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Penn StateMajor Decisionsfor students who are exploring majors
Courses

desk and lamp Students often think that the best way to explore majors is to take some courses in those majors. On the one hand, scheduling a few introductory courses to test your interests and abilities can be helpful in exploring majors, especially if these test courses are also General Education courses that you can use in many majors. On the other hand, taking specific, narrowly focused courses may not help much if you haven't already explored the majors in other ways, especially if these courses won't count in other majors.

Most Penn State courses weren't developed to help students decide on a major. Students who schedule major-specific courses just to see if they might like the majors often find that they've ruled out those majors after only a few weeks of classes. Then they either spend the rest of the semester in courses they don't want or need or they end up dropping the courses. While these courses may count in some other majors, they still won't have helped these students to select a major, just to eliminate one.

If, however, you've already narrowed your choices of major to two or three, then scheduling a few major-specific courses might help you make your decision. If you think you're ready to schedule some of these courses, you can discuss it with your adviser or visit an advising center to help you decide which courses might be best for you.

Your experiences in courses may even make you decide against a major (or a group of majors) if you find that you aren't doing well in the courses or that you really don't have any interest in them. Poor grades in required science and math courses, like chemistry, physics, biology, and calculus, could mean that majors in science and engineering aren't the best choices for you. In that case, you might start ruling out majors that require the kinds of courses you're not doing well in. Also, a lack of interest in a group of related courses could mean that majors requiring those courses might not be the best match for you either.
 

List of Courses to Test Your Interests and/or Abilities

A description of, and prerequisites for, each course listed below (arranged by college and major) can be found in the University Course Descriptions section of the University Bulletin.

Agricultural Sciences
Arts and Architecture
Berks College
Business
Communications
Earth and Mineral Sciences
 Education
Engineering
Health and Human Development
Information Sciences and Technology
Liberal Arts
Science


 College of Agricultural Sciences
  • Agribusiness Management: ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS)
  • Agricultural and Extension Education: BIOL 110 (GN), EDPSY 014, EDTHP 115 (US)
  • Agricultural Science: BIOL 011 and 012 (GN) or BI SC 003 (GN), CHEM 101 or CHEM 110 (GN)
  • Agricultural Systems Management: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), ECON 004 (GS)
  • Agroecology: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Animal Bioscience: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Animal Sciences: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Community, Environment, and Development: ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS), SOC 001 (GS)
  • Environmental and Renewable Resource Economics: MATH 110 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111, ECON 004 (GS)
  • Environmental Resource Management: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Environmental Soil Science: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), BIOL 027 (GN)
  • Food Science: FD SC 105 (GHA) (S T S 105), FD SC 200, CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Forest Science: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Horticulture: HORT 101 (GN), BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Immunology and Infectious Disease: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140
  • Landscape Contracting: ART 020 (GA), GEOSC 020 (GN), LARCH 060 (GA), HORT 101 (GN)
  • Toxicology: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Turfgrass Science: BIOL 027 (GN), SOILS 101 (GN)
  • Wildlife and Fisheries Science: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), ECON 004 (GS)
  • Wood Products: ECON 002 (GS) or ECON 004 (GS), MATH 110 (GQ)

College of Arts and Architecture
  • Architecture: ART 010 (GA), ART 020 (GA), ARCH 210 (GA), ARCH 316 (GA), ARCH 101 (summer session only); submit portfolio
  • Art: ART 020 (GA), ART 030 (GA), ART 050 (GA), ART 080 (GA), PHOTO 100 (GA), G D 100 (GA); submit portfolio
  • Art Education: ART 020 (GA), ART 030 (GA), ART 050 (GA), ART 080 (GA), PHOTO 100 (GA), G D 100 (GA); submit portfolio
  • Art History: ART H 001S, ART H 111 (GA;IL), ART H 112 (GA;IL)
  • Graphic Design: ART 020 (GA), ART 030 (GA), ART 050 (GA), ART 080 (GA), PHOTO 100 (GA), G D 100 (GA); submit portfolio
  • Interdisciplinar Digital Studio: ART 020 (GA), ART 030 (GA), ART 050 (GA), ART 080 (GA), PHOTO 100 (GA), G D 100 (GA); submit portfolio
  • Landscape Architecture: LARCH 060 (GA), ARCH 210 (GA), ART 020 (GA), MATH 026 or higher; submit portfolio
  • Music: MUSIC 005 (GA), MUSIC 007 (GA;US), MUSIC 008 (GA), MUSIC 121, MUSIC 131, MUSIC 161, and ensemble courses; schedule audition
  • Music Education: MUSIC 005 (GA), MUSIC 007 (GA;US), MUSIC 008 (GA), MUSIC 121, MUSIC 131, and ensemble courses; schedule audition
  • Musical Theatre: THEA 100 (GA;US;IL)
  • Theatre: THEA 100 (GA;US;IL), THEA 102 (GA), THEA 189 (GA); schedule audition

