Exploring CAS

Our unique program for students who are still exploring their options for a major provides you with the opportunity for guided exploration and reflection that sets them on the course for success!

Your early years at Quinnipiac are a time for exploration! Beginning with a required class designed around guided exploration, and supported by numerous additional resources and highly trained staff, you receive focused, individualized attention from your first day on campus.

Some students worry they are alone in not knowing what they want to choose as a major. Actually, more incoming freshmen join the Exploring CAS program each fall than any other single College of Arts and Sciences major. And many students who do begin their first year with a declared major end up changing it later, sometimes multiple times. It is very common to be unsure what you want to focus on at first, so the Exploring CAS program provides a perfect platform to begin exploring your values and interests while simultaneously completing general education requirements you’ll need regardless of which major you eventually choose.

The Exploring CAS Program encourages you to be very intentional about how you explore. Even without a declared major, it is important to begin your university studies with a plan in mind – how will you explore your interests? What steps will you take to determine a major? How will you explore what you want to do after graduation? How will you find out who to speak with to discuss possibilities? When do you plan to declare a major? The program is designed to help you pursue answers to these questions, but ultimately your exploration and decisions are up to you. A strong personal plan of how you intend to approach your exploration and ultimate decision on a major and beyond is essential to your academic and professional satisfaction and success.

To start, take some time to understand how our process works. We’ve built our 360 Advising Process based on the idea that every experience you have can have an impact on your academic journey and your career. The process of exploration, implementation, and reflection is central to the idea of 360 advising. Each experience becomes a point of learning that helps you evaluate your development as a student and as a person; helps you understand your values, interests and goals; and helps you make informed choices about your academic and career options during your time here and beyond. Check out our 360 Navigator for some tips on how to get started with this process during your first and second years.

  • Advising Commons
    Our Advising Commons is open to all CAS students to help them with questions related to their academic and career success. The Advising Commons is staffed in part by a group of Advising Support Consultants who are specially trained to work with exploring students.
  • What Classes Should I Take?

    Start by checking out the details of the CAS Curriculum, and learning more about the CAS required courses. You can also browse some of our Featured Classes highlighted by our faculty.

    Not sure what is studied in certain areas? Check out the this interactive tool for a better idea about the disciplines in the University Curriculum

  • What Are The Requirements For…?
    Check out the CAS Advising Manual for answers to questions about course requirements, transfer credits, language requirements, and other things to consider as you plan your academic path.
  • How Do My Academic Choices Influence My Career Choices?
    Not sure where your interest in certain academic subjects might take you? Check out What Can I Do With This Major? to see typical career paths by academic major. If you want to explore in more depth, use all our exploration tools to get an even better perspective about the intersection between academic study, career paths, and job functions.
  • Explore Majors

    Not sure what you want to major in yet? Browse through our Academic Communities to get a feel for some of the options available to you.

    Want to get a feel for what courses you might take in a certain major? Take a look at our first semester course selection sheets for each major.

  • Get Involved On Campus
    You should consider being involved with something on campus during your entire academic career. Student organizations and activities are a great way for first year and sophomores to build skills that will help them get noticed as they seek internships.
  • Explore Career Paths
    Use the MyNextMove tool to get a better understanding of career paths that might suit your interests and skills. Check out the various tools available on LinkedIn and some of our alumni stories that can help you explore the paths taken by previous QU students. Gain an understanding of what skills employers will seek from you in the future so you can begin thinking about how to prepare during your time here. Check out the tools and leadership profiles on Roadtrip Nation as another way to consider how to match your values and interests to future careers.
  • Explore Opportunities to Gain Experience
    Check out our information on how to get started finding an internship, engaging in research, and other experiential learning opportunities!

Sidebar

Announcements

Featured Resources

The DEI certificate will help students to learn about a broad variety of human experiences with a primary focus on …

Student Spotlights