Kinesiology Advising FAQ (University Park)

Assigned Advisor information can be found in LionPath and also under "Network" in Starfish

Students may contact their advisor by PSU email, Starfish appointment scheduling or phone. Advisor's email address can be found under "My Success Network" in Starfish.

When emailing your Academic Advisor, please attach your current Academic Requirements (audit).  This will help with expediting a response

Email can be a very quick and efficient way to have your advising questions answered; however, some questions are better addressed during a scheduled advising appointment.

• Always use your Penn State email address.  This is the only way the Advising Office can be sure it’s you.  Use your PSU email account for all communication with university staff, faculty and offices.
• Include content in the subject line.  An email without a subject line may be treated as SPAM by an email server.
• Please email one advisor, instead of an entire advising team to get your questions answered.  In addition, use BCC with caution.
• Appropriate email etiquette includes not using texting shortcuts.
• It’s a good practice to check your psu.edu email daily

Generally speaking plan to schedule an appointment with your adviser approximately 3-4 weeks prior to your registration date.

A students enrollment date is listed along the right column within the Student Center (LionPATH) under the heading of "Enrollment Dates."  This is the first day you are eligible to enroll in courses for the corresponding semester.

Expect a response in 24-48 hours (longer if over the weekend or during peak advising times).  Emails are not answered in the evening hours nor on weekends

The LionPATH Academic Requirements/Degree Audit Report is a working document listing all requisites for completing a specific plan/major. Degree audits are used by students, faculty and staff to monitor and evaluate how students are progressing towards degree completion. The Academic Requirements Degree Audit will display requirements for all major(s) and minor(s) in which a student is currently active.

A What-if Report is used to request an Advisement Report for a plan other than the one(s) in which you are currently enrolled.  Students would run a What-if Report for their intended major(s)/option(s).

Please refer to the tutorials on the LionPATH help page  for directions on running a Degree Audit, running a What-if Report and Interpreting a Degree Audit.

All students are encouraged to create an Individualized Academic Plan (IAP) to assist them in tracking the requirements and timeline needed to graduation.  Students can request a IAP worksheet from their adviser. In addition, the IAP worksheet can be found under the “Suggested Academic Plans” in the menu. Students should use their Academic Requirements (audit) and suggested academic plans located in the Bulletin as tools to complete their IAP. Once completed, students can send their IAP and current copy of their Academic Requirements report (audit) to their adviser for review and feedback. An IAP can assist in the scheduling of courses each semester and provide the answer of whether students are on track or not. Students should review their IAP once a semester with their adviser. 

Advisers need time to approve, review and sign any form.  Students should not expect same day signatures on any form.  In addition, it could be determined that a different faculty or staff member’s signature is needed and an Adviser is not the appropriate contact.  Students should allow two to three business days for return of form.  A current Academic Requirement (audit) should be attached to all forms requesting signatures.  Students should schedule an advising consultation in Starfish to meet with their adviser regarding the form. Students can also choose to email their adviser with an explanation and attachment.  Additional time may be needed during peak advising periods.

First-semester baccalaureate students are admitted to the College of Health and Human Development (HHD) in the pre-major (HHD_PMAJ).

Entrance to Major requirements (ETM) to the KINES major at University Park include a 2.00 cumulative GPA and earned a minimum 29.1 credits (3rd semester classification).  Students use Update Academics in LionPATH to change, add, or remove majors, options, minors and certificates.

In LionPATH, if a course is full and a Wait List is available, a student can choose to be automatically added to the class if a seat opens (tutorial: Wait List Frequently Asked Questions). Note: Be sure to un-check Show Open Classes Only in order to see full sections, including those with Wait List availability.  Even if you are on the Course Wait List continue to use Search for Classes to monitor seat availability.  Not all courses have Wait List as an option.

Continue checking the Search Search for Classes for openings or to see if a new section has been added.

Schedule a course that would be a good alternative.  (Be sure to review your course selection with your adviser.)

Coursework from another institution will transfer either as a specific Penn State course (e.g., ECON 102) or as general credits in a subject area (e.g., Econ – 3 GEN credits). If appropriate, general credits may be used to fulfill degree requirements and may be applied to the program of study in accordance with the policies established by the college of enrollment.

It is always good to check the equivalency BEFORE taking the course and know how the course will be used in your degree program. Be sure to use the Transfer Credit Tool to find equivalent courses (remember General Credits do not equal the direct equivalent for a course) or talk with your adviser to learn more about having a course evaluated for equivalency. You need to earn a C or better for the course to be eligible for transfer, but the grade is not calculated as part of your Penn State GPA.  In other words, the credits transfer but not the grade.  Visit Transfer Credit: Penn State University Undergraduate Admissions for further information and to access the Transfer Credit Tool.

KINES 296 and 496 are available for students who will undertake creative projects on topics not already covered in KINES courses.  The student’s individual work must be supervised by a faculty member.  The student is responsible for finding a KINES faculty member willing to serve as the instructor.  Students complete the necessary form, or by emailing Melissa Weaver at mkf15@psu.edu, with the instructor.  1 credit is equal to approximately 45 hours.  KINES 296 and 496 are also used for students who will be a teaching assistant in a course(s).

KINES 296 or KINES 496 should be added no later than the regular drop/add period for the semester of enrollment or a late add fee will be incurred.

296/496 Form to Complete

Advisers do not have the ability to add students to full courses.  In LionPATH, if a course is full and a Wait List is available, a student can choose to be automatically added to the class if a seat opens (tutorial: Wait List Frequently Asked Questions).  Note: Be sure to un-check Show Open Classes Only in order to see full sections, including those with Wait List availability.  Even if you are on the Course Wait List continue to use Search for Classes to monitor seat availability.  Not all courses have Wait List as an option.

