Policies

Students must fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the transfer of credits as outlined below.

General credits may be awarded for an AP Exam that covers material that is not the substantial equivalent of material covered in a specific University course. Current information about AP credit awarded by Penn State can be obtained from the Undergraduate Admissions office , advanced placement opportunities , and test credit for prior learning .

Advanced Standing (Transfer) Admission An applicant who has attended any regionally accredited college or institution on the college level and attempted 18 or more semester credits subsequent to high school graduation may be considered for admission with advanced standing. Attendance at any and all other institutions must be reported at the time of application. Failure to indicate, at the time of application, previous registration at another college or university can result in refusal or cancellation of admission. An applicant for admission with advanced standing must meet the minimum secondary school requirements for admission to degree candidacy prior to the time of matriculation. Advanced standing applicants are considered for admission on the basis of the applicant's requested academic program, space availability, and the academic quality of their work at the previously attended institution(s). A minimum cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.00 (C) out of 4.00, as computed for Penn State students, is required, although certain areas of study may have additional requirements. In addition, an applicant must be in good academic and nonacademic standing. 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. 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. An applicant who does not meet the minimum requirement of a grade-point average of at least 2.00 and does not meet the criteria for advanced standing with forgiveness may enroll in credit courses as a non-degree student in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. Advanced standing credits may be awarded for college-level work taken at regionally accredited institutions provided Penn State offers a similar class and the course grade earned is equivalent to a grade of A, B, or C at this University. The credits also must be useful to the student's program of study. An academic adviser determines which of the transferable credits are applicable to the program of study at Penn State. Credits are transferred, but grades and grade-point average are not. Advanced standing students enter the University without an average and their average begins with the completion of their first semester of study at Penn State. Under certain circumstances, the University may need to restrict advanced standing admissions to a particular college or school because of space limitations. Entrance to a major is an additional step beyond admission to a college or school. It involves additional academic requirements and may be subject to additional restrictions because of space limitations.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward the Master of Professional Studies in Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (RESS) if the student has earned a B- or better in each course, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the M.P.S.

A maximum of 15 credits earned as a non-degree student may be applied to a degree program, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Effective Semester : Spring 2022 Expiration Semester : Spring 2027 Admission Requirements Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies . International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in Data Analytics, but also could be offered as elective courses in the Master of Artificial Intelligence, Great Valley MBA, and Master of Software Engineering degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a master's degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a graduate degree in Enterprise Architecture, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree in Enterprise Architecture and Business Transformation must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

degree program offered through World Campus, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

​ Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in HRER, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree in HRER must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in Systems Engineering, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program. Admission to the graduate degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed.​ Effective Semester: Spring 2024 Expiration Semester: Spring 2029 Admission Requirements Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies . International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information. Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward Master of Systems Engineering degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the Master of Systems Engineering must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward a master's degree in Data Analytics, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards a graduate degree must apply and be admitted to that degree program. Admission to the graduate degree program is a separate step and is not guaranteed.​ Effective Semester: Spring 2024 Expiration Semester: Spring 2029 Admission Requirements Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission . Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies . International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information. Courses taken in the certificate program may be applied toward Master of Software Engineering degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Certificate students who wish to have certificate courses applied towards the Master of Software Engineering must apply and be admitted to that degree program.

Credit by Examination does not result in a quality grade (A, A-, etc.) and is not included in the calculation of the student's grade point average. Any credits earned in this manner will appear on the student transcript with the notation CRX and without a reported grade. A fee will be assessed to cover the costs of the procedure. Current information about credit by examination credit awarded by Penn State can be obtained at earning test credit .

Advisers will provide guidance on the steps necessary to construct a portfolio providing evidence of prior learning that meets academic quality expectations. Credit may be awarded following an evaluation of the portfolio by an individual faculty member or committee who represent the academic unit in which the subject matter is to be evaluated. Credit earned via portfolio is designated on the transcript in the same manner as transfer credit. Current information about credit by examination credit awarded by Penn State can be obtained at earning portfolio credit . READ SENATE POLICY 42-00: ACQUISITION OF CREDIT

No substitutions or transfer credits are permitted.

Courses taken at other Penn State campuses may not be counted toward this 24 credit minimum.

A maximum of 30 credits from a completed master’s degree earned at an institution that does not grant a doctorate in the student's major program may be accepted towards this minimum, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . A maximum of 60 credits beyond the baccalaureate from an institution that grants the doctorate in the student's major program may be accepted towards this minimum, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . The 90 required credits, including transfer credits, must be earned in the following: Major Field (48 cr.): In the Major Field Area, D.Ed. If approved, transfer credits may be used to fulfill a portion of this requirement.

An advanced standing degree candidate may be admitted to a college or school of the University.

Applicable transfer credits may be applied to general education or elective credits.

Students will be required to fulfill all requirements for each degree in order to be awarded that degree, subject to the inter-program transfer of credits.

Inter Program Transfer of Credits Courses cannot be transferred or shared until the applicant is officially admitted to the joint program. Retroactive transfers of courses taken prior to admission to the joint program are not permitted. Penn State Law

A person who does advanced work in a secondary school in another country may receive consideration for transfer credit when the examinations taken are based on college-level studies. Subjects examined at the higher level with an earned grade of 5 or higher will be considered for transfer credit. Current information about Advanced-Level exam credit or International Baccalaureate credit awarded by Penn State can be obtained from the Undergraduate Admissions Office , credit awarded by A-Level exam , credit awarded by IB exam , and test credit for prior learning .

