If you have trouble viewing this newsletter, click here to view it in a separate window:
The Exploratory News
For Exploratory/Undeclared Students
November 2015
In the News
I Declared!
Jobs you can get with 2015’s most in-demand degrees—via USA Today
Discover more methods of student loan forgiveness—
via US News and Education
4 ways to improve your resume while still in college—via Youtern
Should you consider an unpaid internship?—via USA
Today
Do you know the history of Big Red?—via WKU Herald
Don’t Forget
Registration reminders:

Make an appointment with your academic advisor in order to register for spring 2016 classes. See
below or check your email for detailed instructions on
scheduling an appointment through TopNet.

Registration for spring classes opens for all students this month. See below for your registration date.
Registration opens at 5 AM the morning you are eligible to register.

Any holds on your account will prevent you from registering for classes, so make sure to check on TopNet
under Student Services, Student Records, then View
Holds.

It is still possible to register for a winter term course.
Winter term will take place from January 4-22.
All freshmen who have NOT had their holds lifted for
academic advising for spring classes are REQUIRED to
attend one of the following Freshmen Extravaganza meetings. For freshmen who have already had their
appointments, this meeting is optional. This meeting will
include important information regarding advising and registration, and students will have the chance to win prizes.
The meeting options are:
Monday, November 2, 9:10-10:05 AM
Monday, November 2, 1:50-2:45 PM
Tuesday, November 3, 11:10 AM-12:05 PM
Tuesday, November 3, 2:20-3:15 PM
Wednesday, November 4, 10:20-11:15 AM
Wednesday, November 4, 12:40-1:35 PM
Wednesday, November 4, 5:30-6:25 PM
Thursday, November 5, 12:45-1:40 PM
The following Exploratory
students declared their major
last month.
Congratulations!






