The Class Details page contains the meeting and enrollment information, class availability, course description, textbook information and additional details including if a course is targeted for a populations (majors, minors, etc.).  The Enrollment Information can vary between sections of the same course.  Students should read information included in the Enrollment Requirements and Notes area on the class detail page.

If students meet the criteria under Enrollment Requirements but cannot schedule the course they should call the department offering the course.

Revised Policy Effective for Registration for Summer 2021

A student cannot attempt a course more than two times without the permission of the appropriate Dean in their unit of enrollment. (It is important to note that it is the academic official of the student's unit of enrollment; not the unit offering the class.)  Attempts are defined as earning a grade in a class or late-dropping the class.  Attempts are tracked in LionPATH. Students will be denied enrollment after a second attempt in a given course.

Attempts will also include sections of a course differentiated by suffix:  for example, attempting CAS 100A and CAS 100B would be two attempts.

The College of Health and Human Development has an online Third Course Attempt Request form found here.

Students should invest effort in responses to the three reflection questions in the form.  Submissions must be received PRIOR to the start of the semester in which students wish to attempt a course for the third time.

The form must be submitted at least 10 university business days prior to the first day of classes of the semester for which the student wants to enroll.

Supporting courses are meant to help students acquire knowledge of an application domain (i.e., the environment in which you eventually hope to work) and to help students develop supplemental knowledge and competencies related to your option.  Students in KINES/MOVSC are required to take 9 credits in Supporting Courses.  A list of approved Supporting Courses can be found here.  Additional courses may be possible in consultation with your adviser.

Adding a course that will take a student over 19 credits for the semester cannot be processed until the first day of classes.  Students can add the course/credits through LionPATH.  Consultation with your adviser is suggested but not required.

Beginning Fall 2023, will result in a tuition surcharge. Additional information can be found on the Registrar’s site.

When a course has been repeated, all of the credits and grades earned are included when calculating your cumulative grade-point average.  However, the course credits count only once towards total earned credits.  

Beginning Summer 2020 Penn State implemented Undergraduate Grade Forgiveness option  https://undergrad.psu.edu/aappm/H-2-undergraduate-grade-forgiveness.html.

Students should refer to the Registrar’s Grade Forgiveness site to learn how to submit a grade forgiveness request, https://www.registrar.psu.edu/grades/grade-forgiveness.cfm.

Students have a maximum of 12 credits for which grades can be forgiven.

ENGL 202A (Writing in the Social Sciences) or ENGL 202D (Business Writing) are recommended for students in the KINES major.  Which ENGL 202 suffix you select should be based on personal preference or determined by the type of work environment you see yourself pursuing when you graduate.

All CAS 100 courses will satisfy the GWS requirement.  CAS 100A has an emphasis on public speaking and presentations.  CAS 100B focuses on group problem solving and group presentations.  CAS 100C involves message evaluation and analysis.

Students cannot use LionPATH to enroll in WC courses offered Fall or Spring semesters.  Students need to contact the WC Registrar’s Office, registration@outreach.psu.edu, 1-800-252-3592, a week before the semester begins if space remains and student meets all listed enrollment requirements and prerequisites.  World Campus may restrict some courses to all resident instruction students.

Students should refer to the Multiple Campus Registration policy, procedure, and timeline regarding attempting to enroll in WEB courses at non- UP PSU campuses, https://www.registrar.psu.edu/registration/multiple-campus-registration.cfm. 

The Link for applying for graduation is located on the My Academics page of the Student Center. Refer to the Intent to Graduate-Activation Period of the University's Academic Calendar to determine the dates when you can apply for graduation. The graduation activation period for a semester typically begins a week before the beginning of classes and continues for two weeks into the semester.

Tutorials on using LionPATH, including how to apply for graduation, can be found on the following link, https://lionpathsupport.psu.edu/student-help/.

Refer to information provided by the Registrar on Notifying the University of Your Intent to Graduate, https://www.registrar.psu.edu/graduation/intent.cfm. 

Non-Graduating Seniors who are within one semester of degree completion can request to walk in a commencement ceremony.  Requests are approved only if no more than 8 credits or two courses are needed and students will be graduating the next semester.  A request to walk in the ceremony is merely an approval to attend.  Student names will not be in the commencement program.  Only the names of students who have activated their Intent to Graduate and will be completing all their degree requirements will appear in the programs. The Commencement- Walk Request online form can be found at https://hhd.psu.edu/undergraduate/advising/policies-and-procedures/forms/commencement-walk-request.

Requesting and approval to “walk” in a commencement ceremony and applying for graduating are two separate and unrelated process. Students approved to walk must follow the intent to graduate process the next semester (semester they are satisfying all graduation requirements). 

The following site, https://www.commencement.psu.edu/students/ answers many questions students might have concerning commencement.  Commencement ceremonies are listed in chronological order on the site.

The College of Health and Human Development (HHD) awards scholarships on the basis of academic achievement, financial need, school/community activities, leadership positions, and work experience.  Students must be enrolled in the College of Health and Human Development to receive scholarship support and some scholarships and awards require enrollment in a specific major.

All currently enrolled HHD students, currently enrolled Penn State students intending to transfer to the College prior to the Fall semester, and incoming freshmen and students transferring from a college outside of the Penn State system will be automatically considered for all scholarships and awards for which they are eligible.  For questions or additional information please contact HHDScholarships@psu.edu. 

A few select scholarships in academic units require additional information for consideration as noted in the description.