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Arts and Letters - Bachelor of Arts 2022-23 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps show one way how you can earn a degree in four years. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

To graduate in four years, you need an average of 45 credits per year to reach 180 total credits, including 62 upper division (300/400 level courses) credits. You may need to take electives (courses that are not used to meet specific requirements) to reach those totals. Most courses at PSU are 4 credits each. If you transfer credit to PSU, the number of credits you need per year will vary accordingly. 

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This guide outlines the requirements in the 2022-23 catalog. Catalog year defines the specific set of requirements you need to complete a degree. Requirements occasionally change, so it may benefit you to follow a different catalog. Typically, your catalog year is the year you began at PSU, but if you are a transfer student you may be able to use an earlier catalog. Talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

First Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5
BA Second Language 101 3-5 BA Second Language 102 3-5 BA Second Language 103 3-5
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 BA Science 4
        General Elective 1
Total Fall Credits 12-14 Total Winter Credits 12-14 Total Spring Credits 13-15

First Year Milestone: Started or plans to start Second language; Meet with Advisor.

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4
BA Second Language 201 3-5 BA Second Language 202 3-5 BA Second Language 203 3-5
BA Fine & Performing Arts 3-4 BA Science/Social Science 3-4 BA Science/Social Science 3-4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 14-17 Total Winter Credits 14-17 Total Spring Credits 13-17

Second Year Milestone: BA Science, BA Fine & Performing Arts, and one Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement course complete.

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors  4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4
Upper Division Arts & Letters 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4
WR 323 or WIC Course 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 16

Third Year Milestone: WR 323 or WIC; Arts & Letters upper division started, and second Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement completed (Fall term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Arts & Letters 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
Upper Division Elective 4 General Elective 4 Upper Division Arts & Letters 4
Upper Division Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 2    
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 14

Fourth Year Milestones: Apply for graduation (Fall term). Complete or register for Capstone (Winter or Spring term).

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required. Meet with assigned advisor regarding Sophomore Inquiry and Race & Ethnic Studies requirements.
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: one course must focus on the U.S. experience; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. One must be within the School of Gender, Race and Nations or be cross-listed with one of the SGRN units: Black Studies (BSt), Chicano/Latino Studies (ChLa), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors: Arts & Letters courses cannot be used for this cluster requirement.
  • Upper Division Arts & Letters: A minimum of 16 credits must be from two different departments.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Arts and Letters

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