Students in an honors media seminar.
Go ahead -- experiment.
Perhaps you're not sure yet which field you want to pursue. You're not alone: each year about 20 percent of our incoming class (including 40 percent of new students in humanities and sciences) decides to enter Ithaca as part of the Exploratory Program. This flexible option lets you take courses in a variety of fields, not only in the liberal arts but in our professional schools as well. You'll follow your interests, learn more about yourself, find new enthusiasms -- and discover the major that's right for you.
Faculty advisers, well versed in the issues faced by exploratory students, will help you in everything from choosing and registering for courses to identifying a career path that matches your evolving interests.
While you're exploring and sampling, you'll be fulfilling core requirements for graduation, no matter which major you declare. Just like all liberal arts students, you'll complete general education requirements, selecting from a broad group of courses designed to spark your curiosity, challenge your intellect, and provide a thorough foundation for the focused study of a major. And if you decide on a major in one of our professional schools, you'll still be fulfilling liberal arts requirements for graduation.
Although many exploratory students decide on a major by the end of the first year, we give you up to four semesters to make the choice that's right for you -- we want you to find a course of study about which you can be passionate and enthusiastic.