FAQs for Undergraduate Advising
How do I meet with my adviser?
Log on to Starfish and sign up for a time to meet. Find your adviser under “My Success Network.”
What, how, when do I petition?
How do I petition?
Go to coursesub.psu.edu.
What can I petition?
- 3/6/9 (GA, GH, GS)
- CHEM 4XX can be 408, 448, 452, 464 for CHEM 466 (for juniors and seniors)
- CHE 4XX for CHE 360
- Most professional electives will need to be petitioned.
- Transfer credits that satisfy Penn State requirements
When should I petition my classes?
- After you have signed up for the course but before you graduate.
- Note that some petitions require University approval. Please submit these as soon as possible for longer approval period.
What Professional Elective should I take?
- You can count most 200-level courses as long as it will help your professionally. This is a chance to explore other interests that you might have.
- If you are pursuing a minor, you may use 6 credits of the minor as professional electives.
- Typically not a GA/GH/GS or GHA.
- ENGR courses will only count as a professional elective.
How do I look at my degree audit?
- Log on to Lionpath and find academic requirements.
- The courses that you have taken will be collapsed (arrow to the right). The other courses that you need will be expanded (arrow down).
- Also, at the top of each section Lionpath will state how many credits you have left in that section.
How do language courses count?
- A language course can be used for a professional elective
- The third language course can be used for a GA/GH or GS.
How should I take my 300-level courses?
- First take 320 and 330, then 340 and 350.
- You may take 330 and 350 concurrently but it is a bad idea to take 350 before 330.
- You can take either CHE 330 or CHE 350 as a pre-req for CHE 410.
Are prerequisites taken seriously?
YES.
Should I do a minor?
If you have a special interest in an area and available space in your schedule, then the answer is yes.
How do co-ops and internships count?
- ENGR 195, 295 and 395 can count as a professional elective. It can also count as an engineering elective under UPC approval based in your reports.
- Your co-op reports may also give you credit for ENG 202C. This credit by examination is administered by the English department. More information is available on the Engineering Career Resources website.
