Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track
Find your major or design your own with the Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track for incoming first-year students.
Not sure what you want to major in at college? Interested in multiple disciplines and not sure how to choose? The Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track at UMass Amherst could be the right place for you.
The Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track is designed for incoming first-year students who either want to design their own major or would like some support on identifying the best existing major for their interests. This may be the best option for students whose interests are uniquely interdisciplinary and whose academic pursuits cannot be accommodated by existing majors that fall within a single school or college.
Exploratory Track students will work closely with an Academic Advisor who will assist with course selection and major exploration. Students will be encouraged to explore areas of interest across all schools and departments at UMass. If students find that their interests are unique and require an interdisciplinary approach, their advisor will help them transition to the Bachelor’s Degree with Individual Concentration major (BDIC).
Welcome
A message from Associate Provost of Interdisciplinary Programs, Joseph Bartolomeo:
On my first day in college, I sat on the campus lawn with a bunch of strangers and listened to the president welcoming us and telling us, "The dream isn't the distraction; for the next four years it is the job." The words stuck with me over the years because they describe so powerfully what college can and should be.
As Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track students, you are embracing the opportunity to dream, to explore several areas of study - some familiar, others intriguingly new - in order to determine which path will best further your academic, professional, and personal growth and to choose, or create, a major accordingly.
This kind of dreaming might sound exhilarating (or perhaps a bit intimidating), but you won't have to do it on your own: our dedicated first-year seminar and academic advisors will guide you as you chart your unique course through UMass Amherst.
Welcome, and may your experience here be, in the words of Shakespeare, "such stuff as dreams are made on."
As an Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track student, you will take a variety of introductory courses to help you explore academic areas of interest.
Many students will take courses that help confirm their interests from high school. Others may discover that what they thought they were interested in doesn't align with their strengths and values. Some students may be exposed to topics and majors they never knew existed. The goal of academic exploration is to approach your academics with curiosity and let that guide you towards an informed decision.
Throughout your time as an Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track student, you will work with a dedicated academic advisor who will support you in the major exploration and declaration process. Advisors can help students identify their interests, strengths, and academic goals and offer guidance on the types of courses and programs that match their needs.
The advising relationship works best when students are fully engaged in their academic experience.
Students will be expected to:
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Share their goals, hopes, and dreams
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Be intentional and reflective about their academic and personal experience
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Initiate conversations with their faculty and advisors
Advisors will be expected to:
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Be responsive to individual student goals
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Provide students with information about academic and co-curricular areas of interest
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Guide students towards pathways to achieve their goals
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Connect students to resources for supporting their personal well-being in college
All Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track students enroll in a dedicated First-Year Seminar (FYS) in their first semester at UMass titled 'Exploring & Identifying Your Academic Path.'
This 1-credit seminar will assist students in making a smooth transition to college, learning about the wide array of majors, minors, and certificate programs available to them, and determining what will be their best path forward. Students will engage in self-assessments to identify their strengths, values, and skills and will be asked to reflect on how these qualities connect to potential majors at UMass Amherst and possible career paths. Students will also learn strategies for academic success, such as time management, goal setting, and effective study habits, and learn about the variety of campus resources available to support their academic and personal success.
The Interdisciplinary Exploratory Track advising team is here to help! To learn more about how we can best support your goals, contact us at @email.
Take the Next Step
Please join us for upcoming on-campus events, including Destination Days on February 25, or April 7. This event is a unique opportunity to join advisors, faculty, and students to learn about the exciting opportunities available to first-year exploratory track students in Interdisciplinary Studies.