Concurrent Majors Program

University Undergraduate Advising Handbook

CONCURRENT MAJORS PROGRAM
(formerly Dual Degree, Multiple Major, and Simultaneous Degree)
(Senate Policy 60-00)

Two programs—concurrent majors and sequential majors—allow a baccalaureate or associate degree candidate to earn degrees in more than one Penn State major. When completing concurrent majors, the student simultaneously completes all academic requirements for his/her majors and graduates with two (or more) degrees in the same semester.

Some concurrent majors have been combined in an established curriculum with specified entrance and graduation requirements. These programs (formerly dual degree) are presented in official university publications. The following are approved programs:

Liberal Arts and Earth and Mineral Sciences
Liberal Arts and Engineering

For additional information and admission requirements, contact the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Advising Center, 101 Sparks Building, 814-865-2545.

Program Limitations
     Entrance Requirements
     Distinct Fields of Study
     Levels of Study
Graduation Requirements
Academic Records
     Degree Audit
     Transcript
     Diploma
Student Action
Application Deadline and Approval Notification
Adviser Assignment
Cancellation of an Approved Concurrent Major

PROGRAM LIMITATIONS

Entrance Requirements

The majors to be combined may be in the same or different Penn State colleges (e.g., two majors in the Eberly College of Science or one major in the College of the Liberal Arts combined with a major in the College of Communications). Students must meet the entrance requirements for each major. If a student is combining a major that is under administrative enrollment controls, the student must enter the controlled major first and then follow procedures listed in the Student Action section below to enter the additional major(s). Generally, it is not possible for the student to incorporate more than one major that is under administrative enrollment controls in a concurrent majors program.

Distinct Fields of Study

Because the majors must be in distinct fields of study, students generally may not combine a general major and a departmental major in the same college, e.g., majors in science and biology.

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

Concurrent majors must be at the same level of study. Baccalaureate degree candidates may only combine baccalaureate majors; associate degree candidates may only combine associate majors.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

University, college, and major requirements in effect at the time of entrance to each degree program must be met. With approval from the departments and colleges involved, courses may be used to meet the requirements of more than one major. A student graduates from all of his/her concurrent majors in the same semester.

ACADEMIC RECORDS

Degree Audit: At the time a student is admitted to each major, the major and program year are listed on his/her degree audit. Up to four majors can be listed (see section 2 of this sample degree audit). A separate degree audit is generated for each major.

Transcript: A student has one transcript, regardless of the number of his/her concurrent majors. At the time the student is admitted to each major, the major is listed on his/her transcript.

Diploma: Students receive a diploma for each degree earned.

STUDENT ACTION (Academic Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, M-3)

For the concurrent 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 combining majors. Obtain information on entrance requirements, retention standards, and degree and graduation requirements. After this initial exploration, if you still want to complete the concurrent major, ask the adviser to refer you to the appropriate departmental adviser.
Print an application for approval of concurrent majors form, complete as much of it as you can, and take it with you to your meeting with the departmental adviser. Brainstorm possibilities for courses that can meet requirements for both majors, and discuss possibilities for course substitutions. Be sure to consider the kind of work that will be demanded in each course and determine the combination of courses that will be compatible in a semester-by-semester plan. On the form, list all the courses needed to complete the concurrent major, and obtain the adviser's signature.
Meet with your assigned adviser(s) in your current major(s). Review your academic plan. On the form, list all the courses needed to complete your current major(s), and obtain the signature(s) of your adviser(s).
Obtain approval and signatures from the department head(s) and appropriate dean(s) for your current major(s) and the concurrent major.
Submit the completed form to the appropriate dean in the college offering the concurrent major.

APPLICATION DEADLINE AND APPROVAL NOTIFICATION

Deans have the flexibility to approve a student's request for a concurrent major at any time prior to the student's graduation.

When a request is approved, the dean who received the completed form (step 5 above) reproduces the form and sends a copy to the student, the Registrar's office, and the appropriate dean in the student's other college(s) of enrollment.

ADVISER ASSIGNMENT

When a request is approved, the student is assigned an adviser for the additional major. The student is responsible for consulting with all of his/her assigned advisers to see that each major's requirements are met.

CANCELLATION OF AN APPROVED CONCURRENT MAJOR

To cancel an approved concurrent major, the student must provide written notification to the appropriate dean for the cancelled major. When a dean receives this notification, he/she will notify the student's other college(s) and the Registrar's office.

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: July 2007