Smeal College of Business
  • All majors: ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS)
  • Actuarial Science: MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Majors other than Actuarial Science: MATH 110 (GQ) or 140 (GQ)

College of Communications
  • Advertising/Public Relations: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), ECON 002 (GS), PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Film-Video: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), COMM 150 (GA)
  • Journalism: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), COMM 160
  • Media Studies: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), COMM 100 (GS)
  • Telecommunications: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), ECON 002 (GS), COMM 100 (GS)

College of Earth and Mineral Sciences
  • Earth Sciences: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), GEOG 030 (GS), GEOSC 020 (GN), METEO 003 (GN)
  • Energy, Business and Finance: ECON 002 (GS), EGEE 101 (GN) (MATSC 101), ENNEC 100 (GS)
  • Energy Engineering: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Environmental Systems Engineering: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Geobiology: BIOL 110 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Geography: GEOG 010 (GN), GEOG 020 (GS;US;IL), GEOG 030 (GS)
  • Geosciences: GEOSC 020 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Industrial Health and Safety: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Materials Science and Engineering: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Meteorology: METEO 101 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Mining Engineering: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering: MATH 140 (GQ), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), PHYS 211 (GN)

College of Education
  • All majors (except World Languages): PSYCH 100 (GS), EDPSY 014, EDTHP 115 (US)
  • Rehabilitation Services: SOC 001 (GS), SOC 005 (GS), BI SC 004 (GN)
  • Secondary Education: courses relevant to the specific option (subject area)
  • World Languages (K-12) Education: EDPSY 014, EDTHP 115 (US), language courses relevant to the specific option (subject area)

College of Engineering
  • All majors except Computer Science: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), ED&G 100, MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Computer Science: CMPSC 121 (GQ), MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)

College of Health and Human Development
  • Biobehavioral Health: BB H 101 (GHA), BIOL 033 (GN), BIOL 110 (GN), BIOL 141 (GN), CHEM 110 (GN), HD FS 129 (GS), PHIL 132 (GH) (RL ST 131), PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Communication Sciences and Disorders: C S D 146 (US;IL), C S D 100 (GHA;US), C S D 101 (GHA;US), HD FS 129 (GS), PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Health Policy and Administration: H P A 057 (GHA), H P A 101, ECON 002 (GS), PL SC 001 (GS)
  • Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management: HRIM 201, HRIM 202
  • Human Development and Family Studies: HD FS 129 (GS)
  • Kinesiology: BI SC 004 (GN), BIOL 141 (GN), KINES 141 (US;IL), KINES 180
  • Nursing: BIOL 129 (GN), BIOL 141 (GN), BIOL 142, HD FS 129 (GS), PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Nutritional Sciences: NUTR 251 (GHA), CHEM 110 (GN), BIOL 141 (GN), PSYCH 100 (GS) or HD FS 129 (GS)
  • Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management: RPTM 101, RPTM 120 (US;IL), RPTM 236, RPTM 277 (US)

College of Information Sciences and Technology
  • Information Sciences and Technology: IST 110 (GS)
  • Security and Risk Analysis: SRA 111 (GS)

