Special Living Options
Students in our 19 Special Living Options (SLOs) live and learn with classmates who share their interests. Students live with other members of their SLO in close-knit communities ("houses") located in the residence halls, where they have the opportunity to participate in field trips, group dinners, and other social and educational activities. Students build strong relationships with their fellow residents—and with the faculty and staff members affiliated with their SLO. In our SLOs, learning isn't just encouraged—it's celebrated.
- Not in an SLO? Some SLOs allow nonresidents to participate in their activities. For more information, contact the Faculty Associate or Residence Life Coordinator for the specific SLO.
Although priority for placement in a particular SLO is given to students enrolled in the academic college affiliated with that SLO, other students may be assigned to the SLO if space permits. Decisions on placement in each SLO are made in collaboration with the affiliated college.
Arts & Architecture House
Business and Society House
Discover House
Earth and Mineral Sciences House
Earth House
Engineering and Applied Sciences Interest House
Engineering House
First-Year in Science and Engineering House
First-Year Interest in Liberal Arts and Education
Forensic Science Interest House
Health Education and Awareness in Living House
Helping Across the Community House
Information Sciences and Technology House
International Languages House
Leadership and Service House
Living in a Free Environment House
Schreyer Honors College Living & Learning Community
Tri-Service ROTC House
Women in Science and Engineering House
Arts & Architecture House
Location: Leete Hall & Runkle Hall, North Halls
Arts & Architecture House is specially designed to meet the needs of students in majors such as art, music, architecture, theatre arts, architectural engineering, and landscape architecture. Residents have opportunities to interact with faculty, participate in field trips to museums and historical sites, and take part in educational workshops.
Arts & Architecture House residents live in North Halls, a vibrant community that houses three SLOs and is located within walking distance of the Palmer Museum of Art and the Visual Arts and Music Buildings. Students live in suites and share a kitchen, art studio, music practice rooms, seminar rooms, and other common areas with their fellow North Halls residents. (Check out our room rates to compare the cost of living in a suite to the cost of living in a traditional residence hall. First-year students are assigned only to two-bedroom suites with a standard occupancy of four.)
Business and Society House
Location: Leete Hall & Runkle Hall, North Halls
In partnership with the Smeal College of Business, the Business and Society House provides educational opportunities that enable students to stay informed about current events in business, society, and the world. Residents get valuable career development advice, learn from affiliated faculty members and guest speakers, and participate in field trips and tours of local businesses.
Business and Society House residents live in North Halls, a vibrant community that houses three SLOs and is located within walking distance of the Business Administration Building. Students live in suites and share a kitchen, art studio, music practice rooms, seminar rooms, and other common areas with their fellow North Halls residents. (Check out our room rates to compare the cost of living in a suite to the cost of living in a traditional residence hall. First-year students are assigned only to two-bedroom suites with a standard occupancy of four.)
Discover House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
Discover House, an SLO for first-year students that is supported by the Division of Undergraduate Studies, gives residents the opportunity to explore the many academic programs and majors offered at Penn State. Residents receive individualized attention from faculty members and develop strong relationships with their peers as they learn to make informed, responsible career and life choices.
- Open to first-year students only.
Earth and Mineral Sciences House
Location: Irvin Hall, West Halls
Residents of the Earth and Mineral Sciences House develop close relationships with faculty from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences while learning more about geography, energy, meteorology, and the geosciences. Field trips, house dinners, guest lectures, and intramural sports are just a few of the educational and social opportunities available to members.
Earth House
Location: Leete Hall & Runkle Hall, North Halls
The activities and programs offered at Earth House reflect residents' interests in environmental and agricultural issues. Working closely with faculty from the College of Agricultural Sciences, residents take part in recycling efforts, visit organic farms, attend guest lectures, and participate in a variety of other educational experiences.
Earth House residents live in North Halls, a vibrant community that houses three SLOs that work collaboratively to provide activities for the whole community. Students live in suites and share a kitchen, art studio, music practice rooms, seminar rooms, and other common areas with their fellow North Halls residents. (Check out our room rates to compare the cost of living in a suite to the cost of living in a traditional residence hall. First-year students are assigned only to two-bedroom suites with a standard occupancy of four.)
Engineering and Applied Sciences Interest House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
Working closely with faculty from the College of Engineering, residents of the Engineering and Applied Sciences Interest House explore their options for graduate study and learn more about potential career opportunities. This SLO is designed to meet the needs of Engineering majors, but is open to students from other majors as well.
Engineering House
Location: McKee Hall, West Halls
This SLO gives Engineering students the opportunity to interact with faculty from the College of Engineering and other professionals who work in the field. Residents also learn about the resources and services the college offers to help them achieve their academic, personal, and career goals.
