Group of students wearing matching MSU orientation bags, walking upstairs towards University Hall

Discovery Program

The Discovery Program at Montclair State University is a comprehensive initiative coordinated by University College designed to help you select the major that is the right fit for you. From application to declaration, the Discovery Program will guide you to every step of the way.

Discovery Tracks

When you first apply as a pre-major (undeclared) student to Montclair State University, you are able to tell us about your interests by selecting a Discovery Track that represents your academic and career interests. These tracks are meant to help guide you toward choosing a major that matches your interests, skills and values from any College or School at the university. Once choosing your track in the Discovery Program, you will work with your academic advisor on major and career exploration. If your interests and goals change, so can your Discovery Track!

The Tracks

  • Education, Service and Society – for students who are interested in cultural and societal issues, students who enjoy volunteering, students who may want to become teachers.
  • Management and Technology – for students looking to manage or lead people, students who like to crunch data, students who may be interested in marketing or business.
  • Health, Wellness and Sciences – for students who are interested in natural or social sciences, students who find emotional, mental or physical health very important to them, students who may want to pursue careers in the healthcare industry.
  • Arts, Culture and Design – for students who are interested in arts and culture, students who enjoy creating, performing art, or teaching others about art and culture.

Your First Semester

Discovery students participate in coursework that reflects the theme of their Discovery track. Your courses will provide you with an academic experience that introduces you to the major and career interests that attracted you to your Discovery track.

A course within your fall program is New Student Seminar, which will facilitate your transition to the University and help you stay connected with your academic advisor. The course will engage you intellectually and socially, while also supporting your major exploration process.

Education, Service and Society - Sample Course Blocks
Block 1 – Interest in the Humanities 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
F1 – Great Works & Their Influences HUMN 285 Mythology
K2 – Global Cultural Perspectives HIST 116 Modern Latin America
K3 – Social Science Perspectives SOCI 104 Sociology of the Family
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 2 – Interest in Political Science or Sociology 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
F1 – Great Works & Their Influences HUMN 285 Mythology
K2 – Global Cultural Perspectives POLS 104 International Security and Diplomacy
K3 – Social Science Perspectives SOCI 100 Introduction to Sociology
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 3 – Interest in Teaching 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
K3 – Social Science Perspectives PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Management and Technology - Sample Course Blocks
Block 1 – Interest in Computer Science 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
G – Computer Science CSIT 104 Python Programming
F1 – Great Works & Their Influences HUMN 285 Mythology
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 2 – Interest in Business 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
I – Natural Science Laboratory EAES 101 Planet Earth
L – Interdisciplinary Studies ECON 102 Applied Microeconomics
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 3 – Interest in Business Administration (Marketing) 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
Fulfills a Major Requirement MKTG 240 Introduction to Marketing
F2 – Philosophical & Religious Perspectives PHIL 106 Logic
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Health, Wellness and Sciences - Sample Course Blocks
Block 1 – Interest in Biology 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
I – Natural Science Laboratory BIOL 112 Principles of Biology I
F1 – Great Works & Their Influences HUMN 115 Troy and the Trojan War
J – Physical Education PEGN 278 Yoga
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 2 – Interest in Medical Humanities 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
I – Natural Science Laboratory BIOL 110 The Biology of Human Life
L – Interdisciplinary Studies MEDH 101 Introduction to Medical Humanities
J – Physical Education PEGN 257 Weight Training
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 3 – Interest in Nutrition 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
I – Natural Science Laboratory EAES 101 Planet Earth
K3 – Social Science Perspectives and World Cultures NUFD 153 Dynamics of Food & Society
J – Physical Education PEGN 257 Weight Training
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Arts, Culture and Design - Sample Course Blocks
Block 1 – Interest in the Arts 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
D – Fine & Performing Arts ARFD 100 Perceptual Drawing
F1 – Great Works & Their Influences VIST 105 Global Foundations in Art
F2 – Philosophical & Religious Perspectives RELG 221 Religion and Culture
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 2 – Interest in Fashion 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
D – Fine & Performing Arts ARFD 100 Perceptual Drawing
L – Interdisciplinary Studies CRTH 151 Creative Thinking
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I
Block 3 – Interest in Communication 
General Education Category Course Code Course Title
A – New Student Seminar GNED 199 New Student Seminar
Fulfills a Major Requirement CMST 110 Introduction to Communication
D – Fine & Performing Arts MUGN 100 Introduction to Music
C3 – Communication CMST 101 Fundamentals of Speech
C1 – Writing WRIT 105 College Writing I

Academic Advising

By working through a success plan personalized for you, your academic advisor will guide you throughout your exploration process to help you narrow your options down to more specific fields of study. This will be an active process in which you will complete activities, self-assessments, and connect with various departments across campus, including Career Services. In doing so, you will also develop a better understanding of the relationship between your academic interests and career interests and develop a path toward graduation.

Connecting with Faculty & the Campus Community

Integral to the major exploration process is connecting with the curricular and co-curricular areas of the campus. University College has worked with faculty and the academic departments to set up events for you to attend and learn more about the majors offered at the University. There are also a number of activities coordinated by the Schools and Colleges that are fantastic ways for you to learn more about their fields and disciplines. Check them out and sign up on Engage!