Guidelines for Awarding Minors
A minor is defined as a specialization of at least 18 credits that supplements a major. A minor program may consist of course work in a single area or from several disciplines, with at least 6 credits at the 400-level (Senate Policy 59-00)
- Minors will be offered only in areas and at locations authorized for the University College.
- Descriptions of requirements for each authorized minor are available on the University’s Web-Bulletin site: https://bulletins.psu.edu/programs/#filter=.filter_24
- Practices within the University College relating to the offering of minors at the baccalaureate level shall be consistent with academic policies of the Senate (59-00) and the academic administrative policies and procedures (L-6) of the Administrative Council on Undergraduate Education (ACUE).
- At each authorized location, the Director of Academic Affairs (DAA) or designee will accept student petitions for entrance to a University College minor (Form L-1) for students in University College programs with fifth semester classification or higher, but not later than the 12th week of the student’s graduation semester. Upon academic administrative approval for entrance to the minor by the DAA or designee, the campus registrar will enter the student’s minor into ISIS screen path ARUSAN.
Students approved for entrance to a minor who terminate degree enrollment and subsequently return to degree status through the re-enrollment process must reapply for entrance to a minor, if desired.
- The campus DAA/Designee will be responsible for monitoring the academic progress (i.e., minimum g.p.a) required for retention and graduation.
- During the seventh week of the student’s final semester, the University Registrar will forward a degree audit to the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses (c/o Student Academic Records) for each student pursuing a University College minor. The Office of the Vice President will certify that the student has completed the requirements of the minor and will enter an approval indicator on ISIS screen path ARUGB. If a student no longer wishes to pursue the approved minor, a letter of cancellation must be submitted by the student to the campus registrar via the DAA or designee at the campus by the 12th week of the student’s graduation semester.
- The Office of the University Registrar will prepare a minor certificate for each student certified by the University College as meeting the requirements of the minor program. The certificate will include the signature of the President of the University and the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses. The minor certificate will be presented to the graduate along with the diploma awarded for meeting the requirements of a baccalaureate major program.
- The University Registrar will be responsible for recording on the student's academic record the successful completion of the minor program at the time the baccalaureate degree is conferred.
Guidelines for Course Substitutions, Special Topics, and Independent Study
- Petitions for course substitutions in University College minors will be sent to the University College Records Office (c/o Student Records) following the same procedures established for University College major programs.
- Independent Study, Special Topic and Research Project course requests planned for inclusion in the minor must be reviewed and approved by the DAA prior to the student’s registering for the course. A maximum of 3 credits of independent study, special topics, or research project without a suffix designation and title may be applied to minor requirements.. An additional 3 credits of independent study, special topics, or research project with a suffix designation may also be used.
Rev. 05/03/05