Undeclared Options

Undecided about your college major?
You’re not alone.

Almost two thirds of all college students change their major during their time in school. Why not enroll in one of RIT's exploration programs and make a well-informed decision from the start? We offer several options for undeclared students. Nine exploration options at the college level help you decide which major in a particular area of interest bests suits your career goals. There’s also an individualized study program that lets you customize a degree around your professional career aspirations.

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Exploration Programs

If you know the field you want to study (e.g., business, engineering, science, computing, the liberals arts, etc.) but you're unsure which major bests fits your career goals, our exploration programs can help you decide. You'll spend up to a year exploring majors in a particular area of study while you take advantage of individual advising and career counseling that's designed to help you understand your interests so you can choose the major that bests matches your professional aspirations.

Art Exploration
Interested in the arts? The School of Art offers majors in illustration, medical illustration, and studio arts. The art exploration option will help you decide which major best aligns with your artistic aspirations.

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Business Exploration
With nine majors in areas as diverse as finance, management information systems, hospitality, and marketing, you can explore the many facets of business and management as you complete core business and liberal arts courses.

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Computing Exploration
Take the time to explore RIT’s computing majors while you complete courses in computer science, computing security, and web development. As you narrow your interests and define your career aspirations, you can add courses in the computing majors that interest you.

Learn More about Computing Exploration

Design Exploration
The design exploration option is for students who are passionate about design, but are unsure which major in the School of Design best meets their career goals. Take a year to learn more about 3D digital design, graphic design, industrial design, interior design, and new media design.

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Engineering Exploration
Need more time to explore RIT's engineering majors? Engineering exploration allows you to discover which program bests meets your career goals. You’ll complete foundation courses, meet faculty, participate in personalized advising, tour facilities, and talk with upper-class students while deciding on an engineering discipline to study.

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Engineering Technology Exploration
Spend up to a year learning about our engineering technology and packaging science programs before selecting a major. While you investigate our majors, you’ll complete an exploration course that explains the unique characteristics of each program as you participate in foundation courses that prepare you for any of our programs of study.

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Liberal Arts Exploration
It’s all about flexibility in the liberal arts exploration option. Try different courses as you participate in individualized academic advising designed to help you define your interests, professional goals, and career aspirations. Complete general education requirements while you take up to two years to choose a major in the humanities and social sciences.

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Photographic Arts and Sciences Exploration
With a range of photography specialties to choose from, you may need extra time to decide which bests meets your career objectives. Photographic arts and sciences exploration provides insight into our photography majors and their options, making it easy for you to understand the nuances of each and where your professional interests may lie.

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Science Exploration
The science exploration option is a year-long experience where you’ll work in teams designing, building, and conducting scientific research to achieve a goal presented on the first day of class. As a result, students develop an in-depth appreciation for the specific field in which their team is involved while simultaneously learning about our range of majors in different science and math disciplines.

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Individualized Study

You may know what you want to do, but you may find yourself drawn to a collection of interests that don't fit neatly into a conventional academic program. This is where the School of Individualized Study can help. Learn more about our individualized study degrees to design a major around your interests, goals, and career aspirations.

Learn More about Individualized degrees