DUS 101: Introduction

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Introduction to DUS Navigator 101

Overview

Are you feeling overwhelmed with decisions?

Stressed because you're not sure what you want to major in?
Have a major in mind, but don't know enough about it?
Wondering how to successfully navigate your first year at Penn State?

To help you deal with these issues, academic advisers in Penn State's Division of Undergraduate Studies have developed DUS Navigator 101, an educational planning program for first-year students.

DUS Navigator 101 is structured like a course. It consists of a series of lessons and assignments that will help you clarify your interests, consider your abilities, and explore academic opportunities so you can develop a well-informed educational plan. These lessons will also help you assess your academic progress and become knowledgeable about academic policies and procedures.

Although DUS Navigator 101 was designed for new, first-year students enrolled in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, other students who are navigating their first year in college, especially those who are exploring majors, may also find these lessons helpful.

Lessons

The thirteen DUS Navigator 101 lessons are intended to be completed sequentially at specific times during the first year. The syllabus provides a suggested timeline for completing the lessons.

Most of the lessons include links to assignments that you should download, fill out, and print. Take the completed assignments to your advising meetings. Save a copy of each assignment on your computer for future use/reference.

Each lesson also includes a link to a student example to help you get a better idea of how to complete the lesson based on how a fictitious student completed it.