{"id":938,"date":"2015-05-13T16:27:05","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T23:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/new-advising\/?page_id=938"},"modified":"2025-11-17T16:14:53","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T00:14:53","slug":"exploratory-advising","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/exploratory-advising\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploratory Advising"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/files\/2019\/09\/redBG.gif” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_margin=”||-85px|||” custom_padding=”9px||20px||false|false” bottom_divider_color=”#db0a29″ bottom_divider_height=”44px” bottom_divider_repeat=”2x” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”60px||43px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”30px||25px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”20px||15px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font_size=”46px” header_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_font_size_phone=”26px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Exploratory Studies<\/h1>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” top_divider_color=”#db0a29″ top_divider_height=”98px” bottom_divider_color=”#db0a29″ bottom_divider_arrangement=”above_content” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ background_image=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/files\/2022\/12\/Drone-shot-of-WOU-campus-1.jpg” parallax=”on” parallax_method=”off” custom_margin=”|auto||auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”105px|5%|105px|5%|true|true” custom_padding_tablet=”45px||||false|true” custom_padding_phone=”0px||||false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”rgba(221,221,221,0.82)” custom_margin=”0px||||false|false” custom_padding=”17px|6px|13px|6px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]
\n
\n

About the Exploratory Pathway<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Western Oregon University and Student Success & Advising (SSA) welcome students who have not yet decided on a major or minor. Exploration of all that the university has to offer is encouraged. Numerous campus resources are available to support students as they navigate their educational, career, and personal journeys.<\/p>\n

The Exploratory Pathway is divided into four stages: Self Exploration, Major Exploration, Career Exploration, and Decision Making. Students are encouraged to invest time and effort in examining their interests, values, skills, and aspirations, and to align these with their educational and occupational goals. Ultimately, the choice of major and career path belongs to each student. Advisors in SSA are here to guide and support students along their pathway to selecting a major.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4″ module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FFFFFF” min_height=”606.2px” custom_margin=”|427px||auto||” custom_padding=”48px|72px|20px|42px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Self Exploration” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||400″ icon_color=”#a7a9ac” image_icon_background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#db0a29″ body_text_align=”center” body_font_size=”15px” body_line_height=”1.3em” width=”89.8%” custom_margin=”|||43px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]

To better engage in the major and career exploration process, it is important to first identify personal skills, interests, and values. Self-exploration is the first step toward making a well-informed decision on a major that best aligns with individual values, skills, and preferences.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/exploring-who-you-are\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Self Exploration Resources” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#db0a29″ button_border_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” button_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”-19px|||26px|false|false” custom_padding=”12px|10px|13px|6px|false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Major Exploration” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||fa||900″ icon_color=”#a7a9ac” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h1″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#db0a29″ header_font_size=”21px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Choosing a major can involve planning, researching, and weighing your options. The first step in exploring majors is to check out what WOU has to offer. The<\/span> Academic Catalog<\/span><\/a><\/span> can provide students with information about the majors and minors offered at WOU.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/exploring-majors\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Major Exploration Resources” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#db0a29″ button_border_width=”1px” button_border_radius=”5px” button_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”-12px||0px|-2px|false|false” custom_padding=”16px|8px|16px|8px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Career Exploration” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”||divi||400″ icon_color=”#a7a9ac” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#db0429″ body_font_size=”15px” body_line_height=”1.3em” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]

When exploring careers, it is important to devote time to thoroughly researching available options. Evaluate the aspects of each career to determine how well they align with individual values and preferences. Campus resources such as the <\/span>Center for Professional Pathways<\/span><\/a><\/span> or Student Success and Advising.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/exploring-careers\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Career Exploration Resources” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#db0a29″ button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”-23px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”16px|6px|16px|5px|true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_blurb title=”Decision Making” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”+||divi||400″ icon_color=”#a7a9ac” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_level=”h2″ header_font=”|700|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#db0a29″ body_line_height=”1.3em” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”|41px|||false|false” custom_padding=”||2px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]

Choosing a major requires making a well-informed and thought out descison. Information gathered from Self Exploration, Major Exploration, and Career Exploration can be valuable when it comes to deciding on a major.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/wou.edu\/advising\/decision-making-process\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”Decision Making Resources” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”18px” button_text_color=”#FFFFFF” button_bg_color=”#db0a29″ button_border_radius=”6px” button_font=”|600|||||||” custom_margin=”10px|29px|0px||false|false” custom_padding=”16px|8px|16px|9px|true|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.4″ _module_preset=”default” bottom_divider_style=”arrow2″ bottom_divider_color=”#db0a29″ bottom_divider_height=”122px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exploratory Studies About the Exploratory Pathway…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":506,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"homepage-wou.php","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%% | %%sitetitle%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"WOU\u2019s Exploratory Advising (Student Success & Advising) supports students who haven\u2019t picked a major. They guide you through self\u2011exploration, major\/career research, and decision-making.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Exploratory Advising<\/span>\nWestern Oregon University and the Student Success and Advising office (SSA) welcomes students who have not decided on a major or minor. In fact, we encourage you to explore all that our university has to offer. There are numerous campus resources to assist and educate you as you move forward in your educational, career, and life journey.\n\nStart your journey by investing in yourself and actively engaging in the exploration process: taking a personality assessment, or making an appointment with an academic advisor or career counselor to help guide you along your pathway to a major.\n

Exploratory Quick Facts:<\/h3>\n