The Economics B.A. and B.S. degrees are offered through Penn State’s World Campus. The following links provide information about the BA degree in Economics and the BS degree in Economics. These degrees have the same requirements as the degrees offered at University Park, although the selection of courses is limited. These degrees provide students with location, work, or family constraints the opportunity to complete a Penn State economics degree.
World Campus and University Park Economics degrees
University Park students frequently ask about taking World Campus courses. For a variety of reasons, this option is extremely limited. As described in the policy below, enrollment in World Campus courses during fall and spring semesters is not permitted, and enrollment during summer sessions is subject to the limits indicated by the Liberal Arts Residency in a Major/Minor policy (points 3 and 4 below), as well as additional department restrictions based on course capacity and student need.
World Campus and other Penn State Economics degrees
The comments above apply to Economics degrees offered at non-University Park locations, except of course that there are differences in the requirements of those degrees. Also, campus registrars may impose additional limits on students’ ability to take World Campus courses.
World Campus Economics Course Enrollment Policy
Penn State is organized into degree-granting colleges that set requirements, offer courses appropriate to their degree programs, and certify graduation. Students are expected to complete their coursework in the College granting their degree, though students may take their first two years of courses at other campuses before finishing at University Park or other degree-granting locations.
Many programs, including Economics, have capstone courses or experiences taught by faculty within the program. These programs may have similar requirements, but they are separate in terms of entrance to a major, advising, and administrative status. For these reasons, World Campus Economics courses are restricted according to the policy described below.
ECON courses offered through World Campus are for enrollment only by students earning their degrees through World Campus, except during the summer session, when some courses may be available to students from any campus. However, the department places restrictions on non-WC students enrolling in WC courses, even during the summer. The specific restrictions on enrollment are:
- Degree candidates at any resident campus may not take World Campus ECON courses during the fall and spring semesters. We do not make exceptions for work schedules, athletics, travel, or convenience of class times.
- Resident students at any campus may not earn concurrent ECON majors through World Campus.
- University Park ECON majors must earn at least 24 ECON credits (including at least 6 credits at the 400 level) in resident courses at the University Park campus and/or World Campus (see Liberal Arts Policy on Residency in a Major).
- Enrollment in courses will likely be limited to World Campus majors even during summer session. In particular,
- Resident students should not expect to take 400-level ECON courses through World Campus, even in summer.
- All summer courses, when approaching capacity, will have priority enrollment given to graduating
General University Policies concerning World Campus enrollment
This section describes general University policies regarding World Campus enrollment. However, the ECON policies listed above for ECON courses take precedence over these priorities. Resident students taking courses through World Campus under any of the circumstances noted above are subject to the “Multiple Campus Registration” policy (point 11 of Registration policy). The University’s general registration priorities for World Campus courses are described in the Undergraduate Advising Handbook.
Course Registration Priorities
World Campus students have registration priority for World Campus courses. World Campus students have “World Campus” listed as their campus designation in LionPATH. Students enrolled at other Penn State campuses may register for World Campus courses, if space is available, based on the following (in order of priority):
- Graduating Seniors
Registration for a World Campus course may be an option for a student’s final semester if he/she could not schedule the course required for graduation at his/her campus. All enrollment for non-World Campus students must be approved by the Economics Department at University Park. Requests should be sent via email to prd138@psu.edu. - Adult Learners
World Campus courses are an option for students classified as Adult Learners.