Undergraduate Education

Learn about Smeal's academic experience. Gain information about academic plans, entrance to major, and important resources.

Contact Information

Smeal College of Business
The Pennsylvania State University
202 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802

Phone: 814-863-1947
Email: SmealAdvising@smeal.psu.edu
On the Web: https://undergrad.smeal.psu.edu/

Smeal Undergraduate Majors Video

The Academic Experience

Recommended Academic Plan

Your schedule during the first four semesters is likely to resemble the sample below:

First Semester	Second Semester	Third Semester	Fourth Semester
First Year Seminar (1)	MGMT 301 (3)*	MKTG 301 (3)*	FIN 301 (3)*
ECON 102 (3)	SCM 200 or STAT 200 (4)*	ACCTG 211 (4)*	SCM 301, ENGL 202D, or MIS 250 (3)
MATH 110/140 (4)*	World Language or Elective (4)	ECON 104 or Gen. Ed. (3)	CAS 100 (3)
World Language (4)	Gen. Ed. Natural Science (GN) (3)	World Language or Elective (4)	Gen. Ed. (GH/GA/GS) (3)
ENGL 015/030 (3)*	MATH 141 (4) (RM: Actuarial Science majors only)*	Gen. Ed. (GA/GH/GS) (3)	Gen. Ed. (GN) (3)
15 Total Credits	14-18 Total Credits	17 Total Credits	15 Total Credits

Global Education Requirements

World Language Proficiency at the 12th credit level in a single world language is required of all Smeal students. Review the “Placement Policy for Penn State World Language Courses” prior to planning your world language coursework.

United States Cultures (US) Requirement Take three credits of intercultural coursework related to diversity in the United States.

International (IL) Requirement Take three credits of international coursework studying the cultures in other countries.

NOTE: Courses satisfying the culture requirements can count toward General Education and/or Electives based on pre-determined qualifications.

Preparing to Enroll in a Major

The nine majors offered by Smeal are some of the most popular at Penn State. To enter a major in the college, you must exhibit strong academic performance during your first two years at the University. Entrance to all Smeal majors requires the completion of prescribed entrance to major courses outlined below:

ENGL 015 or ENGL 030: Composition*

MGMT 301: Basic Management Concepts*

MATH 110 or MATH 140: Calculus*

MKTG 301: Principles of Marketing*

ECON 102: Microeconomics

FIN 301: Corporation Finance*

ACCTG 211: Financial and Managerial Accounting*

SCM 200 or STAT 200: Statistics*

Additional Requirements for the Actuarial Science Major:

MATH 140: Calculus with Analytic Geometry I*

MATH 141: Calculus with Analytic Geometry II*

*Courses require a grade of “C” or better.

Selecting a Major

Matriculating from pre-major status to enrollment in a major is contingent upon the timing and completion of cumulative credits at Penn State.

You must be enrolled as a pre-major in Smeal or as an exploratory student in the Division of Undergraduate Studies (DUS).
Cumulative credits are credits (courses) taken at Penn State.
Advanced Placement (AP) credits and credits earned at other institutions are included in Total Credits.
Complete or currently be enrolled in all entrance to major courses, including obtaining grades of “C” or better in specified courses.
Once a minimum of 40 cumulative credits—but no more than 59.0 cumulative credits—are earned and entrance to major criteria is met, students apply for their major.
The typical application period (40-59) is spring semester of the second year.
Students with 59.1 or more cumulative credits who are still in pre-major status are ineligible to apply for a Smeal major and ineligible to continue their enrollment in the college.

Grade Point Averages

Attain the minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) established for desired major. Refer to chart below.

Major	Cumulative GPA
Accounting (ACCTG_BS)	3.20
Actuarial Science (ACTSC_BS)	3.20
Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIENT_BS)	3.10
Finance (FIN_BS)	3.50
Management (MGMT_BS)	3.10
Management Information Systems (MIS_BS)	3.10
Marketing (MKTG_BS)	3.20
Risk Management (RM_BS)	3.10
Supply Chain and Information Systems (SCIS_BS)	3.20

Smeal Resources

Smeal Academic Advising

202 Business Building
Phone: 814-863-1947
On the Web: https://ugstudents.smeal.psu.edu/academics-advising

Your assigned adviser will serve as a key source of academic guidance throughout your Penn State career. Explore majors and select the one that is right for you, schedule courses, understand degree requirements, and more.

Diversity Enhancement Programs

204 Business Building
Phone: 814-865-0938
On the Web: https://www.smeal.psu.edu/diversity

A range of programs help you flourish in the business classroom and prepare you for success after graduation.

Office of International Programs

202 Business Building
Phone: 814-865-4264
On the Web: https://ugstudents.smeal.psu.edu/international-programs

Smeal strongly encourages students to participate in education abroad programs. Penn State offers more than 100 programs around the globe.

Business Career Center

114 Business Building
Phone: 814-863-6161
On the Web: https://careerconnections.smeal.psu.edu/

Prepare to pursue and interview for internship and co-op positions with top companies. Along with career development, the office also coordinates the activities of more than 40 student-run organizations at Smeal.

Smeal Undergraduate Student Exchange

On the Web: https://ugstudents.smeal.psu.edu/

Website for current undergraduates with information about advising, academic requirements, honor and integrity, careers, study abroad, and more.

Schreyer Business Library

3rd Floor, Paterno Library
Phone: 814-865-6369
On the Web: https://libraries.psu.edu/business

Access e-resources, business directories, academic journals, and other publications to conduct business research and prepare for your career.

Penn State Resources

Penn State Academic Calendar

On the Web: https://registrar.psu.edu/

Find the critical dates for every semester.

LionPath

On the Web: https://lionpathsupport.psu.edu/

Penn State’s student information system, which provides students access to their academic, registration, and financial records.

Students can also enroll for classes, view/accept their financial aid awards, and view their tuition bills.

Office of Student Aid

On the Web: https://studentaid.psu.edu/

Updates and information on tuition costs, scholarships, loans, and other aid programs.

Academic Support: Penn State Learning

On the Web: https://pennstatelearning.psu.edu/

Services are free to students and include tutoring, time management, presentation preparation, and enhancing computing and learning skills.

Account Access: Friends of Penn State (FPS)

On the Web: https://accounts.psu.edu/

With an FPS account, parents, guardians, and others can gain access to a variety of web applications and services at Penn State. With your authorization, FPS access can include a semester bill and bursar account along with other financial information through LionPath.

University Health Services

On the Web: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/health

A nationally accredited health care service specializing in outpatient student health helps Penn State students get healthy and stay healthy.