Understanding the BB H Degree Audit

The BB H audit enables you and your adviser to monitor your progress towards graduation. Students may get a copy of their audits from 302 HHD East, the Undergraduate Office, or from the E-Lion website, after the second week of each semester. It is important to become familiar with how to read and interpret the BB H audit.

In the top section of the audit is your adviser's name, your grades for each course during the last semester, your GPA for the previous semester, your cumulative GPA, number of late drops remaining, semester classification (based on credits earned) and the first day to register for the next semester. Your courses in progress for the current semester are also shown in this section.

The first section on major requirements has 9 subrequirements which include:

  1. Take all 16 credits: BB H 101, BIOL 141, CHEM 12, PSY 002 and STAT 200 (STAT 250 may substitute)
  2. Take all 7 credits: BIOL 110 and NUTR 251
  3. Take all 15 credits: BB H 310W, 311, 316, 411 and 440
  4. Take 3 credits in genetics: either BIOL 33 GN or 222
  5. Take 12 credits in basic sciences: choose 12 credits from courses listed
  6. Take 15 credits in biobehavioral health: select 5 of the courses listed
  7. Take 9 credits in health and developmental sciences: select from courses listed
  8. Take 3 credits in HDFS: select either HDFS 129, 229, 239 or 249
  9. Take 3 credits in scientific thought and philosophy: select one course from the list; BB H 301 is the preferred course for BBH majors

In the second section of major requirements there are 3 subrequirements:

  1. At least 6 of the 15 credits total for subrequirements 2 and 3 must be 400-level courses. 
  2. Take 3 credits in health promotion. Most BB H majors will complete this requirement by taking BB H 416. However, the following courses may also be used to complete this requirement: CAS 253, CAS 453, HDFS 311, HPA310, HPA431, NURS401, NURS464, REHAB 409, PSYCH 441, PSYCH 474.  (Note: some of these additional Health Promotion courses have prerequisites; check the PSU Bulletin for details.)
  3. In consultation with your advisor, take any 8 credits from the long list of supporting courses in either the health promotion emphasis or the biobehavioral health processes emphasis, or from both. These courses should be selected to support your career goals. Additional courses that are required for pre-professional programs (e.g. medicine) will usually be counted in this category.  Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.

The next main section of the audit shows your progress towards completing General Education requirements. It lists the number of credits needed in Writing and Speaking (GWS) courses, Quantification (GQ) courses, Natural Sciences (GN) courses, Arts (GA) courses, Humanities (GH) courses, Social & Behavioral Sciences (GS) and Health and Physical Activity (GHA) courses. As you complete each requirement the "-" in the left margin next to the requirement will be changed to a "+" sign.

The section "Minimum 120 credits required for graduation" contains a posting of the mathematical progress to that minimum number of credits. The actual number of credits needed to graduate is at least one credit more, and typically many credits more than the minimum. You can tally your actual number of credits needed by writing in the margin the number of credits left to take in each subrequirement and then adding those figures. At the end of the audit is a legend which explains the symbols used. There may also be a section indicating any academic exceptions which had been entered into the audit as a result of course substitution petitions.