- Open to Engineering students only. (Participating students' requested roommates may also be housed in this SLO if space permits.)
First-Year in Science and Engineering House
Location: Pennypacker Hall, East Halls
First-year students in the Eberly College of Science, the College of Engineering, and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences may choose to reside in this SLO. Residents are a part of the Pennypacker Experience, which offers a variety of programs to help students learn more about multicultural issues, develop time management and study skills, and explore the many extracurricular opportunities available to them at Penn State. Residents are also encouraged to take advantage of in-house tutoring and mentoring services.
- Open to first-year students in the Eberly College of Science, the College of Engineering, and the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences only. (Participating students' requested roommates may also be housed in this SLO if space permits.)
First-Year Interest in Liberal Arts and Education
Location: Sproul Hall, East Halls
Students living in this SLO participate in activities that introduce them to the opportunities and resources offered by the College of the Liberal Arts and the College of Education. This SLO focuses on career exploration, multicultural understanding, leadership development, and other issues of interest to students who are exploring their options in these multidisciplinary fields. Increased faculty interaction and in-hall advising are just a few of the benefits for residents of this community.
- Open to first-year students only.
Forensic Science Interest House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
Students enrolled in the Eberly College of Science's forensic science major may choose this environment to further enhance the University-wide, interdisciplinary approach of the academic curriculum. Activities that support classroom learning and informal interaction with prominent faculty will deepen students' understanding of this exciting field.
Health Education and Awareness in Living House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
This SLO is closely affiliated with the College of Health and Human Development and is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a health-related major, as well as students who are committed to healthy living. Residents strive to create a balanced lifestyle and achieve physical, emotional, social, academic, spiritual, and intellectual well-being. Yoga, stress management, nutrition, and physical fitness programs are offered to residents.
Helping Across the Community House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
Residents of this SLO have many opportunities to participate in community service projects, including food drives, blood drives, Recycling Revolution, Habitat for Humanity, Alternative Spring Break, and Penn State's Dance Marathon. Residents complete 15 hours of required community service per semester and are also welcome to help develop social and educational programs within the house.
Information Sciences and Technology House
Location: Thompson Hall, West Halls
Students studying Information Sciences and Technology have the option of living in this SLO, which gives its residents the opportunity to interact with peers in the Information Sciences and Technology (IST) program. House dinners, monthly activities, and field trips give residents the chance to get to know each other and the IST faculty.
International Language House
Location: Beaver Hall, Pollock Halls
International Language House is one of the oldest SLOs at Penn State. Live-in graduate students serve as language consultants in Spanish, French, and German, and residents develop their language skills while learning more about other countries and cultures. International Language House also sponsors language events, ethnic dinners, and a variety of cultural celebrations each semester.
Leadership and Service House
Location: Tener Hall, East Halls
The Service and Leadership SLO is designed to engage first year students in service and leadership opportunities available on campus and in the community. Residents participate in service projects, leadership activities, and programs about social justice throughout the year. Through these, students learn about the ways that they can contribute to the Penn State, local, and global communities now and in the future.
Living in a Free Environment House
Location: Tener Hall, East Halls & Ewing Hall, South Halls
This SLO was designed to meet the needs of students who wish to live in a substance-free environment. Residents of this SLO complete a Community Living Agreement to articulate their commitment to a substance-free lifestyle. Student leaders and resident assistants (RAs) plan a variety of social activities that complement a substance-free lifestyle-and work together to ensure that the living environment remains free of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.
Schreyer Honors College Living & Learning Environment
Location: Atherton Hall & Simmons Hall, South Halls
Located in close proximity to the administrative offices of Schreyer Honors College, this SLO supports Schreyer Scholars, providing them with a number of opportunities to participate in academic and social activities. Over 70 percent of the residents of Atherton and Simmons are Schreyer Scholars, and all residents have access to the computer labs and music practice rooms located in these residence halls. A $25.00 living learning fee is charged each semester to all residents via their student accounts.
- Any student may request to live in this scholarly residential environment, but priority is given to Schreyer Scholars.
Tri-Service ROTC House
Location: Brumbaugh Hall, East Halls
Students with the ambition to become Officers in the Armed Services can live surrounded by like-minded individuals fostering both personal and professional growth and development. Residents benefit from the mentorship of both upperclassmen and the ROTC Staff while living in an environment where respect, integrity, duty, honor, and the rest of the Military's core values are part of the atmosphere.
Women in Science and Engineering House
Location: Ritner Hall, Pollock Halls
Created specifically to meet the needs of female students in science and engineering fields, the Women in Science and Engineering House offers residents opportunities to explore the unique issues facing women in predominantly male professions. This SLO is affiliated with the University's Women in the Sciences and Engineering Institute.
- Open to women only.
