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.

**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

**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

**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

**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!