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griffin Center for Excellence in Academic Advising

Entrance-to-College/Major Procedures (University Park)

This page provides information about the procedures that University Park students should use to request entrance to:
  1. premajor (general, common-year) status in a college or

  2. a specific major within a college.
Information about the requirements that need to be met in order to enter a college or major can be found on the Entrance-to-College/Major Requirements Web page.

Many students are eligible to enter a major prior to their fourth semester by following the procedures below. However, most students request entrance-to-major in the fourth semester by using the Entrance-to-Major (ETM) process on eLion.


Agricultural Sciences
  1. To enter premajor status (AG) if certain of intended major, contact the appropriate department.

    If uncertain of intended major, call 814-865-7521 to schedule an appointment with Terry Musser.

  2. To enter a major, contact the appropriate department.

Arts and Architecture
  1. There is no entrance to premajor status.

  2. To enter all majors except Art History and Integrative Arts, an audition or portfolio review is required.

    To enter the Art History major, contact the department office, 240 Borland Building (814-865-6326).

    To enter the Integrative Arts major, contact the department office, 104 Borland Building (814-865-1750) and schedule a meeting to discuss a formal proposal.

Business, Smeal College of
  1. In most case, it is not permissible to enter premajor (B A) status.

  2. Entrance to Smeal majors is possible only through the ETM process.

Communications
  1. To enter premajor status (COMM), contact the Academic Services Office, 104 Carnegie Building (814-865-1591) and request a change-of-major appointment.

  2. To enter the Journalism, Media Studies, or Telecommunications major, contact the Academic Services Office, 104 Carnegie Building (814-865-1591) and request a change-of-major appointment.

    Entrance to the Film-Video major is accomplished through the portfolio process.

    Entrance to the Advertising/Public Relations major is accomplished through the ETM process.

Division of Undergraduate Studies
  1. To enter DUS, arrange to speak to an academic adviser by calling 814-865-7576 or visiting the lobby of the Grange Building.

  2. Changes to DUS will require an advising appointment to review academic interests and current status in the University.

Earth and Mineral Sciences
  1. To enter premajor status (EM SC), contact Jeff Warner, 14 Deike Building (814-865-6355).

  2. To enter a specific major, arrange an appointment with the professor-in-charge of the major.

Education
  1. To enter premajor status (ED), contact Undergraduate Advising & Certification Services, 228 Chambers Building (814-865-0488), except if interested in the following majors:
    Special Education: contact Professor Kate McKinnon, 210 Cedar Building (814-865-2236).

    Rehabilitation and Human Services: contact Professor James Herbert, 327 Cedar Building (814-863-3421).

    Work Force Education: contact Professor Richard Walter, 301A Keller Building (814-865-2133).

    Education and Public Policy: contact Professor Angela Duncan, 302G Rackley Building (814-863-3783).
  2. Entrance to the Secondary Education, Elementary Education, World Languages Education, and Special Education majors is accomplished through the ETM process.

Engineering
  1. To enter premajor status (ENGR), submit a change-of-major form to the Engineering Advising Center, 208 Hammond Building. Each request is reviewed on an individual basis by the College of Engineering.

  2. Entrance to a specific major is accomplished through the ETM process.

Health and Human Development
  1. To enter premajor status (H H D), contact an academic adviser in the Student Services Center, 5 Henderson Building (814-865-2156).

  2. To enter a specific major, contact an academic adviser in the Student Services Center, 5 Henderson Building (814-865-2156), or request entrance to major in the fourth semester through the ETM process.

Information Sciences and Technology
  1. To enter premajor status (INFST), contact the IST Advising Center, 104 IST Building (814-865-8947 or advising@ist.psu.edu). The receptionist will set up an appointment with an academic adviser who will evaluate the request.

  2. To enter a specific major, it is preferred that students use the ETM process. Requests for entrance to major at other times are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students should contact the IST Undergraduate Advising Center, 104 IST Building (814-865-8947 or advising@ist.psu.edu).

Liberal Arts
  1. To enter premajor status (LA) if certain of intended major, contact an adviser in the appropriate major.

    If uncertain of intended major, contact the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies Office, 101 Sparks Building (814-865-2545).

  2. To enter a specific major, contact an adviser in the appropriate major.

Nursing, School of
    To enter the Nursing (B.S.) major, students must apply for the annual review. Applications are accepted until December 31 for entrance the following fall semester. Contact Rosemary Wherry (ruw3@psu.edu or 814-863-2229).

Science, Eberly College of
  1. To enter premajor status (SCIEN) if certain of intended major, contact the appropriate department.

    If uncertain of intended major, contact the Academic Advising Center, 213 Whitmore Lab (814-863-3889).

  2. To enter a specific major, contact the appropriate department.

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