Majors have requirements that will need to be completed for entrance into a major.

Entrance to major requirements, listed in the Bulletin, need to be met to be eligible to enter a major. Specific courses, GPA requirements, specific completed credit amount, and a portfolio review are examples of the entrance to major requirements listed in the Bulletin.

Suggested academic plans for majors are also listed in the Bulletin to provide a guide for course selection each semester.

Students will begin in a pre-major status or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS). Once the entrance to major requirements have been mostly completed/in progress, students will be able to change into a specific major using Update Academics on LionPATH. Entrance to major usually occurs during the fourth semester, or it could occur sooner if requirements have been met. Students may change from DUS to pre-major status before the fourth semester.

A graphic demonstrating the pre-major process

Entrance to Major

  • Begin in Pre-major status
  • Complete entrance to major requirements which may include:
    • Specific courses
    • Grades/GPA
    • Credits
    • Portfolio/Talent Review
  • Enter a major

Non-Controlled/Controlled Majors

The following table explained non-controlled, academically-controlled, and administratively-controlled majors.

Non-controlled, Academically-controlled, and Administratively-controlled Majors
Major Type Details
Non-controlled
  • Majority of majors
  • Requires at least 29.1 credits
  • Requires at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA)
  • Examples:
    • Journalism
    • Philosophy
    • Political Science
    • Telecommunications
    • Sociology
Academically-controlled
  • Additional requirements beyond 29.1 credits
  • Additional coursework application or a certain cumulative GPA
  • Examples
    • Science majors
    • Education majors
    • Economics
Administratively-controlled
  • Require specific coursework
  • Higher cumulative GPA needed
  • Credit window limit
  • Examples:
    • Business majors
    • Advertising/Public Relations
    • Earth and Mineral Science majors
    • Engineering majors
    • Information Science and Technology majors

Change of Campus to University Park

Students usually need an academic reason to change to University Park before the fifth semester. If a student can get a full time schedule (twelve credits or more) at Penn State Altoona and make academic progress, the student will remain at Altoona for four semesters. Students usually change into a major before changing campus to University Park. Changes to other commonwealth campuses before the fifth semester (other than University Park) are often approved. The requested change is reviewed by the Penn State Altoona Registrar’s office and then by the campus to which the student is requesting transfer.

Next: Course Scheduling