05-00 and 06-00 Degree Candidates

A baccalaureate degree candidate or an associate degree candidate is admitted to one of the following: a college, a major within a college, or the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

1. A Baccalaureate Degree Candidate–is admitted to a college or to the Division of Undergraduate Studies. Admission to a major within a college is an additional step and may occur before enrollment in any courses at the University, after successful completion of an approved sequence of courses, or after attainment of a specified semester classification.
2. An Associate Degree Candidate–is admitted to a major or to the Division of Undergraduate Studies.

Revised Editorially: 3/2/76
Revised: 9/8/81

Baccalaureate Degree Candidate–the applicant must meet both the minimum entrance requirements (Carnegie Units) and the minimum admission standards (prediction of academic performance–referred to as the evaluation index) for the college of enrollment or for the Division of Undergraduate Studies, whichever is appropriate. The minimum entrance requirements are specified in Senate Policy 05-81.

Associate Degree Candidate–the applicant must meet both the minimum entrance requirements (Carnegie Units) and the minimum admission standards (prediction of academic performance – referred to as evaluation index) for the major or for the Division of Undergraduate Studies, whichever is appropriate. The minimum entrance requirements are specified in Senate Policy 05-82.

Note a: Admissibility to a baccalaureate or an associate degree for an applicant formerly enrolled in 17 or fewer collegiate credits at another regionally accredited college or university is determined by the applicant’s academic performance in such courses as well as by the high school record and standardized test scores, with the exception of an adult learner as defined by the University.

Note b: An applicant who does not meet all the criteria specified in Sections 05-00 and 06-00 can be considered for admission as a degree seeking conditionally enrolled in DUS student in accordance with the policies and procedures of Section 10-00.

A-1 First-Year Student

Initial Legislation: 6/5/73 (as Rule A-10; A-11)
Revised: 10/9/73 (as Rule A-10; A-11)
Revised: 3/2/76
Revised: 3/14/95
Revised Editorially: 6/6/12
Revised: 4/29/14
Revised: 4/28/15
Revised: 12/5/17

To be eligible for admission consideration to the University as a Baccalaureate degree candidate, either as a beginning student or as a student with advanced standing, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Penn State requires graduation from a recognized secondary high school program, home school program or equivalent (e.g. GED), as reported on the application for undergraduate admission, for admission to four-year degree programs. A secondary school diploma issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or appropriate authority in another state, may be accepted as equivalent to graduation from an accredited secondary school and as equivalent to the minimum secondary school units required for admission, as indicated under the Minimum Carnegie Units heading, with the exception of math and world language.
   An adult learner, as defined by the University, may be considered for admission on an exception basis without a high school transcript by, at a minimum, self-certifying graduation. If an adult learner has completed 18 or more collegiate credits at an accredited university, successful collegiate level courses and secondary level Carnegie units as reported on the application will be considered for the admission decision. Adult learner applicants with 17 or fewer collegiate credits are strongly encouraged to provide a high school transcript for admission; however, if a high school transcript is not available, the applicant will be evaluated based on the available credentials and may be referred to degree-seeking conditionally enrolled in DUS or other options.
2. Completion of the required units of preparatory work as indicated below under the heading Minimum Carnegie Units. The University accepts the definition of a secondary school unit as established by the Carnegie Foundation. A unit represents a year of work in a subject in a preparatory school or secondary school, provided that the work done in that subject is approximately one-fourth of the total amount of work regularly required in a year in the school.

The University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant for admission for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant’s qualifications to pursue higher education.

Admission to degree candidacy is specified in terms of enrollment in a college or school of the University or in the Division of Undergraduate Studies. Entrance to a major is a subsequent step that normally occurs near the end of the second year of study. Both for admission to a college or school and for entrance to a major, a student must satisfy the requirements of the University, of the particular college or school, and of the major area. In special circumstances, the University may need to further restrict admissions to a college or school and entrance to majors because of space limitations.

Minimum Carnegie Units

English
Four units, including one unit each in composition and literature, are required.

Social Studies/Art/Humanities
Three units in any combination of social studies, arts, and humanities are required.

