You are in good company!
Uncertainty about your major is common: 20% of first-year students enter CSU as Exploratory students. Over half of CSU students who enter with a declared major change their major at least once before graduation.
Explore intentionally
Entering CSU as an Exploratory student is not a liability if you engage in exploration from the start and work strategically with your Academic Success Coordinator (ASC). Being engaged early in exploration is key.
Support along the way
Academic advising is a critical component of every student’s college experience. Academic Success Coordinators (ASCs) provide professional support and work with you to incorporate your goals, interests, and abilities into a semester schedule.
Fall 2025
Hours of Operation
9:00am -4:30pm Monday – Friday
Please note: The University is closed November 24-28, 2025 for Fall Break
Schedule an appointment with an Exploratory Studies advisor.
Explore Majors using the Major Tracks!
Narrow your options. Learn more. Be prepared for your advising appointment.
Use the Major Track curriculum guides to brainstorm class options for in future terms!
https://exploratorystudies.colostate.edu/how-do-you-explore-majors/exploring-majors/
Seeking a competitive major?
https://exploratorystudies.colostate.edu/how-do-you-explore-majors/exploring-majors/competitive-majors/
New and returning CSU students – how to connect with us.
Canvas: Make sure you are connected to us on Canvas, so that you get our weekly advising and student success tips, notifications of major exploration opportunities, and more.
RAMweb: Your assigned advisor will be listed on your RAMweb homepage.
CSU email: Get in the habit of checking your CSU email at least once a day. This will be the primary way your advisor communicates with you about when to book advising appointments, follow up items from your appointment, and more.
XLC: Exploratory Studies Leadership Council:
Connect with a group of current or former Exploring students to build community, give a voice to Exploring students, and build your leadership skills. Meetings are every other week in the Collaborative for Student Achievement. Follow our account on Instagram for updates: xlcatcsu
Contact Terry.Richardson@colostate.edu for more info or to sign up.
Recommended Course for First Year Exploratory Studies Students
New Student Seminar: Exploring Major Tracks
New Student Seminars are 1 credit, 8 week courses available to new students to assist them with their transition to CSU. Each New Student Seminar course includes an Instructor and an upper-class Peer Facilitator who will assist new students with making connections as part of their new student experience.
In this course, new first-year students will learn about academic and career options within the various major tracks at CSU. Experiential opportunities will allow students to explore academic options and determine how students’ interests, values, skills and identities fit with these options. Within a supportive CSU community of peers, students will also begin identifying their professional and educational goals and how to make the most of their CSU experience.
Advice from former Exploratory Studies students:
The best way to find out what you like is to always try new things and make mistakes. Challenge yourself to get outside your comfort zone and be involved all over campus. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and use those experiences to learn about and better yourself.
Regina Martel
Political Science & Communication Studies double majorIf I could offer one word of advice, it would be this: Relax. Determining a major does NOT pre-determine the entirety of your future. If you can think, really think about what it is that interests you most, you’ll find a way to make it happen, and picking a major will come naturally.
Andrew Cox
Health & Exercise Science majorDon’t be ashamed, or worried that you will not find what your true passion is, because your day will come. It is perfectly normal to not know what to major in. Remember that you have a lot of time to figure out what to do for the rest of your life.
