Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will I still be able to graduate on time?
Yes! The Exploratory Program at Ithaca College has been explicitly designed to ensure that students do not fall behind in meeting the requirements for graduation. All students in the School of Humanities and Sciences must complete 33 general education requirements during their course of study. Exploratory Program advisers guide students through the registration process each semester to ensure that they are making adequate progress. What's more, students often discover that classes they take to meet these general education requirements lead to the selection of a major or minor.

How does the advising system work? How are courses chosen?
Finding an academic focus can be an uncertain journey, and excellent advising is crucial to the success of the Exploratory Program. All exploratory students are assigned to a faculty adviser who works closely with them to help identify evolving interests and possible areas of study. Advisers guide course selection and provide advice about complementary coursework and opportunities outside the classroom. Ithaca Seminar instructors serve as academic advisers for exploratory students, which ensures that there is frequent and meaningful contact with faculty advisers who are specially attuned to first-year students' concerns.

Can I choose a major outside the School of Humanities and Sciences?
Certainly. In recent years, about 40 percent of all exploratory students chose a major outside the School of Humanities and Sciences. Students may apply for a transfer to the Schools of Business, Communications, Health Sciences and Human Performance, or Music.

Will general education courses apply to majors in others schools at Ithaca College?
Yes. General education courses count as liberal arts electives for most majors outside the School of Humanities and Sciences.

If I transfer to another school at Ithaca College, what are the deadlines and criteria?
Each school at Ithaca College has its own internal transfer criteria and deadlines. Exploratory students can find this information in the introductory section for each school in the undergraduate catalog. Students who wish to transfer from the Exploratory Program to another school work closely with faculty advisers and the Office of Academic Advising throughout the process.

Will I be able to study abroad and still finish on time?
Yes. Studying abroad and interacting with other cultures can be an extremely valuable and rewarding aspect of a liberal arts education. Exploratory students may choose from the same wide range of study-abroad opportunities as any other Ithaca College student. For any major, careful planning is necessary for students who plan to study abroad. They will work with their adviser and the Office of International Programs staff to explore study-abroad options and plan semester schedules.

How do I find out more?
For any other questions, contact the Exploratory Program director or the Office of Admission. They are happy to answer questions about the Exploratory Program.

Exploratory Program Director
Kathy Lucas
Assistant Dean for Student Services
School of Humanities and Sciences
201 Muller Center
Ithaca, NY 14850
607-274-3102
lucas@ithaca.edu

Office of Admission
Ithaca College
Peggy Ryan Williams Center
Ithaca, NY 14850
800-429-4274 or 607-274-3124
www.ithaca.edu/admission