Exploratory Pathways

The Stories, Culture, and Ideas pathway invites students to explore human expression, identity, and historical change across a range of media and disciplines.

This pathway connects directly to the Literature, Media, and Writing (LMW) major, where students engage in storytelling across poetry, fiction, nonfiction, film, digital narratives, and critical theory. Students sharpen communication skills, collaborate in workshops, and analyze texts and media through cultural, historical, and theoretical lenses.

Courses like Books That Changed the World and Self-Discovery: Film and Literature develop critical thinking, cultural literacy, and expressive ability. Students gain hands-on experience by contributing to ellipsis... literature and art, Westminster’s student-run journal, working in the Writing Center, or producing digital narratives. This exploration prepares students for careers in publishing, communications, advocacy, education, or digital media.

The Arts, Performance, and Creativity pathway supports students in exploring visual art, theatre, dance, and music while fulfilling general education goals.

With guidance from academic advisors (your own Griffin Guides), students sample foundational courses such as ART 180: Photography, ART 206: Figure Painting, THTR 101: Devised Theatre, and THTR 145: Stagecraft I, gaining hands-on experience across disciplines before choosing a major.

Whether pursuing an Art major focused on technical skill and creative voice, or a Theatre major with options in acting, design, and stagecraft through BA or BFA tracks, students develop expressive confidence and artistic identity through intentional curriculum exploration.

The Numbers, Data, and Analysis pathway is designed for students curious about how data informs decisions, how patterns are uncovered, and how resources are managed.

Students explore a wide range of courses in mathematics, statistics, business, and economics, developing critical analytical skills while clarifying their academic direction.

Westminster’s Accounting program combines rigorous academics with experiential learning, preparing students to interpret and communicate financial information. The Economics program empowers students to analyze market behavior and policy through both theory and data.

This pathway supports informed decision-making through curriculum exploration grounded in quantitative reasoning and real-world application.

The Lab, Bodies, and Life pathway immerses students in lab work, hands-on research, and field-based learning to deepen their understanding of the human body and natural world.

Chemistry majors benefit from a critical-thinking curriculum grounded in experimental design, collaborative labs, and evidence-based conclusions, supported by resources like Meldrum Science Coaching and early access to faculty-mentored research.

Biology students build a strong foundation in organismal and molecular biology through small lab-based classes in the Meldrum Science Center and immersive fieldwork across Utah’s deserts, mountains, and the Great Salt Lake.

This pathway helps students uncover connections between chemistry and biology, discover their academic “why,” and refine their goals—whether they’re preparing for graduate programs or careers in biotech, environmental science, healthcare, or education.

The Society, Politics, and Advocacy pathway invites students to explore how individuals and institutions shape—and are shaped by—social and political systems. Ideal for those interested in justice, civic engagement, and social change, this pathway encourages curriculum exploration as a foundation for discovering academic passions and career goals.

Through guided advising, students engage with disciplines like Political Science, which explores power, policy, and governance at local and global levels, and Justice Studies, which examines equity, law, and systemic change through an interdisciplinary lens. A range of courses, events, and experiential learning opportunities help students develop the knowledge and skills needed to become informed advocates and ethical leaders.

The Nature, Adventure, and Exploration pathway connects students to the outdoors through courses in environmental science, ecology, and outdoor leadership, paired with hands-on opportunities like camping, backpacking, and fieldwork through Westminster’s Outdoor Program.

This pathway supports exploration of the Environmental Studies major, which blends classroom learning with field-based experience to investigate sustainability, environmental systems, and human–environment interactions.

Students gain analytical tools and practical insight through mentorship, real-world exploration, and interdisciplinary coursework—preparing them for careers in conservation, environmental policy, research, or advocacy.