If student is placed initially in Spanish 3 and completes the course; this means they complete the FL requirement. Is it safe to assume that they would have to complete 8 less credits to graduate (since they don’t have to take Spanish 1and 2)? Or do they have to take 8 additional “elective” credits? It would seem the first assumption is correct, but also seems odd that someone would only have to complete about 112 credits to graduate. Any insight appreciated.
The number of credits to graduate is a finite number and separate from other requirements. So completing a requirement either via AP credits or your language example frees up credits for electives, additional classes in a major (often a major will have either/or options, and elective space means you could do “both”) , or space to complete a minor.
Thanks; but since I am a little thick…what you are saying is that (for example) someone had 24 “credits” via AP and/or language example, they could NOT just take about 12 credits per semester and graduate on time (4 years); correct?
Haha, you are not dumb – this is very Penn State. “it depends” is the most accurate answer. It depends on the major. It depends on the requirements you are filling. It depends on the timing — some percentage of the last credits, for example, hve to be from Penn State. Some majors do not allow p/t status (less than 12 credits). Try looking at your student’s proposed major course of class – a grid of what to take when.
Landing on the 12th credit level of a langiage to start is a good thing. It gives you room to , as you have guessed, take a lighter classload if you wish.
Thanks again. He was accepted into Smeal; I know he is not really in Smeal (another Penn State thing). If I look at the 8 semester suggested course plan…I am assuming that if he can draw a line through all of those classes then he is good…no need to take “extra” classes. If he starts at the 12th level language, takes English this summer before he goes to PSU and has two AP “credits”…that he can simply take a lighter course load for several semesters if he so chooses, since he would have 17 credits “out of the way”. I’ll have him confirm with advisor at NSO in a week and a half I guess.
@ greenbutton. Appreciate all of your insight.