University Undergraduate Advising Handbook

A graduate from a Penn State baccalaureate or associate degree program who desires another Penn State baccalaureate or associate degree may seek re-enrollment in order to meet the requirements for the additional "sequential" degree.

Program Limitations
     Entry Requirements
     Levels of Study
Graduation Requirements
Academic Records
     Late Drop Credits
     Degree Audit
     Registration
     Transcript
     Cumulative Grade-Point Average
     Diploma
Student Action
Adviser Assignment

PROGRAM LIMITATIONS

Entry Requirements

Students must meet the entrance requirements for the sequential major. Approval for admission to the sequential major must be obtained from the college and department that offers the major. Majors with administrative enrollment controls may have restrictions that limit entrance.

Additional limitations have been implemented by some colleges. Students should contact the appropriate advising center at University Park or another Penn State campus for specific information.

Levels of Study

In the sequential majors program, different levels of study can be combined. A student who has earned a Penn State baccalaureate degree may seek an associate degree or another baccalaureate degree; a student who has earned a Penn State associate degree may seek another associate degree or a baccalaureate degree.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

University, college, and major requirements in effect at the time of entrance to the sequential major must be met. With approval from the department and college, credits earned prior to re-enrollment in the sequential degree may be used to meet the requirements for the sequential major.

ACADEMIC RECORDS

Late Drop Credits: If the student used late drop credits while enrolled in his/her first degree program, they are not counted against the late drop credit limit in the sequential degree.

Degree Audit: Only the student's sequential major will be listed on his/her degree audit.

Registration: A student enrolled in a sequential degree program can determine his/her first day to register for an upcoming semester by using the undergraduate Registration Timetable, which is based on the total credits recorded on an undergraduate transcript. Students can also check a degree audit to confirm the first day they are eligible to register (See section 2 of this sample degree audit.)

Transcript: Each student has only one Penn State undergraduate transcript, regardless of the number of Penn State undergraduate degrees he/she earns. At the time the student is admitted to a sequential major, the major is listed on his/her transcript.

Cumulative Grade-Point Average: When a student re-enrolls for a sequential degree, his/her cumulative grade-point average is computed using the grades earned in all courses taken at the University with the following exceptions:

1. 800-level courses (formerly required for associate degrees)
2. courses taken prior to academic renewal

Diploma: Upon completion of the sequential major the student receives another diploma.

STUDENT ACTION

1. For the sequential major (the additional major you are considering), meet with an academic adviser in the appropriate advising center at University Park (or another Penn State campus). Discuss your rationale for the sequential major. Obtain information on entrance requirements, retention standards, and degree and graduation requirements. After this initial exploration, if you still want to complete the sequential major, ask the adviser to refer you to the appropriate departmental adviser.

2. Meet with the recommended departmental adviser to brainstorm possibilities for meeting requirements with credits previously earned and create a list of requirements that must be satisfied to earn the sequential degree. Create a semester-by-semester plan to fulfill these requirements.

3. To officially enroll in the sequential major, follow instructions for re-enrollment.

ADVISER ASSIGNMENT

When a re-enrollment is approved, the student is assigned an adviser for the sequential major.

The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. Please consult a Penn State academic adviser for more detailed information.

This page is part of the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook, which is maintained by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, DUS@psu.edu.


Last Update: January 2012