Apr 21, 2002 By Steve Ferris 3 min read

CALFIORNIA – Beginning with the fall 2003 academic year, most students at California University of Pennsylvania and the 13 other state-owned universities will be required to earn 120 credits – instead of 128 – to graduate with a bachelor’s degree. The State System of Higher Education’s Board of Governors, which runs the universities, recently approved a policy that reduces the graduation credit requirements to enable more students to graduate in four years.

“When you consider most classes are three credits, 128 credits is an odd number,” Cal U spokeswoman Michele Papakie said.

She said Cal U president Dr. Angelo Armenti Jr. proposed the policy change.

Armenti proposed the change during a meeting of the State System’s council of presidents, which is comprised of the presidents of all 14 schools, chancellor Judy G. Hample and her vice chancellors.

To qualify for financial aid, a student must be full-time and take at least 12 credits, or four three-credit courses, per semester.

“Students who need financial aid typically work, so they are happy to take 12 credits, qualify for financial aid and continue to hold their jobs,” Papakie said.

However, a student who takes 12 credits each semester would need 10.5 semesters to accumulate 128 credits.

Only 16 percent of Cal U’s students graduate in four years and 28 percent graduate in nine semesters.

Students who want to graduate in four years have to schedule 16 credits per semester to graduate under the present 128-credit requirement.

“But, taking 16 credits can be difficult because most classes count for three credits.

Other options are 15 credits or 18 credits. “Fifteen means a (fifth) semester and 18 is tough,” Papakie said.

Lowering the graduation requirement to 120 allows students to take 15 credits in each semester and graduate in four years.

“We believe that this change, in conjunction with the opening of the Mon/Fayette Expressway, will make higher education at California University an even more attractive option for lifelong learning,” Papakie said.

State System spokesman Kenn Marshall said implementing the change in 2003 is necessary because each university must submit requests to the Board of Governors for programs that require more than 120 credits because of government or professional accreditation standards.

As an example, he said some nursing programs mandate clinical work that goes beyond 120 credits.

“There are certain programs that will require more than 120 credits,” Marshall said.

The policy still requires students to complete general education and program specific classes.

At least 40 percent of a student’s baccalaureate coursework must be general education classes like humanities, fine arts, communication social and behavioral sciences, mathematics and natural sciences.

At least 25 percent of a student’s credits must be earned in a specific discipline and at least 40 percent must consist of upper-level, advanced courses.