Credits Needed for Graduation by Major

The total number of course units (“c.u.” or “credits”) needed for graduation varies between 32 and 36 depending on the number of credits required in the major. Each major specifies a certain number of credits that must be completed, but never less than 12. In addition to the major, students must normally complete 20 credits outside the major. No more than 36 credits will be required for graduation. Those whose majors require more than 16 credits may take correspondingly fewer than 20 outside the major. At least 16 of the 20 credits outside the major must be Arts and Sciences courses. See Policies Governing Non-College Courses.

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 no more than 36 c.u. to graduate.

PLEASE NOTE:  Some concentrations within a given major will require additional c.u. from what is listed below. See the Penn Catalog for details. The total c.u. needed for graduation with a single major will never exceed 36.