Exploratory Program
Students who wish to investigate a variety of academic disciplines before selecting a major may enter Ithaca College through one of the Exploratory Programs. Students in these programs work one-on-one with dedicated faculty advisors who help them choose courses from the liberal arts and pre-professional curricula at the College and who guide them through the exploration of areas of interest to discern the best course of study.
Students pursue one of four Pathways, designed to introduce them to the academic disciplines in four of the schools at Ithaca College: the School of Business, the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance, the School of Humanities and Sciences, and the Park School of Communications. In this way, students in our Exploratory Programs are well positioned to identify a major and career paths that match their evolving strengths and interests.
Exploratory students are assigned a faculty advisor in their chosen school. This helps ensure frequent contact and the opportunity to build a relationship on which the advisor can offer more specific, individualized academic guidance. Careful planning is necessary to transfer to credit-intensive programs, so exploratory students must consult closely with members of the IC advising support network, including their faculty advisor and the Dean’s office(s) of the respective school(s). Students may remain in the Exploratory programs through the end of the sophomore year, or until they have earned a maximum of 60 credits, at which time they are required to declare a major.
Credits transferred into Ithaca College from AP, IB or another college count toward the 60 credit limit for program participation.
Additional information on pathways programs is available in each school: