The Exploratory option at CSUN is designed for students who have not yet declared a major, providing them with structured support to explore various academic disciplines while completing General Education requirements. Students are encouraged to declare a major by the time they have earned 45 units and required to do so before reaching 60 units. For more detailed information, visit the Continuing Exploratory page.
Designed for first-year students exploring their options, this Road Map outlines potential pathways into Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) majors at CSUN.
YEAR 1: 1st Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Basic Skills: Area 1A English Composition (Written Communication) | 3 |
| GE Basic Skills: Area 2 Lower Division Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning (Consult with Hub advisor for course selections for STEM-major interest.) | 3 |
| GE Area 3A Arts or GE Area 3B Humanities | 3 |
| GE CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies | 3 |
| CARQ Lifelong Learning Campus Requirement (UNIV 100 recommended) | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 1: 2nd Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Basic Skills: Area 1C Oral Communication | 3 |
| GE Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| GE Area 5A Physical Science or GE Area 5B Biological Science (Consult with Hub advisor for course selections for STEM-major interest.) | 3 |
| GE Area 5C Science Laboratory Activity | 1 |
| Potential Major Interest | 3 |
| Potential Major Interest or Elective | 2 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 2: 1st Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Basic Skills: Area 1B Critical Thinking | 3 |
| GE Area 4 Social and Behavioral Sciences | 3 |
| GE Area 5A Physical Science or GE Area 5B Biological Science (Select from GE sub-area not previously completed. Consult with Hub advisor for course selections for STEM-major interest.) | 3 |
| Potential Major Interest | 3 |
| Potential Major Interest | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 2: 2nd Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Area 4A and Area 4B Constitution of the United States and California State and Local Government | 3 |
| CARQ American History Campus Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 3: 1st Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Upper Division Area 3A Arts or GE Upper Division Area 3B Humanities (select from GE subarea not previously completed) | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 3: 2nd Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Upper Division Area 2 Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning or GE Upper Division Area 5 Physical and Biological Sciences | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 4: 1st Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| GE Upper Division CSUN Section F Comparative Cultural Studies | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Major Requirement | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
YEAR 4: 2nd Semester
| Course | Units |
|---|---|
| Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| Major or Elective Requirement | 3 |
| Total | 15 |
| MINIMUM OVERALL TOTAL UNITS | 120-135 |
Major unit requirements are based on the catalog year when the major is declared. Some STEM majors require 123-126 units.
One course for the degree must have an Ethnic Studies/ES designation.