Get Into a Smeal Major
Enrollment Controlled Major requirements for first-year students starting in summer 2022, fall 2022, spring 2023.
The Smeal College of Business is one of the top business schools in the country. Due to the popularity of our majors, all have administrative enrollment controls. As a Smeal student, it is critical that you understand all the policies and entrance-to-major requirements for Smeal business majors.
In recent years, The Smeal College of Business has experienced enrollment demand that has exceeded the college’s physical capacity to serve all desired applicants without compromising the quality of a Smeal College education. As a part of the plan to manage the high demand, it was determined that there would be no early entry into a Smeal major due to our administrative enrollment controls. In addition, capacity for each course for all Smeal College academic majors has been calculated to ensure each student will have the opportunity to graduate on-time. To honor the commitments made to our students, pre-major students may not enroll in upper-division courses designated for Smeal College majors. Exceptions will not be granted for pre-major students to be exempted from this policy.
B.S. in business completed at SMEAL (University Park)
The degree which completes at University Park is a B.S. in a specific major. Majors include:
- Accounting (ACCTG)
- Actuarial Science (ACTSCa)
- Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT)
- Finance (FIM)
- Management (MGMT)
- Management Information Systems (MIS)
- Marketing (MKTG)
- Risk Management (RM)
- Supply Chain and Information Systems (SCIS)
Minors
The Penn State Smeal College of Business offers several minors to students looking to supplement their major or explore a different area of business. Minors are not declared until the junior year, after you have declared your major.
- International Business
- Information Systems Management Minor
- Legal Environment of Business
- Supply Chain and Information Sciences and Technology
Smeal Entrance to Major Requirements Summer 2023 or later
Students admitted to the Smeal College of Business are in pre-major status (BA PMAJ) while completing entrance requirements for one of the eight majors available. These entrance requirements are a combination of overall and specific grade point averages in courses at Penn State along with completion of business foundation and supporting courses.
Applying for a major, known around campus as the Entrance to Major process, occurs within a defined window of completed cumulative credits at Penn State. This occurs traditionally during the student’s second year of study.
First-year Students entering summer 2023, fall 2023, spring 2023
In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, students must satisfy the following requirements:
- 36-59 graded Penn State credits (excludes transfer and AP credits)
- completed with a grade of C or better:
- completed ECON 102 or ECON 102H
- completed at Penn State (no substitutions or transfers) with a grade of C or better:
- earned a minimum cumulative grade-point average (GPA) for the SMEAL major of interest.
These courses require a grade of “C” or better. # The Actuarial Science major requires MATH 140 and MATH 141 with grades of “C” or better.
Once a student has completed or has in progress the necessary entrance to major courses and has attained the specified overall cumulative grade point average, the student can apply for a Smeal College major. This process must be completed within the specified window of completed cumulative credits, so all students must plan accordingly. In order to receive final approval for a Smeal major, students must maintain the initial criteria and additionally, attain a specific cumulative GPA in the entrance to major courses.
Requirements
Students apply for their major of choice upon meeting the following criteria:
- Must be enrolled at Penn State as a pre-major student in the Smeal College of Business (BA PMAJ) or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS PMAJ).
- Complete or be currently enrolled in all Entrance to Major courses, including obtaining grades of “C” or better in specified courses.
- Attain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for desired. This CGPA must also be met at the conclusion of the entrance to major process.
- Students may only apply for a Smeal College major upon earning a minimum of thirty-six cumulative credits but no more than fifty-nine cumulative credits at Penn State and have all entrance to major courses are either completed or in progress.
Grade Point Averages
Applicants must attain the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) established for the desired major. The CGPAs are:
|
Major |
Cumulative GPA |
|---|---|
| Accounting - ACCTG_BS | 3.20 |
| Actuarial Science (ACRSC_BS) | 3.20 |
| Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship - CIENT_BS | 3.20 |
| Finance - FIN_BS | 3.50 |
| Management - MGMT_BS | 3.20 |
| Management Information Systems - MIS_BS | 3.00 |
| Marketing - MKTG_BS | 3.25 |
| Real Estate – RE_BS | 3.20 |
| Risk Management - RM_BS | 3.20 |
| Supply Chain and Information Systems - SCIS_BS | 3.00 |
Smeal’s Entrance to Major Cumulative GPA Predictor
There are many factors that go into qualifying for a major in the Smeal College of Business. This tool is designed to facilitate discussion with your academic advisor. The numbers, interpretations, or other statements produced by this tool are not final and conclusive and thereby do not guarantee acceptance into a Smeal major. It is important to consult with your academic adviser to verify your qualification for an academic major under the applicable standards.
The interpretations provided by this tool are based on information obtained from Penn State's University Faculty Senate Policies for Students and the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook. Because this information is subject to change, it is important that you also consult with an academic adviser to make sure that the information is current and applicable to your situation.
Smeal's Entrance to Major cumulative GPA Predictor tool
Cumulative Credits
Matriculating from pre-major status to enrollment in a major is contingent upon the timing and completion of cumulative credits at Penn State.
- Cumulative credits are credits (courses) taken at Penn State.
- Advanced Placement (AP) credits and credits earned at other institutions are included in Total Credits but are not included in the cumulative credit total.
- Once a minimum of thirty-six Penn State credits completed - cumulative credits but no more than fifty-nine cumulative credits are earned and entrance to major criteria is met, students apply for a major.
- Typically, the application period (36-59 credits) is during the spring semester of the second year of study.
- Students who have completed 59.1 or more cumulative credits who are still in pre-major status become ineligible to apply for a Smeal major and will become ineligible to continue their enrollment in the college.
Suggested Academic Plan for Smeal Students (BA) at Altoona
This planner is a suggested sequence.
Changes may be made based on your English or math placement or the recommendations of your adviser.
This planner is based on placement in MATH 110 and ENGL 015.
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| § ENGLISH 15 (GWS) - Composition | 3.0 |
| § MATH 110 (GQ) - Calculus | 4.0 |
| § ECON 102 (GS) - Microeconomics | 3.0 |
| Foreign Language 001 | 4.0 |
| General Education (just in case) | 3.0 |
| PSU 3 - First Year Seminar | 1.0 |
| Total Credits | 18.0 |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| § MGMT 301 - Basic Management Concepts | 3.0 |
| § SCM 200 or STAT 200 (GQ) - Statistics | 4.0 |
| Foreign Language 002 | 4.0 |
| General Education | 3.0 |
| CAS 100 (GWS) - Speech Communication | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 17.0 |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| § MKTG 301 - Principles of Marketing | 3.0 |
| § ACCTG 211 - Fin/Mgrl Accounting | 4.0 |
| Foreign Language 003 | 4.0 |
| Global Awareness (GA/GH/GS) | 3.0 |
| General Education (GH/GS/GA) | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 17.0 |
| Course | Credits |
|---|---|
| § FIN 301 - Corporation Finance | 3.0 |
| ECON 104 - Macroeconomics | 3.0 |
| General Education (GH/GS/GA) | 3.0 |
| General Education (GH/GS/GA) | 3.0 |
| General Education (GHW) | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 15.0 |
- § - Entrance to Major Requirement
Students must demonstrate proficiency at the twelfth-credit level in a foreign language. Credits required to reach proficiency will vary based on the student’s background in that language.
Semesters five-8 vary depending on Major. Additionally, requirements and schedules for the Actuarial Science option in the Risk Management major vary slightly. Please refer to the Smeal College website for a sample outline of courses.
