majors.  When meeting with exploratory students, advisors should stress the importance of critical tracking and help them assess 1) if the majors they are considering are realistic and, if not, what alternative majors are there and what are their tracking requirements and 2) how they should schedule their summer and third fall term so they are prepared to declare a major by the end of fall.  A common mistake exploratory students make is taking only general education courses until they decide on a major.  Unfortunately, this strategy can leave them unprepared to declare a major at the end of their third term. 

Choosing a major can be a difficult decision, but there are various resources available to help students make that decision.  Since exploratory majors are classified under Liberal Arts and Sciences, my college hosts workshops and offers an exploratory website that features a host of resources.  In addition, you can contact us via email, call (352) 392-1521, or refer students to 100 Farrior Hall.  Also, please encourage exploratory students to review the CRC website or visit them on the first floor of the Reitz Union.  The CRC offers one-on-one career planning sessions, online major and career assessments (CHOMP), as well as workshops that can help them with their decision-making.

As an informed community, I'm certain that UF will help exploratory students find their way!