Advising

Degree Requirements

You must choose one of the degree types below and complete the requirements to earn that degree type. Most majors allow you to select either the BA or the BS degree. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule: 

  • Applied Linguistics, Judaic Studies and World Languages majors may only earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
  • Engineering, Computer Science and Quantitative Economics majors may only earn a Bachelor of Science
  • Art Practice, Graphic Design and Creative Writing majors may only earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Some Music majors will earn a Bachelor of Music, while others may choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
  • The Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees may require selective admission to the major via portfolio or audition. Please check with the appropriate academic advisor regarding options in your intended major.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.)

A minimum of 23 credits (may be more depending on foreign language placement), as listed below. All courses for the BA requirement must be passed with a minimum D- or Pass grade.

MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIREDADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Two years college-level language proficiency (completion of a minimum of 3 credits in 203 or a more advanced level course OR language waiver1)Students with no prior experience in a certain language will complete 101-103 and 201-203 in that language.
10 credits minimum in arts & lettersA minimum of 3 of the 10 credits must be in fine & performing arts
10 credits minimum in sciences and/or social sciencesA minimum of 3 of the 10 credits must be in science or mathematics, excluding Math 100 or lower

1Students who are proficient in another language may be able to waive these language credits through a proficiency-based assessment or document review attesting proficiency; in that case, a minimum of 3 additional credits must be earned in arts & letters (i.e., student will need a minimum of 13 credits in arts & letters, of which at least 3 must be in fine & performing arts) in order to earn the total credits required.

More information on the B.A. language requirement can be found on the World Languages & Literatures website.

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

A minimum of 23 total credits required, as listed below. All courses for the BS requirement must be passed with a minimum D- or Pass grade.

MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIREDADDITIONAL INFORMATION
One year of science courses (10 credits minimum)Two courses (6 credits minimum) must include a lab or field work component. Courses may, but do not need to, be taken from the same science department.
3 credits minimum in college-level mathematics/statisticsExcluding remedial math (100 or lower)
10 credits minimum in arts & letters and/or social sciences 

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)

Students must complete the specific program as prescribed by their major department. Available only for Art Practice, Creative Writing and Graphic Design.

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Students must complete a program of music and applied music as prescribed by the Music Department.

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S)

Students must have completed an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S) and complete the specific program as prescribed by their major department. Available only for Management & Leadership.

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Academic Distribution Areas

Arts & LettersSciencesSocial Sciences

American Sign Language, Applied Linguistics, Architecture*, Art*, Art History*, Arts & Letters, Black Studies1, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Design*, English, Film*, Judaic Studies1, Music*, Philosophy, Systems Science (421 only), Theater Arts*, World Languages & Literatures, Writing

*Fine and Performing Arts

Anthropology1, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography1 Geology, Physics, Science (SCI), Speech & Hearing Sciences1, Systems Science1Anthropology1, Black Studies1, Chicano/Latino Studies, Child & Family Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography1, History, International Studies, Judaic Studies (except 325, 431, 435), Native American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, Social Work1, Speech & Hearing Sciences1, Urban Studies & Planning, Women's Studies

1Departments with this notation have courses that are applicable to different distribution areas (for example, some Anthropology courses are considered Science and others are considered Social Science). Please refer to the current PSU Bulletin or your Degree Audit (DARS) for a list of courses that apply to each distribution area.

Concurrent Degrees

Students may receive two different baccalaureate degrees in two majors at the same time (e.g., BA in International Studies and BS in Environmental Science) by completing the following requirements:

  1. meet the requirements in the specific degree (BA, BS, BFA, BM), the general education requirements AND each major's requirements; 
  2. earn 36 credits beyond the 180 minimum required for a single baccalaureate degree (i.e., 216 credits total); and
  3. meet the PSU residence credit requirement by completing 45 of the last 60 or 165 of the total 216 at PSU.