Exploratory
Program Details
More than a third of the students in a typical first-year class at Xavier have not chosen a major, and many more switch majors during their first or second year. As a student in the exploratory program, you’ll work with professors, academic advisors and mentors to discover how your passions and interests relate to majors, careers and industries.
Your first year will include opportunities to register for intro-level and core curriculum courses in majors and subjects that interest you. You’ll also have access to a wide-range of career exploration resources, including staff at Xavier’s Career Development Office, career assessments and self-guided courses. By your sophomore year, you’ll have all the information and support needed to declare one or more of Xavier’s 80+ academic programs.
Xavier University, located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is nationally recognized as a top university by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. 99 percent of our students are working, volunteering or in graduate school within six months of graduation (Class of 2022).
Success Model
Xavier University offers a unique ecosystem of support for students through our Student Success Model. Through this model, every student has their own
- Success Coach to act as a quarterback to help through the transition and adjustment to college life
- Academic Advisor who is typically a faculty member to assist with course selection and an academic plan
- Career Coach to assist with resume development, career fair preparation, and building professional connections to employers and internships
- Financial Aid Advisor to ensure that aid is always properly applied and fully optimized
Four-Year Guide
First Year- Participate in the First-Year Seminar program. Staff and students work closely together during the first year, and all along the way, to help students discover their paths.
- Talk to an academic advisor to learn more about the range of majors available at Xavier and/or career opportunities.
- Visit the Career Development office to discuss interests, abilities and goals.
- Declare a major.
- Request a professional mentor.
- Start to develop a résumé.
- Enhance career and leadership skills.
- Get involved in internships, volunteer work and study abroad programs.
- Launch steps toward post-graduation goals.
- Finalize a resume.
- Start interviewing for a job or completing plans for graduate school.
Choosing a Major
At Xavier, Exploratory students are celebrated. Opportunities are endless and your Xavier support system is excited to be a part of the journey you take to find your calling. We have some advice on what to think about when choosing a major as well as what makes the academic experience at Xavier unique. Explore our Choosing a Major X-Guides to help find the programs that will be a great fit for you.Career Outcomes
99% of Xavier graduates are employed full-time, enrolled in graduate school, or working in a volunteer position within 6 months of graduation (Class of 2022). Explore Xavier's student outcomes to find more information about top employers and jobs by major category.
Top jobs among all Xavier graduates (Class of 2022): Registered Nurse, Analyst, Recruiter, Account Manager, Teacher
Top employers among all Xavier graduates (Class of 2022): Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Christ Hospital, MedPace, Fifth Third Bank, Cleveland Clinic
When we seek something more, we become something greater.
Find more information about how you can become a Musketeer.
Request InformationExperience Multiple Fields of Study in the Core Curriculum
Our core curriculum, which includes first-year seminar classes, allows you to experience multiple fields of study and interests in a challenging and fun environment. Sample first-year seminar classes include Bicycling our Bioregion, Socrates Meets Jesus and Pop Culture and Civil Rights.
Pursue Any Path and Explore Your Passions With 80+ Programs
With over 80 academic majors awaiting your exploration, the opportunities at Xavier are as vast as your ambitions. From the dynamic realms of business and psychology to the cutting-edge fields of biomedical science and the noble pursuit of education, our programs cover a wide range of interests and aspirations.
Experience a Transformative Education
Jesuit education embraces the Ignatian values of reflection, discernment and contemplation. These values, woven into our core curriculum and beyond, provide a framework for self-discovery, decision-making and finding meaning and purpose in your academic and personal life.
Graduate With Honors
Are you looking for an academic challenge? The University Scholars Honors Program offers incoming students a more challenging curriculum and close support from professors while completing their undergraduate degree. Acceptance into the program is highly selective and includes a $2000 travel grant.
Exploratory Major at Xavier University
Xavier’s Exploratory program is designed to help students in their major and career journey. The program exposes students to majors, occupations and careers, while helping them identify their interests, skills, values and personalities as they relate to the professional world. Students in the program are introduced to former Exploratory students for mentoring and sharing experiences.They also have access to campus resources in order to gather information towards making a decision, and help from academic advisors and success coaches, who initiate goals to move students forward in the career development process.
Xavier University’s College of Arts and Sciences challenges students to develop an integrated understanding of humanity, the world, and God by pursuing the questions raised in Xavier's core and departmental curricula. The College of Arts and Sciences is the oldest and largest college at Xavier University. The college provides an excellent liberal arts education in the Jesuit tradition that prepares students for careers, professional or graduate school, and life in a global society.
Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation. It has been ranked among the top 10 master's-level universities in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for the past two decades. The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 385 Colleges in America."