Coordinator 

Overview 

The fields of engineering and computing offer many career paths, and it can be challenging for a student to choose which one is right for them. MSOE has created Explorer Pathways to help first year students decide which program of study and career path is the best fit for their skills and interests. Explorer Pathways students meet industry practitioners and take coursework from multiple degree programs to become empowered to make an informed decision about their future.

Engineering Explorers Pathway

Jump to Computing Explorers Pathway

Program Benefits  

• Try out several engineering disciplines so you can find the one that fits you best 

• Courses count towards degree in most programs and in engineering minors  

• Enjoy community building activities with peers in the Explorers Pathway

• An advisor helps students create a custom four-year graduation plan and supports students throughout their academic career¹

Exploring Engineering Course 

• Learn about the different disciplines of engineering and related fields through lectures, hands-on activities, career research, and panel discussions with upper-class students, alumni, industry professionals and faculty

• Determine specific majors of interest at MSOE to pursue in the following term 

• Engage in career exploration activities to discover strengths, interests and values 

• Meet regularly with an academic advisor and RCAS Raider Success Ally who can assess student their needs and connects them with campus resources  

Courses  

Year One
Fall

• CHM 1010  - Chemistry I 4 credits   
• COM 1001  - College Writing 3 credits 
• EGR 1001  - Exploring Engineering 3 credits  
• MTH 1110  - Calculus 4 credits   

Spring

• MTH 1120  - Calculus II 4 credits  
• PHY 1110  - Physics I 4 credits  
• Major Exploration Choice 1 - 3-4 credits²
• Major Exploration Choice 2 - 3-4 credits¹

Computing Explorers Pathway

The Computing Explorers Pathway is a one-year program. In the first semester of classes, students will receive a broad introduction to computing through courses in programming, digital logic, and user experience. In their second semester of classes, students take a software course and an elective course to further explore their interests in computing.   Students are introduced to MSOE’s four computing programs, computer science, computer engineering, software engineering and user experience, and decide on the program that is best for them at the end of their first year of study.

Program Benefits  

• Try out several computing majors so you can find the one that fits you best 

• All courses count towards degree requirements in most programs  

• Enjoy community building activities with peers in the Explorers Pathway  

• An advisor helps students create a custom four-year graduation plan and supports students throughout their academic career³

Problem Solving for Programming Course

• Study the mindset and core strategies to solve problems by developing appropriate software and documentation
• Learn a variety of solution strategies, work with various data types, and develop an understanding of how to trace, debug, update, and evaluate the execution of programs
• Become exposed to a variety of problems in a variety of domains, collaborate with peers, and build confidence working with code
• Work with generative AI agents to effectively and efficiently develop, debug, test, and document code
• Create a final project where you collaboratively apply solution strategies to build and present a software solution to a complex problem that you design and implement

Courses  

• CSC 1000  - First Year Seminar - Computing 1 credit  
• CSC 1001  - Problem Solving for Programming 3 credits
• CPE 1500  - Digital Logic 4 credits  
• MTH 1110  - Calculus 4 credits   
• UXD 1001  - Human-Centered Design 3 credits 

• COM 1001  - College Writing 3 credits  
• CSC 1110  - Software Development 4 credits  
• MTH 1120  - Calculus II 4 credits 
• Major Exploration Choice 3-4 credits⁴

Notes:

¹Four-year graduation plans are available for all engineering majors, provided that the student follows the path shown in the Courses section and makes a final choice of major among those targeted by the student’s Major Exploration Choice courses.

²Major Exploration Choice courses are chosen according to the student’s possible destination majors, in consultation with an advisor. The course may count in the major GPA depending on the student’s final choice of degree program. 

³Four-year graduation plans are available for Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and User Experience, provided that the student follows the path shown in the Courses section.

⁴Major Exploration Choice courses are chosen according to the student’s possible destination majors, in consultation with an advisor. The course may count in the major GPA depending on the student’s final choice of degree program.