The University's goal is to adjust to shifting student interests and to accommodate all qualified students in the undergraduate majors of their choice. When limitations of space, faculty, or other resources make this goal unattainable, the college dean responsible for the major may request administrative enrollment controls.

Entrance to majors with administrative enrollment controls is determined by enrollment in the appropriate college, completion of the application process, completion of specified courses, and academic performance. Applicants are considered for admission on the basis of their cumulative Penn State grade-point average (GPA) typically after three semesters. Provided that all of the other requirements for admission have been met, students who have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher cannot be denied entry to most controlled majors. However, special criteria apply to one major in The Smeal College of Business Administration, one major in the College of Communications, and three majors in the College of Engineering.

The following information has been provided by John Romano, Vice Provost and Dean for Enrollment Management and Administration. For additional information about administrative enrollment controls, consult the University Undergraduate Advising Handbook. For more information about a particular controlled major, contact the advising center of the appropriate college.

Entrance Criteria for Film/Video: Applicants must be 4th semester or higher and have completed a successful portfolio review.

*Advertising/Public Relations: Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.30 to be guaranteed admission.

Entrance Criteria: Applicants to Engineering majors must have completed MATH 140, MATH 141, CHEM 012, and PHYS 211 with a grade of C or better. (Note: for Computer Science majors, CSE 120 would replace CHEM 012.)

*Bioengineering, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering: Applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.30 to be guaranteed admission.