Review the minimum high school course requirements for admission to a four-year (baccalaureate) degree program.
The following charts outline the minimum high school requirements for admission into Penn State's academic colleges or the Division of Undergraduate Studies. The charts outline units of study, which in most high school curricula is equal to one year of work.
Subject | Minimum Units Required for: College of Agricultural Sciences College of Arts and Architecture Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications College of Education College of Health and Human Development College of the Liberal Arts College of Nursing Undecided, Division of Undergraduate Studies |
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English | 4 units, including 1 unit each in composition and literature |
Social Studies/Art/Humanities | 3 units in any combination of social studies, arts, or humanities |
Science | 3 units |
Math | 3 units in algebra (algebra 1 and algebra 2, at minimum) and geometry |
World Language | 2 units* |
Some colleges and majors require the completion of additional math in high school in order to be eligible for admission. Review the additional math requirement for those colleges below.
Subject | Minimum Units Required for: Smeal College of Business All other Business programs College of Earth and Mineral Sciences College of Engineering Engineering/Engineering Technology at Erie and Harrisburg College of Information Sciences and Technology Eberly College of Science Science at Altoona, Abington, Berks, Erie, Harrisburg, and Lehigh Valley |
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Math | Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry plus one-half unit of Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, or Calculus |
English | 4 units, including 1 unit each in composition and literature |
Social Studies/Art/Humanities | 3 units in any combination of social studies, arts, or humanities |
Science | 3 units |
World Language | 2 units* |
*Two units in a single world language other than English are required. American Sign Language can be used to satisfy the World Language requirement.
A student may be admitted with fewer than two units in a world language other than English but must correct this deficiency by the time they graduate from Penn State. This deficiency may be corrected by passing one three-credit or four-credit college-level world language course, by earning transferable credits from another institution, or by demonstrating proficiency equivalent to two units of high school world language study.
If you did not graduate from high school and earned a GED, official high school transcripts through the last year you completed AND an official GED transcript are required.
All high school and GED transcripts must be sent directly to Penn State from the high school (educational institution of origin) or GED testing center to be considered official. Students can obtain their official GED through the Department of Education in the state from which the GED was received.
Adult learners are required to send a GED transcript only. Please review Penn State’s definition of an adult learner.
The following links are helpful in acquiring the GED transcript:
The Undergraduate Admissions Office will review each applicant's high school coursework and/or GED individually when considering a student for admission.
If you are interested in an associate degree, please review the minimum high school requirements for our two-year programs.