Exploratory option for undecided students

You can be successful focusing on your studies without initially declaring a major at Susquehanna University. In fact, you’ll be making an informed decision after you take time to review degree choices in arts, humanities and sciences programs.

Over 100 new first-year students enter Susquehanna every year without declaring a major and more than 200 change their major in the first year.

According to U.S. News & World Report, undecided students need three main university resources. And we provide them:

Finish in 4 years with great faculty support

At Susquehanna, your faculty advisor gives you personalized support even before you arrive on campus, helping you to finish within four years. And, because choosing a major is really about choosing a career path, our dynamic Career Development Center and strong alumni network are also great resources for you.

Choose from 100+ academic programs

Susquehanna has over 100 majors and minors for you to consider. We’ll help you choose a major, or maybe a dual major, and even an optional minor if you want.

Explore for up to 2 years through our strong general education curriculum

You have two years before you have to declare a major. At Susquehanna, 1/3 of your courses are general education, 1/3 are electives you choose, and 1/3 are in your major. For example, you will take Writing and Thinking in your first year, followed by several writing intensive courses in subsequent years. These courses count toward graduation regardless of your major.

The Central Curriculum is designed to develop layers of proficiency through multiple related courses. Divided into six areas for breadth of study, it allows you to explore:

• Richness of Thought (analytical, literary, artistic)
• The Natural World (scientific)
• Human Interactions (social, historical, ethics, foreign language)
• Intellectual Skills (perspectives, interdisciplinary, writing & thinking)
• Connections (diversity, cross-cultural experience and reflective seminar)
• Skills-based intensive courses (writing intensive, oral intensive, team intensive, diversity intensive, ethics Intensive)

Advising and Mentoring

We’ll help you navigate the curriculum and successfully complete your degree. Here’s how:

• Academic advising begins with a visit (by phone or in person) with a faculty member as early as April of your senior year in high school. You’ll discuss your academic interests and begin building your first-semester schedule. Faculty members and the Deans will then register you for your first-semester courses based on this information.
• Every student meets with their academic advisor during the first week on campus to discuss any desired alterations to your fall class schedule and to continue the long-term conversation about your interests and goals for your Susquehanna education. You will meet regularly with your academic advisor as this person serves as a resource and guide to understanding the curriculum and exploring choices that help you navigate your path to graduation.
• All first-year students take a seminar course called Perspectives that focuses on how to succeed in our academic community and how to fully benefit from your liberal arts education. For Undeclared students, Perspectives professors are also your academic advisor, ensuring you interact with them every week of your first semester.
• All first-year students have access to Clifton Strengths finder for students, a program that starts with a questionnaire to help you discover your particular talents. This program also includes reflection activities in programming from the Career Development Center and Student Life.
• All first-year students are invited to join our Susquehanna Mentor Collective, where you will be matched up with a current SU upperclass student based on shared areas of interest. Mentoring conversations begin as early as the April before you begin at SU.

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Additional Resources

Susquehanna provides great support services to help you explore your options and succeed in reaching your goals.

• The Center for Academic Success (CAS) helps all students improve study skills and provides hands-on on assistance to those with academic needs.
• Susquehanna students explore career paths through internships and paid summer collaborative research with faculty.
• You will develop skills directly relevant to your future employment through our Global Opportunities (GO) These semester-long study abroad opportunities or short-term cross-cultural programs happen all over the world. Afterwards, you will participate in a Reflection Seminar to process the impact of your experience as it relates to your remaining classes and future plans.
• Over 150 on-campus student organizations provide a wealth of opportunities to make friends, and develop leadership and organizational skills, regardless of your major.
• Our Career Development Center staff offers a comprehensive, four-year program to help you develop your professional goals and job-seeking skills, including workshops, individual counseling, internships, on-campus interviewing, and online and in-person networking with alumni and potential employers.