Why Exploratory?
Many students feel pressured to choose a major right away. No sooner have you made the decision to go to college than you are hit with the questions "What are you going to major in?" "What are you going to do with your life?" It can be overwhelming! As a result, many freshmen jump into a major for all the wrong reasons. Someone has told them that there is an open job market for this major. They have heard that they can make a lot of money with this degree. All their friends are majoring in the same thing. Choosing a major in this way ignores the fact that a student may not have any interest in the chosen field of study. When students choose a major while ignoring their own values, interests, personality, and skills, they often end up frustrated and unhappy. To compound the problem, at the rate the job market is changing, there is no guarantee that this advice will still ring true by the time they graduate anyway!
At Butler University, we believe that it is best to find a field of study that interests you. Find a field to which you are willing to devote your life. Once you have done that, you can begin to explore all the options within your own field of interests. You can begin to build a life, not just a career.
The Exploratory Studies Program
Exploratory Studies is a structured program aimed at helping students identify interests, explore academic options, gain exposure to the career development process, and gather information about professions that interest them. Students who are undecided or who have multiple interests are encouraged to exercise their intellectual curiosity through a number of programs and classes designed to help them determine their own best course of study. In addition, students receive specialized attention from trained academic advisors who assist the students in their decision-making process.
Services
The Exploratory Studies Program is part of the Learning Resource Center, which exists to support academic success at Butler University. Exploratory Studies offers a number of services to assist students in their academic exploration. In addition to individualized, proactive academic advising, the program offers opportunities for students to take self-assessments, interview faculty members from various disciplines, arrange workplace tours and job shadowing, and attend workshops by guest speakers covering a wide variety of relevant topics. The Exploratory Studies Program works closely with other Butler University departments such as the Center for Career Planning and Development, the Center for Faith and Vocation, the Honors Program, and Programs for Leadership and Service Education to provide students with the opportunity to make informed decisions.