Orientation
Student Orientation and Transition Programs
Student Orientation and Transition Programs provide programming for new and continuing Penn Staters. Our programs also support the parents and family members of new students. We focus on facilitating successful academic, social, and personal transitions to Penn State. We do this through programs such as:
New Student Orientation and Welcome Days
Transfer Student Orientation
Change-of-Campus Orientation
ALEKS Math Assessment
The ALEKS Math Assessment evaluates a student’s readiness to take college-level math and science courses. Since these courses are demanding, it is important for students to begin in the course most likely to lead to success. Students will not be permitted to take a course unless they have demonstrated readiness – either through the ALEKS Math Assessment or by completing high school calculus. Students required to complete ALEKS will do so as part of completing their NSO Tasklist. Students wishing to retake ALEKS to improve their score may do so by using the learning modules within ALEKS. Students may retake the assessment up to two more times after using the learning modules (for a total of three attempts).
Students who have completed high school calculus but are concerned about their readiness to succeed in college-level mathematics and science courses are encouraged to take the ALEKS Math Assessment. They can use the additional information to make informed decisions in consultation with an academic adviser.
Academic Overview
The beauty of the Penn State system of Commonwealth Campuses is choice. Each campus offers four-year programs. Students may also choose to participate in the 2+2 plan, where they would spend the first two years at one campus and then transition to another Penn State campus to complete the remaining two years. Students have opportunities to explore and determine which campus and major best meets their needs. Students may choose to remain at their starting campus or complete their degree at another Penn State campus, including University Park. Factors that impact this decision may include the size of the campus, location, academic programs available, involvement opportunities, and housing options. Working with academic advisers, faculty, staff, and families, students can create a plan that works seamlessly.
The Penn State Degree
The Penn State undergraduate degree includes General Education requirements (see below), requirements for the major, and other academic experiences such as minors, internships, and/or undergraduate research. All three components together help students develop a solid foundation upon which they build a breadth of skills as well as a depth of knowledge in a specific content area.
General Education Requirements
Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. The four pillars of general education include Foundations, Breadth, Integrative Studies, and Exploration.
| Foundation | Units |
|---|---|
| Writing and Speaking (GWS) | 9 |
| Quantification (GQ) | 6 |
Requirements: C or better required; single domain courses only.
| Knowledge Domains | Units |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences (GN) | 3 |
| Arts (GA) | 3 |
| Humanities (GH) | 3 |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) | 3 |
| Health and Wellness (GHW) | 3 |
Requirements: Single domain courses only (no Inter-domain). Students choose courses outside their initial major prefix for GA, GN, GH, GS. (Example: ECON major may not select ECON courses; does not apply to GHW).
| Integrative Studies | Units |
|---|---|
| Integrative Studies: Inter-domain | 6 |
Requirements: Select any two Inter-domain courses that are not used for major program requirements.
| Exploration | Units |
|---|---|
| Additional GA, GH, GN, GS, and Inter-domain courses and up to 3 units of World Language. Must include 3 units of GN course which may be Inter-domain. | 9 |
Requirements: Students choose courses outside their initial major prefix for GA, GN, GH, GS, and Inter-domain. This category may be reduced to reflect courses prescribed by major programs. (See details of intended major.) World Language course beyond the student’s degree program requirements or minimally at the 12th credit level (example: SPAN 3).
Students can use the General Education Planning Tool to help them plan their General Education credits.
Major Requirements
Requirements differ for each major and in each academic college. (Details can be found in the Undergraduate Bulletin.) Generally, major requirements include prescribed courses that all students in the major take, additional courses that all students choose from a select list, and supporting courses the students choose based on individual interests and goals. Students should work with an academic adviser to clearly understand the specific requirements of majors of interest. General Education requirements may be partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. In addition, bachelor of arts (B.A.) and bachelor of science (B.S.) degree requirements may differ. Students are encouraged to work with an academic adviser to identify which degree best meets their needs.
Other Requirements
Depending on the college and major, a degree program may also include world language proficiency, internship experience, human diversity courses, and/or electives.
Administrative Enrollment Controls
To be eligible for entrance to majors with administrative enrollment controls, students must be enrolled in the college offering the major or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies, be within a designated credit window, have completed the required prerequisite courses, and have the minimum cumulative GPA required for the intended major. Additional requirements may also apply. Students are strongly encouraged to work closely with an academic adviser and to review the specific entrance criteria for intended majors.
For more information, see policy P-5: Administrative Enrollment Controls for Undergraduate Majors.
Declaring a Major and Upper-Division Campus Choice
The student’s major choice often plays the most prominent role in determining the upper-division campus. “Upper division” refers to the junior and senior years. Most students will choose their major in the spring of the sophomore year. Academic advisers and staff at each campus guide students in exploring majors based on the student’s goals and then plan the final two years at a campus where that major can be completed.
Students first become eligible to declare a major upon completion of at least 27.1 credits (typically at the end of two semesters) and achieving a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 2.00 and third-semester standing for entrance. While many majors can be started and completed at the original campus, others require the student to transition to another Commonwealth campus or to the University Park campus. Therefore, the student’s choice of major may drive the upper-division campus choice.
At the time a student has successfully completed 43.1 credits (typically at the end of the third semester) the student is eligible for a change of campus for their junior year as determined by the major choice. Students will be notified by email when to both declare their major and initiate the change of campus as appropriate.
Dean’s List
In recognition of academic excellence, selected students are named to the Dean’s List (policy G8) each semester.
- Undergraduate students only (includes nondegree, degree-seeking provisional and degree)
- Credit load requirement
- Semester GPA of 3.50 or higher
- Satisfactory/unsatisfactory, and audit courses are not included in the determination of GPA or credit load
- Dean’s List notation will appear on the student’s grade report and on the student’s academic record
| Quality of Performance | Grade | Grade‑Point Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent: Exceptional Achievement | A | 4.00 |
| Excellent: Exceptional Achievement | A- | 3.67 |
| Good: Extensive Achievement | B+ | 3.33 |
| Good: Extensive Achievement | B | 3.0 |
| Good: Extensive Achievement | B- | 2.67 |
| Satisfactory: Acceptable Achievement | C+ | 2.33 |
| Satisfactory: Acceptable Achievement | C | 2.00 |
| Poor: Minimal Achievement | D | 1.00 |
| Failure: Inadequate Achievement | F | 0.00 |
| Academic Dishonesty | XF | 0.00 |
Items to Know:
SGPA = Semester Grade-Point Average
CGPA = Cumulative Grade-Point Average
Dean’s list = 3.50 SGPA
Minimum acceptable = 2.00 CGPA
Minimal competitive CGPA at application:
Undergraduate internships: 3.00
Medical school: 3.50
Law school: 3.33
For information about medical school or other health professions, contact the Eberly College of Science.
For information about law school, contact the Division of Undergraduate Studies.