May 09, 2025  
2024-2025 University Catalog 
    
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2024-2025 University Catalog

Explorers, DS

Location(s): West Lafayette

About the Program

Exploratory Studies allows you to explore your options and interests before you select a major, giving you plenty of guidance along the way.

You have up to four semesters to select the major that is right for you. We equip you to make informed decisions.

Explore your options … Discover your strengths … Decide

Exploratory Studies
Prospective Students

Exploratory Studies Major Change (CODO) Requirements   

Degree Requirements

Required Courses: (10-12 credits)

Other Departmental/Program Course Requirements

  • Oral Communication Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures Humanities Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-5.00
  • Science Selective - Credit Hours: 1.00-4.00
  • Science, Technology & Society Selective or Major Course  - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Written Communication Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00

University Requirements

University Core Requirements

For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC) 

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

To obtain the Civics Literacy Proficiency, students will complete an educational activity as part of their chosen Civics Literacy Pathway and pass the Purdue Civics knowledge test.  The knowledge test can be completed at any time while the pathway is being perused.  There are three different pathways:

  • Civics Event pathway - Attend six approved civics-related events and pass the required exam; or
  • Civics Literacy Podcast pathway - Complete 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship & Engagement that use C-SPAN material and pass the required exam; or
  • Approved course pathway - Complete  one of the following approved courses and pass the required exam.

More details about each pathway and how to complete the requirement can be found on the Civics Literacy Student Dashboard in myPurdue.

Upper Level Requirement

  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Program Requirements

Fall 1st Year

  • Credits: 3.00
  • Quantitative Reasoning Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-5.00
  • Written Communication Selective or Oral Communication Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Human Cultures Humanities Selective or Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science Selective or Science, Technology & SocietySelective or Intro to Major Course - Credit Hours: 1.00-4.00

13-19 Credits

Spring 1st Year

  • Written Communication Selective or Oral Communication Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Human Cultures Humanities Selective or Human Cultures Behavioral/Social Science  Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Science Selective or Science, Technology & Society Selective or Major Course  - Credit Hours: 3.00-4.00
  • Major Course - Credit Hours: 3.00
  • Major Course - Credit Hours: 3.00

15-17 Credits

Disclaimer

The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student. The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.

Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.