World Language

Two units in a single world language other than English are required. However, a student may be admitted with fewer than two units in a world language other than English, but must correct this deficiency by the time the student graduates from Penn State. This deficiency may be corrected by passing one three- or four-credit college-level world language course or by demonstrating proficiency equivalent to two units of high school world language study.

Either a third unit in the same language or an additional unit in a second world language other than English is recommended.

Science
Three units of science are required.

Math
Three units of mathematics are required (four are recommended), selected from any combination of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.

Some specific programs may have additional entrance requirements.

A-1 First-Year Student

Initial Legislation: 3/15/11 (Previously Appendix C)
Revised: 4/28/15
Revised: 1/26/16 – effective fall 2016 – Archive
Revised: 12/5/17

To be eligible for admission consideration to the University as an Associate degree candidate, either as a beginning student or as a student with advanced standing, an applicant must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Penn State requires graduation from a recognized secondary high school program, home school program or equivalent (e.g. GED), as reported on the application for undergraduate admission, for admission to two-year degree programs.

A secondary school diploma issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, or appropriate authority in another state, may be accepted as equivalent to graduation from an accredited secondary school and as equivalent to the minimum secondary school units required for admission, as indicated under the Minimum Carnegie Units heading, with the exception of math and world language.

An adult learner, as defined by the University, may be considered for admission on an exception basis without a high school transcript by, at a minimum, self-certifying graduation. If an adult learner has completed 18 or more collegiate credits at an accredited university, successful collegiate level courses and secondary level Carnegie units as reported on the application will be considered for the admission decision. Adult learner applicants with 17 or fewer collegiate credits are strongly encouraged to provide a high school transcript for admission; however, if a high school transcript is not available, the applicant will be evaluated based on the available credentials and may be referred to degree-seeking conditionally enrolled in DUS or other options.

2. Completion of the required units of preparatory work as indicated below under the heading Minimum Carnegie Units.

The University accepts the definition of a secondary school unit as established by the Carnegie Foundation. A unit represents a year of work in a subject in a preparatory school or secondary school, provided that the work done in that subject is approximately one-fourth of the total amount of work regularly required in a year in the school.

The University reserves the right to deny admission to any applicant for admission for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant’s qualifications to pursue higher education.

Both for admission to a college or school and for entrance to a major, a student must satisfy the requirements of the University, of the particular college or school, and of the major area. In special circumstances, the University may need to further restrict admissions to a college or school and entrance to majors because of space limitations.

Minimum Carnegie Units

English
Four units, including one unit each in composition and literature, are required.

World Language/Social Studies/Art/Humanities
Five units in any combination of world language, social studies, arts, and humanities are required. These units may include advanced placement courses in the arts.

Science
Two units of science are required.

Math
Two units of mathematics are required.

Some specific programs may have additional entrance requirements.

A-1 First-Year Student

Initial Legislation: 1/24/12 (Previously Appendix C)
Revised: 4/28/15
Revised: 10/23/18

An applicant must (a) meet the entrance requirements (Carnegie Units) of the college of enrollment; (b) meet minimum advanced standing requirements of the college of enrollment (requirements can be obtained from the admissions office); and (c) be in one of the following groups:

