Your college journey starts here. And like most journeys, there are many pathways you can take that can lead to achieving
your biggest goals! It’s an exciting time to be open to discovery and to try new things. Our Bridges Common Learning Experience, our commitment to your experience and our distinctive setting are ideal for helping
you discover options and your personal direction. Want more information before you get started? Let us know.
Duquesne grads are prepared for anything. And our staff is prepared for
anything you may want to explore. Let us know you want to discover your options, and
we'll get you started!
When you apply, select the “Discover” option as an area of interest overall or as
a major option within business, education, liberal arts or science & engineering.
Your Opportunities at Duquesne
We encourage you to discover and shape your path to success using our integrated program
of academic exploration, career planning, and professional development that is designed
to help you:
Ready to Discover? See our helpful checklist before visiting campus.
We're Prepared for You
Get Started: Apply to Discover
Discover Your Path to Success
Discover Business
As a Discover Business student, you will have the opportunity to double major or pick multiple minors. No need to commit to just one passion.
Discover Education
As a Discover Education student, you will have four semesters to explore options before choosing your specific major.
Discover Liberal Arts
As a Discover Liberal Arts student, courses can double and even triple count towards degree requirements, which means you have more opportunity to double major or pick up multiple minors.
Discover Science
Your first year as Discover Science student is about exploring your options and discovering your strengths. We will help you find a science career path that is right for you.
Discover Academics
Discover Your Support
A dedicated network of student success coaches, faculty advisors, career planning and development counselors, wellbeing and health advocates, financial aid counselors, alumni mentors, and others will walk alongside you on your path to success at Duquesne and beyond.
Start with Your Success Coach
You can start to discover and shape your path during the spring of your senior year of high school and the summer before you arrive on campus. Meet virtually with your Success Coach, learn more about your strengths, and begin connecting with fellow classmates in your Discover cohort, designed for students exploring their options for majors.
First-Year Mentors
Our First-year Mentors Program provides a unique opportunity for new students to have someone to talk to, to hang out with or to just vent. As a first-year student, you are assigned one of our many supportive University community members including an academic advisor, resident assistant and orientation team leader, just to name a few.
Career Planning & Discovery
It's never too early to get to know the people in our Center for Career Development. Take advantage of a one-on-one appointment with a Career Consultant, use virtual resources, connect with employers, seek individual guidance and attend programs designed to help you explore careers and develop your job-search skills.
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Bridges Curriculum
Every undergraduate student in every school of study at Duquesne takes a series of courses that emphasize intellectual and moral development through the study of the liberal arts. In addition to building crucial skills for later success, our Bridges curriculum allows you to study a wide variety of subjects and graduate with the richest possible academic experience.
How Does Bridges Help You Explore Your Path?
Our Bridges curriculum prepares you for what’s next and ensures that you’ll never have to narrow your ambitions. The curriculum is designed to overlap with every major at Duquesne so you can maximize progress toward your degree while having the opportunity to discover new interests or pursue additional goals.
Our curriculum is designed to intersect with your major and to give you room to pursue
courses and out-of-classroom learning opportunities that excite you. Bridges is not
a pre-determined set of survey courses—we take a choose-your-own adventure approach.
Know exactly where you want to go? We have a map for that. Ready to explore and discover
new interests and talents? We have a map for that, too.
Designed with input from employers and hiring managers, Bridges courses prepare you to adapt and evolve in a dynamic professional landscape.
Exam credits like AP, College in High School courses, transfer credits from other institutions: bring them with you!
You can pursue credentials in addition to any major you elect to pursue, such as certificates, minors or additional majors.
Bridges introduces you to Duquesne’s specific Catholic and Spiritan heritage through courses that explore the riches of the Catholic intellectual tradition, help you develop skills for ethical reasoning, challenge you to ask essential questions, engaged you in communities both local and global.
EXPERIENTIAL/HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Connect your classroom learning to the professional world with hands-on learning opportunities.
We'll make sure you gain the professional confidence, impressive experience and powerful
networks you need to get a running start on a meaningful career.
You can consider some or all of the following as you explore:
- Job shadowing and externships
- Internships, travel courses, immersion programs, and independent study opportunities
- Undergraduate research and field work
- Service learning
- Study abroad
"As I progressed through each stage of my career journey—job search, résumé, interviews, acceptance—my career advisor was there to meet the unique challenge that came with each stage. It is advantages such as these that make Duquesne's Center for Career Development truly unique and incomparable."
— Ronnie Coleman, B'23, Business Administration, Supply Chain Associate, Nestlé
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
You Can Take Many Paths
When I started at Duquesne, I knew I was interested in media but wasn’t completely sure which facet of it I wanted to study. I made a point to take classes from a variety of programs and ultimately chose Integrated Marketing Communication to get a broad understanding of the field.
"I chose Duquesne for its high-quality academics, great campus life, and the elite football program. I’m a Discover Science major and exploring different areas to study. I'm interested in the sciences because I’m passionate about working out and health/nutrition, so I want to be something along the lines of a trainer or coach.
"I looked at what other majors Duquesne offered because I knew I loved the University, but was second guessing my choice in major. I found the most enjoyment in marketing and communications so I transferred to the liberal arts school to study integrated marketing communications. I knew I made the right choice because I loved my classes."
Discover—in the classroom and beyond
Duquesne is big enough to have many options—and close-knit enough to make great connections along the way.
PLANNING YOUR SUCCESS
Before You Come to Campus
- Discuss the Discover program for exploring your career path with your parents and family.
- Meet virtually with your Success Coach.
- Learn more about your personality, strengths, interests, and values by taking an online self assessment and discussing the results with your Success Coach.
- Connect with fellow classmates in your cohort through our dedicated social channel.
- Plan to attend the Discovering Cohort as part of First-year Advising Summer Transition (FAST) and First-year Orientation. You will be able to participate in activities designed specifically for students exploring options.
Thoughtful exploration
In the U.S., 75 percent of all college students change their major at least once. It's not that students are indecisive. Rather, students make changes because they learn, explore, and refine their sense of what they can do to lead a meaningful life and career. Because they thoughtfully explore paths, cross bridges, and make connections that expand their horizons, Duquesne students leave feeling prepared for anything. You can, too.