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Match your passions with your career pursuits as part of Wooster’s new Pathway programs. Gain the skills sought after by employers and grad schools through hands-on experiences and career exploration, while earning credit towards graduation.

Pathways are optional, interdisciplinary programs distinct from majors and minors that bring together academic interests, hands-on experiences, and career exploration. For students who are interested in exploring careers perhaps related to but not defined within a major or minor at Wooster, pathways can offer flexible and personalized ways to learn more about a field of interest, gain related experience and skills, and connect with experts. Whether your career interests align perfectly with your major or slightly outside of it, pathways are multifaceted opportunities to explore these interests in ways that are meaningful to you.

Each pathway includes :

  • Reflection (exercises that help students make connections between courses, experiences, and long-term goals)
  • Experiential learning (EL) opportunities (typically 1-2 experiences, such as an internship, off-campus study, campus job, or service project)
  • Coursework (typically 3-4 courses)

Upon completion of a Pathways program, students will be able to:

  • Articulate the knowledge and skills they’ve accumulated within the pathway
  • Articulate how this knowledge and these skills can be applied to a career beyond Wooster

Each Pathway Program will hold events for students enrolled in the Pathway. It typically requires three or four semesters for students to complete the requirements of a Pathway. Students are encouraged to enroll during their first or second year at the College and no later than the first semester of their third year.

Learn More

How to learn more about Pathways? Follow the links above to learn more about the various Pathway Programs. Read the Pathways FAQs below for important details.

Come talk to us. You can meet with a Pathways Peer Advisor in APEX during Walk-In Wednesdays between 1:30-4:00 p.m. You can also schedule a meeting at another time with a Pathways Peer Advisor or the Pathways Coordinator via this Bookings site. You might also reach out to one of the faculty and staff on the Pathways team that interests you.

For additional questions, please write to pathways@wooster.edu.

Pathways FAQs

About Pathways

What are Pathway programs?

  • Pathway programs are interdisciplinary programs that allow you to pursue your academic interests, gain valuable experience, and explore potential careers.

What commitments does Pathway require from me?

  • Each Pathway program is distinct. Typically, a Pathway requires the completion of 1-2 experiential learning opportunities (such as internships, off-campus study programs, campus leadership positions, volunteer work, and more, a series of reflection exercises, and 3-4 courses. You can learn more about program-specific requirements by visiting each Pathway’s webpage.

Who is eligible to start a Pathway?

  • Only first-year and second-year students and first-semester juniors are eligible to declare a Pathway. Some Pathways may have additional opportunities for second-semester juniors and senior students who are not enrolled in a Pathway. You may contact a representative of your Pathway Team or the Pathways Coordinator for more details.

What certification do I receive after completing a Pathway?

  • You will receive a certification that is noted on your transcript, e.g., “Pathway: Museum & Archival Studies.”

How long does it take to complete a Pathway?

  • Pathway programs typically require four semesters of work. Students may complete experiential learning components during summer recesses.

Are Pathways required of all students?

  • They are optional.

Can I do more than one Pathway program?

  • You won’t need to. Pathways are specifically built to help you think deeply about your interests and connect your academic work to potential careers.

Do Pathways have to be related to my major or minor?

  • For some students, the Pathway program will be closely connected to the work of a major or minor. For others, they will be completely distinct. There is no requirement to connect them.

Can I double count courses toward my major or minor and my Pathway?

  • Yes.

Can I double count courses toward general education requirements and my Pathway?

  • Yes.

Is there an additional cost to complete a Pathway?

  • Not usually. There is no additional cost for enrolling in a Pathway program. Students may encounter additional expenses related to their chosen experiential learning opportunities, such as housing and transportation for unpaid internships or study-abroad programs. Some sources of funding are available, including competitive grants and fellowships through APEX and the Global Engagement Office.
Getting Started

How do I decide on a Pathway program?

  • There are many ways to learn more about Pathways. You can:
    • Attend an information session
    • Talk with the Pathways Coordinator
    • Talk with a Pathway Peer Advisor
    • Talk with one of the faculty or staff members on your Pathway Team
  • You should also review your four-year academic plan with your academic advisor or staff in APEX to determine whether a Pathway will fit into your academic plan. Use the Colleague Self-Service “What if?” advising tool to map out the requirements of the pathway.

How do I start a Pathway program?

  • When you are ready to begin, simply complete the “Pathways Launch” form on the Student Academic Forms page at the Registrar’s office webpage.

What happens after I declare my pathway?

  • You will be enrolled in a Moodle course devoted to the Pathway – and receive a set of instructions on the first steps. The Moodle course will be the central guide and repository for your work in the Pathway .

What is the deadline for declaring a pathway?

  •  Students must declare their Pathway no later than the fall semester of their junior year.
Completing a Pathway

How can I track my progress within a Pathway?

  • You can track your progress within the Pathway on the pathway Moodle page and using the “Degree Progress” tool on Colleague Self-Service

I’m interested in a course that I think relates to my Pathway. Can I count it toward my Pathway’s coursework requirement?

  • First, check your Pathway’s list of pre-approved courses. If the course is not included here, you may request that a course be reviewed for a requirement by contacting the Pathways Coordinator or a member of yourPathway Final decisions on course substitutions rests with your Pathway team.

I’m interested in an experiential learning opportunity that I think relates to my Pathway. Can I count it toward my Pathway’s experiential learning requirements if it is not already approved?

  • See the details on your Pathway’s Moodle page or contact the Pathways Coordinator for instructions.

What happens if I don’t complete the requirements of the Pathway?

  • You won’t receive the notation on your transcript that you’ve completed the Pathway.

Can I change Pathways after I have begun?

  • Contact the Pathways Coordinator to discuss your situation. The Pathways Program Committee and your Pathway Team have ultimate authority on this question.