Knowledge and enduring skills—the anchors of the Gettysburg Approach—are practiced and deepened within our Guided Pathways and supported by your Personal Advising Team. This holistic and intentional approach to education ensures that every experience on campus—in the classroom and beyond—matters. Each hands-on experience builds upon another, giving you the knowledge and skills you need to excel in your life and career.
Beginning in Fall 2023, every incoming student can participate in the Guided Pathways and have their own Personal Advising Team. By participating in the Guided Pathways, you have access to competitive grants ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 to apply toward a Pathways experience. Upon completion of the Guided Pathways, you will earn a Guided Pathways Certificate at your Class of 2027 Commencement Ceremony, formally recognizing and celebrating the knowledge, enduring skills, and experiences you’ve gained during your tenure at Gettysburg College.
On this page:
Year - to - Year Progression
Year 1: Introductory Experiences
You will connect with your Personal Advising Team as a first-year student. Your faculty advisor, co-curricular advisor, and career advisor will work with you to help discover your interests, what matters to you, and what skills you seek to develop.
You will be encouraged to take advantage of experiences within multiple Pathways and reflect with your Personal Advising Team to draw connections between your interests and aspirations. You will have introductory experiences such as the opportunity to participate in an on-site job shadow. You will also have the opportunity to gain industry and job search insights from professionals at the January Term (J-Term) industry meetup. In addition, you will participate in a First-Year Seminar program and partner closely with a faculty member and a small group of classmates to develop the skills that will benefit your academic career at Gettysburg.
The Guided Pathways
Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Pathway
You will learn how to creatively contribute to society through the Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Pathway. This Pathway provides experiences to help you develop a novel or unique idea, creative work, or product while practicing and deepening the enduring skills of teamwork, leadership, and creativity, among others.
As you progress through the Pathway—with the support of your Personal Advising Team—you will assess and articulate how to develop an idea to fulfill a need or positively impact communities. Through your Pathway experiences—and with the support of your Personal Advising Team—you will develop the skills necessary to communicate the value of your ideas. Experiences within this Pathway include access to the Innovation and Creativity Lab, the Community GIGs (Give Ideas to Gettysburg) program, and the Entrepreneurial Fellowship program, among many others.
Learn more about the Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation Pathway.
Global Citizenship and Intercultural Fluency Pathway
Through the Global Citizenship and Intercultural Fluency Pathway, you will learn how to address the complex problems of our world. This Pathway provides you with experiences of learning about cultures different from your own and will teach you the skills of adaptability and how to communicate effectively across differences.
As you progress through the Pathway—with the support of your Personal Advising Team—you will apply a deep understanding of multiple worldviews, experiences, and power structures to initiate and address significant global challenges. Experiences within this Pathway include participating in a Cross-Disciplinary Science Institute (X-SIG) research project with a global focus, studying abroad, and leading a Center for Public Service immersion project, among many others.
Learn more about the Global Citizenship and Intercultural Fluency Pathway.
Justice and Community Change Pathway
Foster equity-minded change through community-based work with the Justice and Community Change Pathway. This Pathway provides you with experiences to discover and understand the inner workings of local communities from the perspective of equity, action, and justice.
As you progress through the Pathway—with the support of your Personal Advising Team—you will learn and practice the skills of leadership, teamwork, and how to effect change at the local level. Experiences within this Pathway include serving as a first-generation student mentor, coordinating a large-scale philanthropic event such as Relay for Life, and attending or participating in political debates with the Eisenhower Institute, among many others.
Learn more about the Justice and Community Change Pathway.
Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration Pathway
You will learn how to inspire teams to achieve their goals through the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration Pathway. This Pathway provides you with the experiences to practice and understand how to contribute to a team effectively.
As you progress through the Pathway—with the support of your Personal Advising Team—you will learn how to synthesize the ideas of others, practice group facilitation, address conflict, and manage complex projects from start to finish. Experiences within this Pathway include participating in the Garthwait Leadership Center (GLC) Leadership Certificate program, joining or leading a campus recreation team, and serving as a Peer Learning Associate or Residential Life staff member, among many others.
Learn more about the Leadership, Teamwork, and Collaboration Pathway.
Career Development Pathway
Every student who opts into the Guided Pathways will supplement their chosen Pathway with the Career Development Pathway. The Career Development Pathway gives students the tools and strategies to create and pursue a meaningful future. Through this Pathway, and together with their Personal Advising Team, students will better understand their interests and how they can align with their future aspirations.
As you progress through the Career Development Pathway, you will develop and cultivate your professional network and participate in transformative career-related experiences, including internships, externships, and job shadowing opportunities, and many more. You will also learn how to effectively articulate your Gettysburg experience—both through your resume and orally—in ways that resonate with graduate schools and employers.
Learn more about the Career Development Pathway.