Central to the pathways model is clear, educationally coherent program maps -which include specific course sequences, progress milestones, and program learning outcomes – that are aligned to what will be expected of students upon program completion in the workforce and in education at the next level in a given field. Students are helped from the start to explore academic and career options, choose a program of study, and develop a plan based on the program maps. These plans simplify student decision-making, and they enable colleges to provide predictable schedules, frequent feedback, and targeted support as needed to help students stay on track and complete their programs more efficiently. They also facilitate efforts by faculty to ensure that students are building the knowledge and skills across their programs that they will need to succeed in employment and further education.

What We Know About Guided Pathways, CCRC, 2015