Advisor's FAQs

How many credits does a student have to be enrolled in to be full-time?
A student must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits to qualify as a full-time student for insurance, some financial aid, and athletic purposes. This is an issue to discuss with students who may want to drop coursework that will then bring their credit load below full time status.

What is the Math Foundations and Quantitative requirement for General Education?
Any math course numbered MA1500 or higher will satisfy the Math Foundations requirement. A student may not take one math course se to satisfy both the Math Foundations and Quantitative Reasoning requirement. A student must complete their Math Foundations requirement within their first two semesters at PSU.

What if a student has been admitted to PSU with a mathematics deficiency?
A mathematics deficiency refers to the lack of high school credit for Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry. A student must complete one of the following: MA1070 and MA1080 or MA1100, or earn Level 2 on the Math Placement Exam. A student must continually enroll in courses that will complete this requirement until it has been satisfied.

Is MA1070 a graded course?
MA107 is a Pass/No Pass course, which shows as zero credits but actually carries three tuition credits. As an example, for financial, insurance and registration purposes, if a student is enrolled in 10 credits plus MA107, he/she is actually enrolled in 13 credits of coursework.

Is there a time frame in which a student should complete their General Education requirements?
A student should try to complete their lower-level General Education requirements within their first two years at PSU. Composition and Math Foundations should be completed within the students first two semesters at PSU.

How does a student fulfill the 7 credits of the General Education Scientific Perspective?
BI2110/BI2130 Anatomy and Physiology I and Lab and BI1001/BI1030 General Biology I and Lab will not complete your scientific perspective requirement. A student must take either a year long sequence OR take a science with lab and a three-credit science course not in the same discipline. The two courses above are both in the BI discipline.

Can a student retake a PSU course at another school and transfer it back to Plymouth?
With prior approval through the Undergraduate Studies office, a student may retake courses he/she has failed at PSU through transfer credit. Those are the only courses students may retake via transfer that will impact on their cumulative gpa. Students may not retake, through transfer, courses in which they have earned credit with grades above F (i.e., a grade of D- earned at PSU may not transfer back to Plymouth to improve their grade point average).

Do transfer students have to take IAC?
Students entering Plymouth with 24 or more credits are not required to take An Introduction to the Academic Community. However, they must demonstrate competency in the Computer and Library Skills components of that course as a graduation requirement.

How does a student declare or change their major?
Declaration or Change or Academic Major and/or Option forms are available outside the Registrar’s office. This form requires the signature of the department chair for the new major. Once the signature is obtained the form should be brought to the Registrar’s Office. Typically, a new advisor from the new major department is either chosen by the student or assigned.

How does a student declare a minor?
Declaration of Academic Minor forms are available outside the Registrar’s Office. This form requires the signature of the student’s advisor and the appropriate representative of the department or council offering the minor. Completed forms are returned to the Registrar’s Office.

Is there a difference between Continuing Education and Undergraduate courses?
Continuing Education courses are all regularly offered undergraduate courses, not just specific evening courses. The only difference between students who attend through Continuing Education and those who attend through matriculation to PSU is the registration, financial and living processes.