College of the Liberal Arts
  • African/African American Studies: AAA S 100 (GS;US)
  • Anthropology: ANTH 001 (GS;US;IL), ANTH 002 (GS), ANTH 021 (GN), ANTH 045 (GS;US;IL)
  • Archaeological Science: ANTH 002 (GS), ANTH 011 (GS;IL), ANTH 021 (GN), ANTH 045 (GS;US;IL); BIOL 110 (GN) or CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Biological Anthropology: ANTH 002 (GS), ANTH 021 (GN), ANTH 045 (GS;US;IL), BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies: Greek or Latin language classes, CAMS 001 (GH), CAMS 025 (GH;IL), CAMS 033 (GH;IL), CAMS 045 (GH;IL)
  • Communication Arts & Sciences: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), CAS 100 (GWS), CAS 101 (GS), CAS 201 (GH)
  • Comparative Literature: CMLIT 001 (GH;IL), CMLIT 002 (GH;IL), CMLIT 100 (GH;IL)
  • Crime, Law, and Justice: CRIM 100 (GS) (CRIMJ 100), CRIM 012 (GS) (CRIMJ 012, SOC 012)
  • East Asian Studies: Chinese or Japanese language classes, HIST 174 (GH;IL), HIST 175 (GH;IL), RL ST 003 (GH;US;IL), CMLIT 004 (GH;IL)
  • Economics: ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS)
  • English: ENGL 015/030 (GWS), ENGL 001 (GH), ENGL 002 (GH), ENGL 003 (GH), ENGL 050 (GA)
  • French and Francophone Studies: courses in the language (e.g., FR 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • German: courses in the language (e.g., GER 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • History: HIST 001 (GH;IL), HIST 002 (GH;IL), HIST 020 (GH;US), HIST 021 (GH;US)
  • International Politics: PL SC 001 (GS), PL SC 003 (GS;IL), PL SC 014 (GS;IL)
  • Italian: courses in the language (e.g., IT 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • Japanese: courses in the language (e.g., JAPNS 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • Jewish Studies: J ST 010 (GH;IL) (HEBR 010)
  • Labor Studies and Employment Relations: L E R 100 (GS), L E R 201 (GS)
  • Latin American Studies: Portuguese or Spanish language courses, ANTH 045 (GS;US;IL), SPAN 131 (GH;US;IL)
  • Law and Society: PHIL 012 (GQ), PHIL 105 (GH)
  • Medieval Studies : MEDVL 107 (GH;IL) (HIST 107), MEDVL 108 (GH;IL)
  • Organizational Leadership : ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS), PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Philosophy: PHIL 001 (GH), PHIL 010 (GH), PHIL 012 (GQ)
  • Political Science: PL SC 001 (GS), PL SC 003 (GS;IL), PL SC 014 (GS;IL)
  • Psychology: PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Religious Studies: RL ST 001 (GH;US;IL), RL ST 003 (GH;US;IL)
  • Russian: courses in the language (e.g., RUS 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • Russian Translation: courses in the language (e.g., RUS 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • Sociology: SOC 001 (GS), SOC 003 (GS), SOC 005 (GS)
  • Spanish: courses in the language (e.g., SPAN 001, 002, 003, or higher)
  • Women's Studies: WMNST 001 (GS;US;IL), WMNST 003 (GH;US;IL)

Eberly College of Science
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Biology: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Biotechnology: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Chemistry: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Forensic Science:CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Mathematics: MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Microbiology: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Physics: CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ), PHYS 211 (GN)
  • Premedicine: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN)
  • Science: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Statistics: MATH 140 (GQ)

Berks College
  • American Studies: AM ST 100 (GH;US), HIST 020 (GH;US), HIST 021 (GH;US), ENGL 231, ENGL 232
  • Applied Psychology: PSYCH 100 (GS)
  • Business: ECON 002 (GS), ECON 004 (GS)
  • Elementary and Kindergarten Education: PSYCH 100 (GS), EDPSY 014, EDTHP 115 (US)
  • Global Studies: PL SC 014 (GS;IL), SPAN 131 (GH;US;IL), HIST 320W, foreign language, or any 100-level history course
  • Information Sciences and Technology : IST 110 (GS)
  • Kinesiology: BIOL 129 (GN), BIOL 141 (GN), KINES 141 (US;IL), KINES 180
  • Professional Writing: ENGL 015/030 (GWS)
  • Science: BIOL 110 (GN), CHEM 110 and 111 (GN), MATH 140 (GQ)
  • Security and Risk Analysis: SRA 111 (GS)

Major Decisions - for students who are exploring majors
  Created January 1, 1996; Revised April 23, 2008
  Developed by Michael J. Leonard, Division of Undergraduate Studies
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