The Exploratory Curriculum (ECM) allows USF students to register for up to 36 credit hours before they must officially declare a major. During this time, they will focus on satisfying the State and USF General Education requirements, which are needed for any major at USF. These courses are a great way to learn about career fields and academic disciplines that students may not be familiar with yet.
The cornerstone of the Exploratory Curriculum (ECM) is the customized student success course entitled U-Decide, a first-year experience course with a significant major/career exploration component (offered as IDS 2378 - Critical Thinking: Foundations of Interdisciplinary Knowledge and Inquiry ). The goal of the course and the Exploratory Curriculum experience is to equip students with the ability to make decisions regarding their future. The economic and career landscape is always changing, and this new generation of students needs to be able to adapt at a much higher rate than previous generations.
Disclaimer: The Exploratory program is not a major from which you can graduate. During the program, a student will focus on satisfying the Enhanced General Education (Gen Ed.) requirements, which are needed for any major at USF. These courses are a great way to learn about career fields and academic disciplines that you may not be familiar with yet while staying on path for a timely graduation.