Advanced undergraduate courses (400-level) that have not counted toward a student's undergraduate degree may be considered for transfer into the graduate student's requirement of 30 credits of American Studies with permission of the program, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . At least 20 of the 30 credits must be earned at the Harrisburg location where the program is offered.

Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Minor A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program.

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

Social work students who earn a BSW degree from accredited Council on Social Work Education programs may be eligible for advanced standing in MSW degree programs. With advanced standing, graduate social work students can earn an MSW degree in less than one year in select programs.

External transfer credit requests should follow the Transfer Credit procedure at Penn State Admissions, which may involve evaluation of the external course by faculty for approval.

An applicant who has attempted 18 or more semester credits at another regionally accredited college or university subsequent to high school graduation will be evaluated as an advanced standing applicant.

Prior Learning Assessment, Opportunities for Earning Penn State Credit Re-​Enrollment Withdrawal Transcripts Print Options In addition to taking Penn State course work, students with prior college-level learning—at another college or university, in the military, in the workplace, through self-study, or in high school—may earn credits that may be applicable to their degree requirements. Credits are awarded on the semester-hour basis. The distribution of time between class activities and outside preparation varies from course to course; for the average student, however, at least 45 hours of work per semester planned and arranged by the University faculty are required to gain 1 credit. The Faculty Senate's Policies and Rules for Undergraduate Students explains the various ways students may earn course credits. Those methods are as follows: Instruction, as defined in Policy 42-23 Examination, as defined in Policy 42-50 and discussed below Portfolio Assessment, as defined in Policy 42-97 and discussed below Transfer from other regionally accredited colleges and universities as defined in Policy 42-82 and as discussed under the heading Admission with Advanced Standing Transfer from colleges and universities outside the United States as defined in Policy 42-84 Validation from colleges and universities that are not regionally accredited but award associate degrees or higher as defined in Policy 42-86 Educational experiences in the Armed Services as defined in Policy 42-98 Educational credit for Training Programs in Non-collegiate Organizations as defined in Policy 42-99 Additional information about earning credit can be obtained at Undergraduate Admissions Office or Prior Learning Assessment . Credit by Examination If students have acquired substantial knowledge in a specific subject area, in some circumstances credits may be earned through successful completion of comprehensive examinations made available by the Penn State academic units that offer particular courses. When such an examination serves as a substitute for completing all the usual requirements of a Penn State course, the credits received are described as “Credit by Examination” and are accepted as fulfilling degree requirements. Students may initiate a request for Credit by Examination for a course, although the academic department or program offering the course determines whether it will make Credit by Examination available. A grade of "C" or higher must be earned in the examination for such credit to be awarded and to appear on the student's transcript.

Qualified sophomores, either in attendance or planning to commence studies at University Park Campus during their junior year, may compete for the special Two-Year College Program Advanced Standing or Two-Year Scholarship Programs.

Transfer credits for language courses taken prior to enrollment at Penn State may not be used.

In the case of advanced standing admission, performance is measured either through success in non-degree programs and courses of the University or by success at some other institution of higher education. Admissions Group II - Penn State Advanced Standing Admissions: Applicants who (1) request baccalaureate degree re-enrollment, presenting 18 or more semester credits; (2) request a change from Penn State associate degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits; (3) request a change from Penn State provisional degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits; or (4) request a change from Penn State non-degree to baccalaureate degree status, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits. In all advanced standing admissions at Penn State, the student must have a grade-point average of at least 2.00 and must meet the minimum entrance and advanced standing requirements of the college or school. Admissions Group III - Other Advanced Standing Admissions: Applicants who have not been students at Penn State and request baccalaureate degree status at Penn State, presenting 18 or more applicable semester credits from a regionally accredited institution. In all advanced standing admissions, it is understood that the applicant must have a cumulative grade-point average of 2.00 as computed at Penn State and meet the minimum entrance and advanced standing requirements of the college or school.

General credits may be awarded for a CLEP exam that covers material that is not the substantial equivalent of material covered in a specific University course. Current information about CLEP credit awarded by Penn State can be obtained from the Undergraduate Admissions Office . The schedule of credit awarded for CLEP examinations also can be obtained from College-Level Examination Placement and test credit for prior learning .

Transfer Credits Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Review of classes taken at other institutions and their relationship to equivalent classes in the ABA program will be conducted by the ABA program faculty. Although classes from other institutions may be within the field of ABA, they may not directly transfer to the ABA program’s representation of classes within the Verified Course Sequences. The ABA program cannot guarantee approval by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board (BACB) of courses taken at other institutions, even those institutions that also have BACB University Approved Coursework. Relationships of the ABA program courses to the Verified Course Sequence Requirements can be obtained from the ABA program Professor in Charge.

Transfer Credits Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . Application of transfer credits to the student's academic program must be approved by the director of the MBA program. Minor A graduate minor is available in any approved graduate major or dual-title program. The default requirements for a graduate minor are stated in Graduate Council policy GCAC-218

Transfer Credits Credits earned at other institutions but not used to earn a degree may be applied toward the requirements for a graduate degree, subject to restrictions outlined in GCAC-309 Transfer Credit . It must be the opinion of the reviewing faculty that these courses are equivalent in quality to those offered at Penn State Harrisburg. Credit will not be given for any class used to complete a previous degree.