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About Exploring and Focus Areas

Exploratory Advising is designed for students who are in the process of discovering their academic and career interests before committing a specific major. Exploratory Advising provides personalized guidance and support to help students identify their strengths, values, and goals, enabling them to make informed decisions about their future.

To earn a degree, students must choose a major and complete the necessary degree requirements for that field of study. 

USU uses Focus Areas to help students explore degrees with purpose. The Focus Areas below support intentional exploration and academic planning, allowing students to choose a path aligned with their strengths, interests, and goals. Professional advisors are available to help students connect these interests to a major.

College offers a wide range of possibilities. Exploratory Advisors will help students choose courses that align with their interests and satisfy degree requirements. While each degree plan will vary, all of them will include a foundation of general education courses.

Advising for First-Year Exploratory Students

For first-semester students, a course load of 12 to 15 credits is recommended. The following schedule is an example:

Year 1

Fall Semester (14 credits)

Spring Semester (15 credits)

  • Communications literacy (CL2) - ENGL 2010 or ENGL 2020 (3 credits)

  • Quantitative Literacy (QL) – (3-5 credits)

  • Breadth Requirement (3 credits)

  • Elective course (3 credits)

  • Elective course (3 credits)

To make an appointment with an Exploratory Advisor, select the Focus Area and the campus location where the student will be attending Utah State.