Undergraduate Education

First Year Exploratory Program

A first-year experience that focuses on career exploration while advising and supporting students who are considering their degree options at USF St. Petersburg. Students will focus on satisfying the General Education requirements, which are needed for any major at USF. In addition, students participate in workshops and experiential activities designed to explore their passions and connect them to their academic journey.

As a first-year student who may be unsure of what to major in, the Exploratory Curriculum (ECM) may be for you. ECM allows students to register for up to 36 credit hours before they must officially declare a major.

Students declared in ECM focus on satisfying General Education requirements, needed in any USF major, and take classes to explore major(s) of interest. In addition, Exploratory
Curriculum students are required to complete IDS 2378, Foundations of Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Inquiry, in their first Fall or Spring semester to help in decision making and help complete a Communications General Education requirement.

Academic pathways in our Exploratory Curriculum include:

Being an exploratory student is more than just taking a class; program features include:

  • Individualized, holistic, and developmental academic advising.
  • Use of career coaching to discover academic options and plan for the post-
    baccalaureate years.
  • Engagement with success coaches to identify goals unique to you, map a path to success, connect with resources to support your journey, and have an accountability buddy to make sure you stay on track as you navigate university life.

Want more information? Contact Sheila Goethe, the ECM STP Academic Advisor.