SBS Exploratory Track

Welcome to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Exploratory Track program (SBS ET). This program allows students the opportunity to explore academic majors, while engaging in the SBS Pathways framework. SBS Pathways encourages students to think holistically about their college experience by combining academic, experiential, and career opportunities into one cohesive learning experience. In SBS, although every student creates their own unique path, no student travels alone. On your journey, you will work with faculty, academic advisors, career and professional development staff, and peer advising interns to navigate your transition to college.

What Can Exploration Do for YOU?

Former ET Student Shares His Journey

Hi! My name is Angel McEncroe, a current Civil Engineering Major and a former Exploratory Track student. I hardly knew what a college major was before coming to UMass, and didn’t want to commit to studying something that I would regret. Luckily, the Exploratory Track allowed me to study a wide range of subjects right from the first semester – I took an Economics course, a Sociology course, a Math class, and a History class. I could figure out which courses were best for me & what I found interesting, all while still being able to get credit without falling behind. I like that the Exploratory Track didn’t restrict me to specifically SBS courses, as I was able to explore all of the diverse courses UMass has to offer. Even though I had a full 3 semesters to figure out which major I finally wanted to pursue, I came to the decision at the end of my second semester of college. Thanks to the Exploratory Track’s design, I’ll still be graduating on time (if not early) without having to overload any extra credits or classes, even after spending a whole year just figuring out the direction I wanted to take my future. 

Angel McEncroe | he/him/his
B.S. Civil Engineering
Peer Mentor – Pierpont/Moore Cluster
College of Engineering, Class of 2026
University of Massachusetts Amherst

Spring Break Skill Building, with SBS Careers

Spring break is around the corner.  Have you considered using some of that time to move forward on your job or internship search?

Your SBS Career team invites you to join us virtually for a structured, self-guided professional skill building …

By Carol Sharick
Carol Sharick Director of Career and Professional Development for Undergraduates, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
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Ansin Study Abroad Scholarship Award

Are you interested in studying abroad this summer or during the Fall semester? Are you concerned about the cost? The Ron Ansin scholarship is for students with financial need who are interested in exploring another part of the world through …

By Koni Denham
Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS
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SBS Financial Aid Scholarship

The SBS Financial Aid Award is funded by multiple donors and supports SBS students who have demonstrated financial need as verified by the Financial Aid Office and who have good academic standing with a GPA of 2.0+.

The scholarship committee will review applications on a case …

By Koni Denham
Koni Denham Director of Student Success - SBS
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Featured Resources

Skill-Building With Linkedin Learning Classes

See below for skill-building classes – visit LinkedIn Learning for more.

Relevant Courses

Explore Outcomes

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

The SBS Office of Career & Professional Development annually surveys graduating seniors in order to provide a snapshot of their post-graduation plans.  The survey begins just prior to graduation, and continues until six months after graduation.  Our data collection process is guided by the industry standard put forth by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, and includes information collected by the SBS Office of Career & Professional Development, the Office of Institutional Research at UMass Amherst, and by various academic departments, as well as from information that is made publicly available by students.  The SBS undergraduate outcomes knowledge rate for 2022 was 70%, though knowledge rate varies among departments.

  • First Destination
  • Top Employers
  • Starting Salary
  • Job Titles
  • Employment Locations
  • Top Universities
  • Degree Types
  • Fields of Study

First Destination

SBS graduates pursue a range of plans after graduation, including employment, continuing education, and volunteering/service, among others.  This graph depicts what recent SBS graduates tell us they are doing within six months after graduation.