Resources for Undeclared Students

Not all students enter college with a clear vision for what major to pursue. That is OK—FDU welcomes students who wish to explore their options and see where the best academic home might be for them. To help undeclared student discover their ideal major, FDU built many programs and supports that are in place to ensure that all students, even those who enter without a declared major, graduate on time.

The below resources help student identify an academic and professional path:

  1. Academic Advising: The Center for Academic Advising and Student Success (CAASS) is a resource for all undergraduate students on the Metropolitan and Florham Professional advisors are available year-round to answer questions regarding University policies and regulations, as well as to help students understand the curriculum requirements of their chosen majors or potential new majors.
  2. Learning Communities: Learning Communities bring together cohorts of students who are then mentored by designated faculty. Learning Communities help to connect students with institutional resources while providing social engagement. Learning Communities include general focus areas such as:
    1. Arts, Communication, and Media
    2. Criminology and Criminal Justice
    3. History and Government
  3. First-year seminars and University Core: Fairleigh Dickinson University believes the goal of a college education is preparation for lifelong learning and a lifetime of thoughtful living. The interdisciplinary University Core Curriculum is the cornerstone of a thoughtful and reflective education. The program has received national recognition for its innovative approach to general education. The American Association of Colleges and Universities honored the FDU Core by making it one of nine programs in the United States to serve as a model for other educational institutions, and individual University Core courses have received prestigious national awards. UNIV 1001 and UNIV 1002 are first-year seminars that aim to acclimate students to college life and to become connected to University resources, and to begin building a professional portfolio to kick-start their career regardless of major.
  4. Mentoring programs: throughout the University, there are numerous programs that offer peer as well as instructor-led support. These programs offer students an opportunity to see the progression of development from first-year student to post-graduate professional. The mentoring programs are set up to pull mentees into the mentor role in the third and fourth years of study. Some of the FDU mentoring programs and centers include:
    1. Center for First-Generation Scholars
    2. Hispanic Center and Center for Student Success
    3. Mentoring in the Majors
    4. And more!
  5. Flexible majors: to help students discover their passions while staying on track to graduation, FDU created several majors that include many open-electives and encourage double-majoring and minoring in addition to pursuing certificates. Such degrees include:
    1. Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Professional Studies
    2. Bachelor of Arts in Social Science
  6. Career Development Center: The Career Development counselors work with students to help them identify internship and work opportunities from their first year at FDU and even after graduation! Counselors also work with students to identify their strengths and see how student interests can be translated into a career.