Olivia Baird
Julia Barker
Alyssa Blevins
Laura Brown
Wyatt Callison
Maggie Casteel
Carleigh Chaumont
Lauren Cline
Jera Corbin
Mackenzie Corso
Logan Dunman
Sarah Greer
Anna Hall
Sarah Harrington
William Hughes
Zachary Kelsey
Madeline Kemp
Kelsey Kimble
Megan Lee
Allison Lewis
Qualan Long
Olivia Lund
Zave Martinez
Brennan Mattingly
Samantha Mayes
Annie McCool
Madeline Miller
Jarred Perkins
Shea Sanson
Adam Smith
Whitney Snodgrass
Katie Strand
Ian Swearingen
Hallie Thornton
Genesis Valenzo
Dyna Velinsky
Allie Venable
James Vessels
Social Media
Instagram: WKUExploratory
Twitter: @WKUExploratory
These meetings will be held in DSU 2141.
Walk in advising will be available on Monday, November 16 and Thursday, November
19. Advisors will be available both days between 8 AM-4:30 PM in DSU 2141. No appointment will be required. You will be served on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thanksgiving Break begins Wednesday, November 25. Classes will resume on Monday, November 30. Residence halls will be closed during this break so make appropriate
plans now.
Plan ahead for final exams. Exam week is December 7-11. You should begin preparing
and studying for exams now. If you need to schedule a tutoring appointment, do so as
soon as possible--tutors will not be available during finals week.
Make Registration a Priority
If you have not been advised for spring classes, then you will not be able to register. Make
an appointment with your academic advisor prior to your registration date. Login to
TopNet, then click on the Student Services tab. Next, select Fall 2015 for the term, then
click on Registration, and at the bottom of the page is Schedule an Advising Appointment.
Select the date and time that work for you.
Class Standing
Last Name
Priority
Registration Date
Seniors and Post Baccalaureate (90+ hours
earned)
O-Z
November 2
A-F
November 3
G-N
November 4
O-Z
November 9
A-F
November 10
G-N
November 11
O-Z
November 12
A-F
November 13
G-N
November 16
O-Z
November 17
A-F
November 18
G-N
November 19
Juniors (60-89 hours
earned)
Sophomores (30-59
hours earned)
Freshmen (0-29 Hours
Earned)
Guess the major…
You may not recognize his picture, but you’ll surely recognize his name: R. L. Stine, author of the children’s Goosebumps series. With the release of the new movie based on
these books, can you guess what R. L. Stine’s major was in
college? He attended the Ohio State University where he
majored in English.
Major Spotlight
One major from each of WKU’s academic colleges is highlighted.
Special Education (dual degree with Elementary Education certification) | College of Education
and Behavioral Sciences – A Bachelor of Science in special education requires 84 hours which includes professional education courses and student teaching. No minor is required. Upon completion
of the program and successful completion of the three required PRAXIS II examinations, graduates
will be certified to teach individuals from un-graded primary through high school with disabilities
ranging from learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, mild mental disabilities, physical
disabilities as well as students who have severe cognitive and behavior disorders.
Social Work | College of Health and Human Services – The Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) program consists of 54 hours in the major. As a social work major, you are not required to have a
minor; however many social work majors choose to minor in such areas as Gerontology, Non
Profit Management, Spanish, or Family Studies, just to name a few. Social work is a rewarding
and challenging field for people who are interested in making a difference in the lives of people
and their communities. As professionals, social workers are concerned with the issues that affect
our population and generate our current social issues and challenges, some of which are quite
controversial. Social workers must be willing to confront these challenges and work towards
changing them. To do this, social workers become involved with individuals and families, groups
and organizations, and even entire communities as their clients. Social workers must also be flexible enough to work with people of many ages, backgrounds, and cultures.
Business Informatics | Gordon Ford College of Business – The business informatics majors requires 72 hours and no minor or second major. The field of business informatics explores the
interplays between technology, business, and society. Business informatics utilizes information
management tools for the processing, management, and analysis of data that relates to business.
Graduates in Business Informatics serve as a bridge between the builders and users of technology
and global innovations. Click here to learn more about the career paths offered through business
informatics.
Art History | Potter College of Arts & Letters – The major in art history requires 36 hours and
also requires a minor or a second major. This Bachelor of Arts degree provides students with a
broad and thorough understanding of the history and function co the visual arts from ancient
times to the present day. Majors will critically analyze paintings, prints, sculpture, architecture,
and other visual media to investigate a range of historical and philosophical issues with which the
arts have been deeply involved. As such, majors will gain an understanding of how visual practices proactively articulate and motivate rather than simply illustrate, record, or reiterate history.
Construction Management | Ogden College of Science & Engineering – The major in Construction Management requires 69-70 semester hours and leads to a Bachelor of Science degree. Construction Management involves planning, coordination, and control of projects from inception to
completion. Construction Managers work out of a main or field office to perform a variety of important functions, including project planning, cost management, time management, quality management, safety management and contract administration. A minor or second major is not required.
Systems Management | University College — This major requires 48 hours and does not require
a minor or a second major. Systems management applies an informatics perspective to the management of people, information, processes, and systems within an organization. It is an interdisciplinary major, requiring core systems management courses in addition to program electives
and an area of concentration from the following: administrative systems, agricultural systems,
criminology systems, digital media technologies, fire/rescue administration, geographic information systems, government systems, healthcare informatics, human resource development,
industrial/manufacturing systems, information systems, law enforcement administration, leadership, military systems (civilian career option), occupational safety and health, technical sales,
technical training, or technical writing.
Calendar
To Do List:

Sing along with Hunter Hayes at the
Homecoming Concert

Have a blast at Big Red’s Roar

Cheer on the Hilltoppers at the Homecoming game

Meet with your advisor!

Register for spring classes!

Are you a freshmen? Check the Exploratory website (or see above) for
dates and times of the Freshmen Extravaganza

Fill out your course evaluations

Eat a lot of turkey and pumpkin pie

Start studying for finals
Are you ready for Homecoming? There
are a variety of Homecoming activities
taking place during the first week of
November, leading up to the parade on
Friday, November 6, and the football
game on Saturday, November 7. Go
Tops!
To make an appointment with your Exploratory academic advisor, login to TopNet, go to Student
Services, Registration, and Schedule an Advising Appointment. You can also call (270) 745-5065 for
more help.