Academic Exploration Program (AEP)
The Academic Exploration Program helps students systematically determine their best academic and career plan. This includes not only choosing the perfect major, but also strategically using every college credit to pursue double majors, minors, areas of concentration, internships and course clusters that prepare them for life and career. Students may enter the program upon entry to Roberts and access program initiatives throughout their time at Roberts.
COMPONENTS OF THE AEP
Course Sampling: Students sample courses in a wide variety of disciplines, while fulfilling general education requirements that move them toward graduation.
Personalized Advising: Advisors help students select appropriate courses in a sequence that will facilitate their exploration process. Because of accreditation requirements and the nature of knowledge in the field, some majors do require an earlier decision than others. Individual advising will help ensure that students remain on track to graduate in a timely manner.
Exploratory First-Year Seminar: A special section of First-Year Seminar for students in the AEP provides opportunities for self-reflection, to help students gain greater self-awareness that will help them in their decision-making process. Additionally, this seminar helps students learn about the many academic programs available at Roberts, and provides a sense of community with other students who are actively exploring their options.
AEP Social Media Accounts and the Academic Exploration Page: AEP students are connected through social media accounts and the Academic Exploration Page. These resources enable students to interact with one another, sign up for elements of the AEP Program, and access helpful videos, blogs, news, and research. There is also a calendar that guides them through each stage of the academic year and informs them of departmental and program events.
Guided Self-Assessment: Students are encouraged to take advantage of the support offered by Career Services. Students can learn more about themselves by completing validated personality and career interest assessments as well as other aspects of a carefully constructed 4-Year Development Plan.
Alumni Mentoring and Internships: Students can develop relationships with alumni mentors that help them discern what they are looking for in a career and also provide crucial connections for their future job search. Mentoring can involve emailing, meeting for lunches, or even job shadowing. Students can pursue internships in different careers that also can count as college credit.
Faculty Lunch Program: Students can meet for lunch with any faculty member on campus to explore that professor's discipline and discuss the experiences of majors, minors, and interns in that department.
Classroom Visitation Program: AEP students attend representative classes in other disciplines that are of interest to them, so they can get a tangible sense of what it would be like to be a student in that department.
Enhanced Career and Internship Fair Experience: AEP students prepare ahead of time for the RWC Career and Internship Fair and attend a lunch afterwards for a guided discussion of their experiences, insights, and questions.
AEP Evening Events: Evening events include coffee houses with panels of alumni, formerly undeclared students, and students who have pursued different programs of study. Students are exposed to new ideas for their academic and career paths and also build community with fellow AEP participants.