Credits Needed for Graduation

Credits Needed for College Majors

The number of credits (c.u.) required for graduation is determined by adding a number of electives, usually 20, to the total c.u. required by the major. This total graduation credit requirement will always be between 32 and 36 c.u.

Important Note

Major A–F \| G–N \| P–V	CU for Major	CU Outside Major	Total CU for Graduation

African Studies	12	20	32
Africana Studies	12	20	32
Anthropology	14	20	34
Architecture	16	20	36
Biochemistry	18	18	36
Biological Basis of Behavior	18.5	17.5	36
Biology*	16.5	19.5	36
Biophysics	20	16	36
Chemistry	17	19	36
Cinema Studies	13	20	33
Classical Studies	12	20	32
Cognitive Science	16	20	36
Communication	14	20	34
Comparative Literature	14	20	34
Criminology	14	20	34
East Asian Languages & Civilizations	14	20	34
East Asian Area Studies	12	20	32
Economics	12	20	32
English	12	20	32
Environmental Studies	15	20	35
Fine Arts	16	20	36
French Studies	12	20	32
	CU for Major	Elective CU	Total CU for Graduation
Gender, Culture & Society	13	20	33
Geology	15	20	35
Paleo-Biology	18.5	17.5	36
German	12.5	20	32.5
Health & Societies	14	20	34
Hispanic Studies	12	20	32
History	12	20	32
History of Art	13	20	33
Individualized Major	14	20	34
International Relations (Number of credits needed may vary. See the department.)	16	20	36
International Studies/Business	14	20	34
Italian Studies	12	20	32
Jewish Studies	14	20	34
Latin American & Latino Studies	12	20	32
Linguistics	14	20	34
Logic, Information & Computation	18	18	36
Mathematics	13	20	33
Modern Middle Eastern Studies	12	20	32
Music	14	20	34
Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations	14	20	34
	CU for Major	Elective CU	Total CU for Graduation
Philosophy	12	20	32
Humanistic Philosophy	16	20	36
Philosophy & Science	16	20	36
Philosophy, Politics & Economics	16	20	36
Physics & Astronomy*	17.5	18.5	36
Political Science	12	20	32
Psychology	13	20	33
Religious Studies	12	20	32
Romance Languages (2 Languages)	18	18	36
Science, Technology & Society	14	20	34
Slavic Languages and Literature (Russian)	12	20	32
Sociology	14	20	34
South Asia Studies	12	20	32
Theatre Arts	14	20	34
Urban Studies	14	20	34
Visual Studies	15	20	35

*Some concentrations in this major will require more than this number of c.u. to complete; in these cases fewer electives will be required, but the total graduation requirement will remain 36 c.u. The numbers above represent minimum credits required; depending on their individual situations, some students may need more than this in order to finish their degree program. Students with any questions about their graduation requirement should meet with a College advisor. Up to 4 c.u. of the courses outside the major may come from other schools at the University. Students who are completing more than one major must use their largest major to calculate the required graduation credits. For example, a student majoring in English (12 c.u.) and Fine Arts (16 c.u.) needs at least 36 c.u. to graduate. Students who are completing a dual degree with the College and another undergraduate school at Penn must meet with advisors in both schools to determine their graduation requirement.