What is A&S Open Option orÌýOPNO?

ARTS & SCIENCES

Deciding

Open Option |ÌýRedefining "Undecided"

In the College of Arts and Sciences, we believe creativity and innovation occur when we explore widely, synthesize disparate ideas and treat AND as a verb by actively drawing together fields of study and interests. A&S Open Option (OPNO) is your launchpad for exploring all that A&S offers in its many majors, minors and certificates.

OPNO gives you structured time and expert guidance to discover your path. While it is a major, OPNO is not a degree program. With specialized academic advising, you'll explore Bachelor degree pathways and declare your major by 60 credit hours—typically the end of your second year—ensuring you graduate on time while making a confident, informed choice.

Keep your A&S options open and discover the alchemy of ANDing.

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But life at its best is a creative synthesis of opposites in fruitful harmony.

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

Why choose A&S OPNO?

The benefits of starting your academic journey in A&S are vast:

  • Dedicated A&S advising and coaching professionals to support your exploration and deciding
  • Access to the A&S Honors program and Honors classes
  • Eligibility for A&S-only college and departmental scholarships
  • Declare yourÌýA&S majors as soon as you are ready without having to Intra-University Transfer (IUT)
  • Seamless connection to your departments and faculty
  • Referrals between A&S advising for curricular and co-curricular planning and A&S coaching for students who need more frequent planning and skill-building
  • Group advising sessions to help you navigate a range of topics like major exploration and connecting with faculty
  • Access to A&S faculty mentors
  • Eligibility to participate in a themed A&S Residential Academic ProgramÌý(RAP)
  • Opportunities designed for A&S OPNO students to exploreÌýmajors and minors, such as the A&S Majors & Minors Fair
the stylized ampersand, representing the College of Arts and Sciences' mission to bring about interdisciplinarity.

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What's your AND?

A&S minors let you riff on your studies. Mash together natural sciences, arts, humanitiesÌýAND social sciences to see whatÌýsparks your interests.

AND as we've never imagined!

With 50 majors to choose from, yourÌýunbounded experience is inÌýthe hands of your imagination.

Check out A&S majors and connect with A&S Academic Advising & Coaching to map a degree constellation.

Connect with A&S Academic Advising & CoachingÌýÌýÌýÌý

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How does ANDing look in day-to-dayÌýlife?

Listen to stories of ÀϾÅÆ·²è students, faculty and staff "finding their weird" and living out the alchemy of ANDing.

Featured podcast episode

When people listen: An interview with Aliya Trapp

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When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.

MARY OLIVER

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