Courses

Foreign Culture Courses — If you are in the ISTBS major, you are required to complete a certain number of Foreign Culture credits. These courses focus on the cultural aspects of non-Western cultures and civilizations. This is different from the US/IL General Education requirement for all Penn State students.

Support of Option Courses — If you are in the ISTBS major, you must complete an additional 12 credits to fulfill the Support of Option. These courses are meant to provide you with knowledge that you may put to practical use in a work environment or future academic endeavors.

This degree program includes Entrance-to-Major requirements (ETMs) that must be satisfied before you are officially admitted to the major.

Here’s how it works:

• If you meet the ETMs at the time you apply, you will be admitted directly into the program.  
• If you have not met the ETMs, there’s nothing to worry about. It’s very typical for a student not to enter their major until sometime between their third and fifth semester as a Penn Stater.
• If you are admitted to the College of the Information Sciences and Technology, you will work closely with your World Campus academic adviser to learn how to fulfill the IST ETMs.

Once you have successfully met your Entrance-to-Major requirements (either through transfer credits or during your first few semesters of course work), you can change your major to IST.