The Exploratory News
For Exploratory/Undeclared Students
November 2014
In the News
I Declared!
7 companies that are perfect places for animal lovers
What will the job market look like in a few years?—
The following Exploratory
students declared their major
last month.
via USA Today
Congratulations!
Interested in social work? Check out these scholar-
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to work—via USA Today
ships—via US News
Tips for making it through mid-terms/finals—via USA
Today
10 most popular majors across the US—via USA Today
Don’t Forget
Registration reminders:

Make an appointment with your academic advisor
in order to register for spring 2015 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.
Thanksgiving Break begins Wednesday, November 26.
Classes will resume on Monday, December 1.
Krysten Barlow
Adam Barnett
Victoria Bognar
Dominique Chenault
Kaitlynn Cisney
Meredith Coomes
Crysania Davis
Emily Deller
Kailen Deschane
Mackenzie Donoghue
Catherine Doyle
Donna Gross
Melinda Harrison
Robert Hudson
Korey Jaynes
Heather Johns
Kristin Lauterbach
Gabriel Martin
Hannah Merritt
Patrick O’Brien
Tyler Olson
Alexis Smith
Courtney Smith
Parke Tatman
Taywan Taylor
Michael Tincher
JoAnna Tinnell
Will White
Plan ahead for final exams. Exam week is December 8-12.
You should begin preparing and studying for exams now.
Get advised, get registered!
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 2014 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
Seniors and PostBaccalaureate (90+
hours earned)
Juniors (60-89
hours earned)
Sophomores (30-59
hours earned)
Freshmen (0-29
hours earned)
Last Name
Date
G-N
November 3
O-Z
November 4
A-F
November 5
G-N
November 10
O-Z
November 11
A-F
November 12
G-N
November 13
O-Z
November 14
A-F
November 17
G-N
November 18
O-Z
November 19
A-F
November 20
Guess the major…
In honor of his recent visit to WKU, this month we will
look at Bill Nye, which you may remember from his
children’s science series Bill Nye the Science Guy. If you
attended the Cultural Enhancement Series event, you
might recall that Bill Nye attended Cornell University
where he received his bachelor of science in mechanical
engineering.
Major Spotlight
One major from each of WKU’s academic colleges is highlighted.
Business and Marketing Education | College of Education and Behavioral Sciences – This major
requires 82 hours and requires no second major or minor. The business and marketing education
program prepares future educators to demonstrate best teaching practices in the discipline. This
program prepares prospective teachers for certification to teach business and/or marketing classes in grades 5-12. Graduates may seek opportunities other than teaching grades 5-12 such as
teaching in technology centers, becoming corporate trainers, seeking business positions other
than teaching, or with graduate degrees, seeking to teach in higher education such as community
colleges and universities.
Nursing | College of Health and Human Services – Nursing majors have the option between
choosing an associate’s degree or a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree requires 59 hours
and no minor or second major are required. For students wanting their life work to make a difference in the lives of others, nursing can be an excellent career option. Nursing is the largest health
care profession and one of the fastest growing. The job market is continuing to expand for nurses
with a BSN or higher level degrees and nursing graduates command some of the highest starting
salaries for college graduates. The nursing program at WKU is a competitive program, so students looking to obtain a BSN should strive to have the highest grades possible.
Management | Gordon Ford College of Business – A major in management requires 73 hours and
does not require a minor. This major offers two areas of concentration for you to pick from: 1)
Business Administration, and 2) Human Resources/Personnel Management. The Business Administration concentration is for students who want to manage an independent or a unit of a
large organization. The Human Resources/Personnel Management concentration is for students
who want to manage employees. It is designed to prepare students for careers in recruitment and
selection, training and development, compensation and benefits, or labor relations. Click here to
see the admission requirements for a major within the Gordon Ford College of Business.
Theatre | Potter College of Arts & Letters – A theatre major requires 45 hours and also requires a
minor or a second major. Graduates typically have work waiting for them when they leave
WKU, as well as a network of professional connections. Alumni are acting in film and
television, performing on Broadway, designing sets and costumes for film and stage, running dance studios, dancing and choreographing with professional companies, working in
schools, running storefront theatres, working as agents, raising money for worthy causes –
the list goes on and on.
Mechanical Engineering | Ogden College of Science & Engineering – A major in mechanical engineering requires 60.5 hours and does not require a minor or a second major. Mechanical engineers are involved in design and building almost everything that is needed in out modern world,
from nearly invisible electro-mechanical devices to enormous power generating and distribution
systems producing millions of horsepower. The WKU Mechanical Engineering Program produces
graduates who are well prepared for the start of productive, successful careers as practicing engineers. Graduates have a strong competitive advantage with their unique background of engineering fundamentals combined with practical knowledge and experience.
Systems Management | University College — This major requires 57 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 the Eli Young
Band at the Homecoming Concert
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Have a blast at Big Red’s Roar
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Cheer on the Hilltoppers at the
Homecoming game
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Go the 2014 Homecoming Step
Show
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Meet with your academic advisor
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Register for spring 2015 classes
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Schedule a tutoring appointment
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Attend an Academic Advantage
Series Workshop
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Start studying for finals
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Fill our your course evaluations
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Eat a lot of turkey and pumpkin
pie
“What can I do with this major?” Almost
every Exploratory student will ask themselves this question. The truth is, majors
are not as directly tied to certain jobs as
most students assume, but there certainly
are career fields that are well suited to certain majors.
WKU has a website to help students determine which career fields match with a given major. Using the What Can I Do With
This Major? website can be very helpful
for doubtful Exploratory students who are
concerned about careers after graduation.
Each major will list out areas of employment, potential employers, and strategies
for gaining employment in those fields.
There are also links for professional organizations in the fields, occupational outlook and salary information, as well as job
postings for you to get an idea of what a
real job would entail.
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.