Credit Acquisition

Credit acquisition is contingent upon the policies set forth by the Smeal College of Business and the University for earning credits toward degree completion. Guidelines below highlight various credits acquisition methods.

The Undergraduate Admissions Office determines which credits will transfer to the University, whereas the academic unit to which the student has been admitted determines how credits will be used to fulfill degree requirements in a student's program of study.

Credits with Pass/Fail Grades Do Not Count

The Smeal College of Business does not accept credits with pass/fail grades. Students enrolled at Smeal must enroll in all courses for a letter grade and may never enroll in courses for pass/fail grades. Credits taken on a pass/fail basis are automatically disqualified on the student's degree audit and not counted towards degree completion.

Courses That Do Not Count Toward a Smeal Degree

For students entering Penn State Summer 2009 or later:

Business courses numbered 150 through 199 may not be used to satisfy Smeal or departmental baccalaureate degree requirements. Other business courses not acceptable for meeting the requirements of the bachelor of science degree include: B A 100, FIN 100, FIN 108, MGMT 100, MGMT 100W, MKTG 221, R EST 100, and SCM 310.

For students entering Penn State Spring 2009 or earlier: 

Business courses numbered 150 through 199 may not be used to satisfy Smeal or departmental baccalaureate degree requirements. Other business courses not acceptable for meeting the requirements of the bachelor of science degree include: B A 100, FIN 100, FIN 108, FIN 301, MGMT 100, MGMT 100W, MGMT 301, MGMT 301H, MGMT301W,  MKTG 221,  MKTG 301,  MKTG 301W, R EST 100, SCM 301 and SCM 310.

Courses Requiring a Grade of "C" or Higher

To be graduated, a candidate must earn at least a "C" grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course (University Senate Policy 82-44). The set of C-required courses for each major is chosen by the faculty of the department offering the major.