SEMESTER 1 (Summer or Fall)
Orientation Advising
At the very first academic advising session held at Orientation, Exploratory students are asked to identify their top areas of academic interest. Every student receives individualized attention from an academic advisor who crafts schedules that blend academic exploration with Liberal Studies and Term 1 Mapping requirements for majors under serious consideration.
Exploratory Kick-Off Event
This event, held during the first or second week of the semester, provides a complete picture of the freshman Exploratory experience. Students are made aware of the program requirements, expectations for engagement, and receive major selection materials. Exploratory students connect with their assigned academic advisor and schedule their first Nole Call academic advising meeting.
Nole Call Meeting
The Nole Call meeting is the mandatory advising session where the academic advisor reviews the completed Choosing A Major or Occupation Guide and online assessment results. This information is then translated into a list of potential majors, and the student is charged with tangible action steps to fully explore their customized major and career options.
Pizza and a Major Workshop Series
This signature workshop series (fall semesters only) offers innovative and interactive programming to engage students in their exploration. Each week targets one of the three phases of discovery (self, major and career). Students fully participate in this fun learning opportunity, which always concludes with free pizza. Past activities have included Major Jeopardy, Career Scavenger Hunt, Pack Your Values, Speed Communicating, and Vision Boarding.
Spring Registration Meeting
At this session, students discuss their thoughts and reactions from their initial action steps and present their narrowed list of majors. The academic advisor recommends specific coursework for the spring semester to further explore these possibilities, as well as a new set of major/career related action steps for deeper exploration.
(Note: Summer Admits)
Students admitted for the summer session can get a jumpstart on their exploration by attending a summer Exploratory kick-off event and complete their Nole Call advising appointment. The July Jumpstart event also offers a variety of hands-on experiences to introduce new Noles to self, major, and career exploration. Summer students who do not complete their Nole Call appointment in the summer must schedule this mandatory advising appointment for the fall semester.
SEMESTER 2 (Spring)
Nole Pass
The Nole Pass includes ten specific events/tasks identified by the Exploratory advising team proven to deepen the major discovery process. Students are required to complete three actions on the list prior to their next advising meeting. Actions include an informational interview with an employer in a field of interest, a meeting with an academic advisor/faculty member in a potential major, a visit to the FSU Career Center, attendance at one of six area-specific Career Panel Discussions, and many more.
Career Panels
Faculty, professionals, and upper-division students are invited to talk candidly and share their personal narratives, advice, and information on choosing a major or career. Various themes include: Business related, Communication and Information, Social Sciences and Humanities, STEM, Education and Helping Professions, and Creative Arts.
Summer and Fall Advising Meetings
By this point, many Exploratory students have declared their majors with confidence, however, students who require additional time may stay in the major through fall of their sophomore year. These meetings are designed to address any remaining challenges with choosing a departmental major, or prepare students to enroll in any final prerequisites needed for admittance into their major of choice.
(Note: Spring Admits)
Exploratory students starting FSU in the spring semester will start the Exploratory process with their mandatory Nole Call appointment this semester – see Semester 1 details.
BEYOND SEMESTER 2
Sophomore Exploratory Advising
Students remaining in the Exploratory major beyond their freshman year into term 3 will be assigned to an Advising First advisor in UCA 3200 (Center for Academic Planning) and receive specialized sophomore support. This group includes students who are “re-deciding” or began in a departmental major, but for various reasons require assistance with selecting a new major.