1. An applicant who has attended or is attending an accredited college or university other than The Pennsylvania State University, with a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graded courses taken at all colleges and universities previously attended. Failure to indicate at the time of application that courses have been taken at another institution may result in refusal or cancellation of admission. Note a: An applicant previously enrolled as a baccalaureate or associate degree candidate at The Pennsylvania State University and having subsequently attended other accredited colleges or universities should refer to Section 58-00 for the policies and procedures for re-enrollment to the University as a baccalaureate degree candidate. Note b: An applicant whose overall grade-point average is less than 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) but has a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) at all institutions attended in the four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may apply for admission as an advanced standing student with forgiveness in accordance with the policies and procedures of Section 06-57. An applicant who has not attempted any collegiate level course work four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may also apply for advanced standing with forgiveness.Note c: An applicant who does not meet the minimum requirement of a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and does not meet the criteria for advanced standing with forgiveness as outlined in 06-57 may enroll in credit courses as a non-degree student in accordance with the policies and procedures in Section 14-00.Note d: An applicant who is not in good standing at another accredited institution for disciplinary reasons must consult with the director of the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response for admissions clearance.
2. An applicant who has completed the requirements for an associate degree at this University must apply for re-enrollment as a baccalaureate degree candidate in accordance with the policies and procedures of Section 58-00 and for a change of major in accordance with the policies and procedures of Section 37-00.Note a: An applicant enrolled in, but not having completed, an associate degree program at the University must follow the policies and procedures for a change of major specified in Section 37-00.Note b: An applicant who has completed one baccalaureate degree may be admitted as a candidate for another baccalaureate degree. If the degree was granted by the University, the applicant follows the policies and procedures for a sequential degree specified in Section 61-00. If the degree was granted by another accredited college or university, the applicant follows the policies and procedures of this section.

A-2 Transfer Student and Transfer Course Processes

Revised Editorially: 3/2/76
Revised: 4/6/82
Revised: 1/22/91
Revised: 8/28/12
Revised Editorially: 11/17/22 (Office of Student Conduct name change)

An advanced standing applicant who has not achieved a grade point average of 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graded courses taken at all institutions previously attended, but whose grade point average is at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graded courses taken at all institutions attended in the four years prior to the requested enrollment semester, will be considered for advanced standing admission to degree candidacy with forgiveness.

Note a: An advanced standing applicant whose grade point average is below 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) who has not attempted any collegiate level course work in the four years prior to the requested enrollment semester will also be considered for advanced standing admission to degree candidacy with forgiveness.

Note b: For an advanced standing applicant who has been honorably discharged from the armed services or is an active duty member of the armed services and has served at least 365 days, the four year rule is waived, provided that the grade-point average of below 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) occurred prior to military service and the grade-point average of all coursework during or since military service is at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale).

Initial Legislation: 1/22/91
Revised: 4/23/96
Revised: 8/28/12

An applicant must (a) meet the entrance requirements (Carnegie Units) specified by the major; (b) have attended or be attending an accredited college or university other than The Pennsylvania State University; and (c) have a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) for all graded courses taken at all institutions previously attended. Failure to indicate at the time of application that courses have been taken at another institution may result in refusal or cancellation of admission.

Note a: An applicant previously enrolled as an associate or baccalaureate degree candidate at The Pennsylvania State University and having subsequently attended other accredited institutions should refer to Section 58-00 for the policies and procedures for re-enrollment to the University as an associate degree candidate.

Note b: An applicant whose overall grade-point average is less than 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) but has a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) at all institutions attended in the four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may apply for admission as an advanced standing student with forgiveness in accordance with the policies and procedures of Section 06-57. An applicant who has not attempted any collegiate level course work four years prior to the requested enrollment semester may also apply for advanced standing with forgiveness.

Note c: An applicant who does not meet the minimum requirement of a grade-point average of at least 2.00 (on a 4.00 scale) and does not meet the criteria for advanced standing with forgiveness as outlined in 06-57 may enroll in credit courses as a non-degree student in accordance with the policies and procedures in Section 14-00.

Note d: An applicant not in good standing at another accredited institution for disciplinary reasons must consult with the director of the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response for admissions clearance.

Note e: An applicant who has already completed the requirements for either a baccalaureate or an associate degree may be admitted as a candidate for a new associate degree. If the degree was granted by the University, the applicant follows the policies and procedures for a sequential degree specified in Section 61-00. If the degree was granted by another accredited college or university, the applicant follows the policies and procedures of this section.

Note f: An applicant currently enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at the University must follow the policies and procedures for a change of major given in Section 37-00.

A-2 Transfer Student and Transfer Course Processes

Revised Editorially: 3/2/76
Revised: 6/2/81
Revised: 4/6/82
Revised: 12/6/88
Revised: 1/22/91
Revised: 8/28/12
Revised Editorially: 11/17/22 (Office of Student Conduct name change)