FUTURE OPTIONS and CHOICES for UNDECLARED STUDENTS

Fall 2003 Focus students

The FOCUS Program was designed by the academic specialists in Student Academic Affairs to broaden the range of opportunities available for undeclared freshmen. The objective of this program is to provide students with information and resources so that an informed choice of major can be made. The program is unique in that it is academically based. That is, students in the program are registered for a three-credit, core psychology course, Self-Management:Theory and Application, the first semester and a one-credit career-planning course the second semester. The FOCUS section of the psychology course provides supplementary information so that in addition to learning the content of the course, the emphasis in the first semester is on exploring possible majors and their requirements. The emphasis in the second semester is on further exploration of majors and the career possibilities attached to those majors through the Career Planning and Decision-Making course. FOCUS students become part of a living/learning community. They are housed in the same residential building and have a common freshman mentor. The mentor is an adult professional who works closely with the FOCUS team to provide extra-curricular activities that support their decision- making process. The program does not guarantee nor does it expect that students will choose a major during their first year. Our research indicates that students often declare a major with little information about the major, its requirements and its link to potential careers. The FOCUS Program attempts to address that information gap.