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Penn State Altoona
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  1. Home
  2. Academics
  3. Academic Advising
  4. Academic Advising Basics
  5. New Student Orientation (NSO)

Academic Planning and Entrance to Major

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

Academic Advising Basics

  • New Student Orientation (NSO)
    • Resources
    • Academic Advising
    • Academic Planning and Entrance to Major
    • Course Scheduling
    • Campus Locations
    • What's next?
  • Getting Started
    • Where Should You Start?
    • Before Meeting with Your Adviser
  • Reflect
    • Student Stories
    • Who am I?!
    • Timeline Activity
  • Consult
    • Explore Penn State Majors
    • Find the Four-year Plan for a Major
    • Learn What Courses I Need for a Major
    • LionPATH Tutorials
    • Finding Courses
  • Decide
    • Declaring a Major
    • Changing Your Campus
    • The Art of Choosing
    • What to Do with Your Life
  • Advising Essentials
    • Who is My Adviser?
    • How to Schedule an Appointment with Your Adviser
    • How Do I Change My Adviser?
    • Student and Adviser Responsibilities
    • Academic Calendar
    • General Education Requirements
    • Credits Per Semester
    • Definitions and Abbreviations
    • Campus Directory
    • Colleges, Majors, and Minors
  • Academic Policies and Procedures
    • Academic Progress
    • Deferred Grade
    • Grade Forgiveness
    • Repeating a Course
    • Leave of Absence
    • Re-enrollment
    • Semester Classification
    • Withdrawal
    • Alternative Grades
  • Exploring Majors and Minors
    • Using the Undergraduate Bulletin
    • Classes to Explore Majors
    • Ways to Explore Majors
    • Health Professions
    • Pre-Law Advising
    • Technology Majors
    • Education Abroad
    • Business Majors
    • Penn State Altoona Majors
  • Classes
    • Modes of Instruction
    • When do I register for classes?
    • Choosing Classes
    • Find Courses
    • Semester by Semester Planning Worksheet
    • Add a Course
    • Drop a Course
    • Swap a Class
    • Add a Class that is Full
    • Mid-semester Classes
    • Late Drop a Course
    • Summer Courses
    • Transfer Credits
    • Online Classes
  • Campus Maps
    • Campus Map: Altoona
    • Campus Map: University Park
  • Learning Support and Tutoring
    • Learning Resources Center (Tutoring)
    • Student Disability Resources
    • iStudy-2
    • Note-taking Video and Study Skills Resources
  • LionPATH
    • Update Academics (Change of Major, Add a Minor)
    • Update Campus (Change of Campus)
    • GPA Calculator
    • Getting a What-if Report
    • Enrollment Verification
    • How to Get an Official Transcript
    • Apply for Graduation
  • LionPATH Holds
    • Financial Responsibility Agreement Hold
    • MMR Immunization Holds
    • Financial Holds
    • Academic Warning Hold
  • Provide Feedback
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
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Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Center for Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Student Diversity and Inclusion Programming
    • International Student Services
    • Housing
    • Parking
    • Police and Safety
    • Career Services
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Community-Based Studies
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Athletics News
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Hall of Fame
  • Stay Connected
    • Faculty and Staff Directory
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Campus Calendar
    • PSUAlert Text Messaging Service
    • COVID-19 Information
    • Penn State Altoona Connect
    • Penn State Student Engagement Network
Penn State University
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 814-949-5000

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