Academic Pathfinders Program

Students who enter the College of Arts and Sciences without a major declared are placed in the Academic Pathfinders Program, which is designed to help students build on their individual strengths and explore the academic avenue best suited to their interests. The associate dean oversees this program and all academic advising for the College of Arts and Sciences.

The program matches undeclared students with academic advisers trained to work with them on exploring different majors and career paths. A Fall semester "brainstormer" walks participants through the University Curriculum requirements and connects them with the department chairs and pertinent introductory courses in each College of Arts and Sciences major. A Spring semester presentation by upperclassmen from each major introduces the peer view, which results in undeclared students being paired with student in the particular majors that interest them.

Pathfinders declare a major and leave the program by the end of the sophomore year, when they are assigned an academic adviser in that discipline. Students are encouraged to meet with the associate dean in addition to their adviser at any time during their academic exploratory process.

"As an undeclared student, my adviser helped me figure out what I was most interested in. Once I declared a major, my new adviser helped me think seriously about career goals. Overall, the advising was excellent, with a support system that last four years." - Rosa Nieves '06 (sociology major)