Choosing a college is one of the most important choices you will make in your lifetime and the first step on your journey toward a professional career. Of course, you want a college that will give you every advantage and an institution whose
reputation for academic excellence and opportunity is well known and respected. You
also want individual attention and a well-rounded experience.

Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College gives you all that and more - much more!

As part of the Penn State University system, Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College gives you personal attention and small classes, two
convenient and beautiful campuses and an accomplished faculty of more than 200 full-time and adjunct professors--all backed by the resources and strength of one of the world's premier universities.

With an enrollment of about 2,500 full and part-time students, you'll find outstanding academic opportunity combined with a campus life that
lets you explore and grow as a person. From access to one of the largest library systems in the country, to leading edge research, to
one-on-one involvement in any number of special interest clubs and organizations, Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College gives you a wide range of options to help you make the most of your college experience.

As a first-year student, you may choose from among 20 Penn State campuses to start your education. Many students (about 60 percent) spend their first two years at one campus, then move to another location to finish their degrees. Where you finish depends on your major and the type of campus you prefer.

First Year Seminar:

This is a required course designed to ease the transition from high school to college. The small size of the seminars allows for more discussion in class, interaction with the professor, and attention to writing skills. In addition to fulfilling the University’s first year seminar requirement, each three-credit seminar fulfills a general education requirement in either the humanities or social and behavioral sciences.

Honors Program:

The Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College offers academically gifted students opportunities to enrich and broaden their education. The college offers challenging academic opportunities through two programs: the College Honors Program and the
Schreyer Scholars Program. Each program permits exceptionally talented students to create a course of study suited to their abilities and intellectual curiosities.

Students enrolled in either of these programs may select from a variety of special honors courses, honors options, independent study and research programs to satisfy Penn State's general education requirements. At the beginning of each academic semester, students work closely with both an academic advisor and an honors coordinator to develop individualized academic
plans.

College Honors Program:

The Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College Honors Program is a college-based program that provides qualified students with enriched academic experiences through both honors courses and extra-curricular activities. Honors courses are not "extra" courses; they fulfill degree requirements just as any other general education class. Out-of-classroom activities might include
visiting major U.S. museums, traveling abroad, participating in regional debate contests, developing community service projects,
coordinating campus lecture series, and/or attending cultural events. Students receive special recognition as honors students at
the Penn State Lehigh Valley Honors Convocation and the Penn State Berks Awards Ceremony.

Schreyer Scholars Program:

The Schreyer Scholars Program is a University-wide four-year honors program that provides challenging academic courses and extracurricular opportunities to students. One of the advantages of this academic program is its flexibility; any graduation requirement (except the total number of credits) may be modified to meet the individual student's needs with the approval of the Honors Coordinator. Schreyer Scholars can also compete for Penn State's prestigious Academic Excellence Scholarships as entering first-year students.

Army ROTC:

Army ROTC is an elective course you take in college alongside your prescribed major course of study. Courses are worth 2 or 3 credits and all Penn State majors accept at least 6 credits of ROTC. It is not a major in itself! ROTC is designed to develop and enhance the leadership and management skills of today's students. While in ROTC, students lead the life of a normal
college student but have the added bonus of training in communication, time management and personnel organization. Upon graduation, you may earn a commission as a second lieutenant, an officer in the United States Army. You can take Army ROTC classes with absolutely no military obligation. Introductory courses teach the fundamentals of leadership along with the organization of the U.S. military and basic soldiering skills, and are applicable to your academic major's elective requirements. As a participant in our basic program, you are also eligible for the many exciting extracurricular
and social activities within Penn State's ROTC program.

Sports

Like all the Penn State campuses, Penn State Berks offers a range of athletics with intercollegiate, club and intramural sports teams. Specifics on sports at Penn State Berks
can be found at http://www.bk.psu.edu/athletics/