Future Students

Ready to start college, but not ready to decide on your major? No problem!

The Academic Exploration Program (AEP) has helped thousands of students through the years identify major and career opportunities that align with their skills, interests, values, and goals.

At Bradley, 1 in 10 first-year students begins in the Academic Exploration Program, making it the second-largest incoming program for new freshmen!

While in AEP, students will learn about major and career opportunities through the unique lens of their strengths and goals. New students will spend their first semesters completing graduation requirements while exploring their options through a series of assessments and activities designed to help them understand and align their skills and values with majors and occupations. 

Students will also have a knowledgeable and reliable professional advisor who will engage them with holistic and individualized academic advising. Most students who go through AEP graduate on the same timeline as their peers who may have declared a major on or before their first day. 

Students in AEP will enroll in a Student Planning Seminar (AEP 100), which will provide them with a variety of resources both on and off campus that will help them understand and define their academic goals through exposure, self-reflection, goal setting, and assessment.

Prospective students who wish to learn more about starting at Bradley with an undecided/exploratory major should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admission at (309) 677-1000 or admissions@bradley.edu.

We also encourage students to schedule a campus visit, where you can meet with AEP advisors to learn more about the program.