Office of the Registrar

Arts and Letters - Bachelor of Science 2021-22 Degree Map

  • Requirements (Reqs) of a Bachelor 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. 

    Talk with Advisor about this content

    This guide outlines the requirements in the 2021-22 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 5 Freshman Inquiry 5 Freshman Inquiry 5
    General Elective 4 Lower Division Arts & Letters 4 Lower Division Arts & Letters 4
    General Elective 4 General Elective 4 BS Math/Statistics 3-4
    General Elective 1 General Elective 1 General Elective 2
    Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 14-15

    First Year Milestone: Meet with Advisor (by Spring term).

    Second Year

    Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
    Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry  4
    Lower Division Arts & Letters 4 Lower Division Arts & Letters 4 Lower Division Arts & Letters 4
    BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science 4
    General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
    Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 16

    Second Year Milestone: Math and Science complete or in progress (by Spring term).

    Third Year

    Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
    Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster  4 Upper Division Cluster 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
    General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
    Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 16

    Third Year Milestone: WR 323 or WIC; Arts & Letters upper division started (by 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 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 2 General Elective 1
    Total Fall Credits 12 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 15

    Fourth Year Milestones: Apply for Graduation (by Fall term). Completed or registered for Capstone (Winter or Spring term).

     

    Additional Map Notes:

    • Upper Division Cluster: 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

    Talk to Advisor
    Visit Department
    Apply to Program