Exploring Academic Choices
Name:
PSU ID #:
My NSO Dates:
In this assignment, you will examine some of the academic decisions you have made so far, and start
exploring some decisions you will make about your education in the near future.
Where Are You Now? I was admitted to the following:
Campus
Semester of admission
College
Summer
Fall
Spring
Where Are You Headed?
MajorQuest can help you explore academic opportunities at Penn State. To start, select one or two
interests then review and identify major(s) you would like to learn more about in the chart below.
Then, select resources such as the
University Bulletin and Recommended
Academic Plans to learn more. Refer to the
“Understanding a Penn State Degree”
module for instructions on how to read the
University Bulletin.
Intended Major Name
College Offering Major
What Does Your Intended Major Look Like?
Advisers have developed “Recommended Academic Plans” that suggest potential semester schedules
for most Penn State majors. Please select the plan appropriate for your campus. Print the
Recommended Academic Plans for your intended major(s) to bring to NSO.
As you examine your Recommended Academic Plan(s), think about the following:
 How do these courses fit what you imagined you would be taking in this major?
 What surprises you about the Recommended Academic Plan?
 Review the titles and descriptions of three 400-level courses included in your top
intended major(s). Do you think you will like these courses? Course descriptions are
available on the University Bulletin.
Course Name/Number
Like
Course?
Why or Why Not?
How Will You Use Your General Education (Gen Eds)?
As you learned in the “Understanding a Penn State Degree” module, General Education helps you
develop a breadth of knowledge in seven areas - Writing and Speaking (GWS), Natural Sciences (GN),
Quantification (GQ), Arts (GA), Humanities (GH), Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) and Health and
Physical Activity (GHA). Use the University Bulletin and your Recommended Academic Plan for your
intended major(s) of interest to indentify General Education courses prescribed by your major(s). Circle
any prescribed general education courses on your Recommended Academic Plan.
What Are You Trying To Learn?
In the “Understanding a Penn State Degree” module, you learned that your Penn State degree will help
you develop problem-solving, communication, and intercultural skills, along with specific skills and
knowledge related to your choice of major. Take a look at the University Bulletin description of your
intended major(s) as well as the required courses and answer:
How will your intended major(s) help you develop the basic problem-solving,
communication, and intercultural skills needed by all college graduates?
What other skills and knowledge do you hope to develop through your college
education?
How will your intended major(s) help you develop these areas?
Please bring this completed assignment and
Recommended Academic Plan(s) to NSO.
If the links within the document don’t work for you,
please follow these links to complete your Pre-NSO Homework:
MajorQuest: dus.psu.edu/students/majorquest/
University Bulletin: bulletins.psu.edu/undergrad/
Recommended Academic Plan: dus.psu.edu/students/sem_plans.html
Understanding a Penn State Degree: orientation.psu.edu/up/homework