Office of the Registrar

Biology - 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
BI 211/214 5 BI 212/215 5 BI 213/216 5
CH 221/227 5 CH 222/228 5 CH 223/229 5
Total Fall Credits 15 Total Winter Credits 15 Total Spring Credits 15

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
CH 334 Organic Chemistry I 4 Biology Area A, B, or C Course 4 Biology Area A, B, or C Course 4
Calculus or Statistics Sequence Course 4 Calculus or Statistics Sequence Course 4 Science Elective 4
BA Second Language 101 3-5 BA Second Language 102 3-5 BA Second Language 103 3-5
Total Fall Credits 15-17 Total Winter Credits 15-17 Total Spring Credits 14-17

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
Biology Area C Course 4 Biology Req. #2 Course w/Lab 4 Biology Area A, B, or C Course 4
PH 201 & 214 5 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 BI 412-499 Course 4
BA Second Language 201 3-5 BA Second Language 202 3-5 BA Second Language 203 3-5
Total Fall Credits 16-18 Total Winter Credits 14-17 Total Spring Credits 15-17

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Biology Req. #2 Course w/Lab 6 BI 412-499 Course 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
BI 412-499 Course 4 BI Upper Division Elective 4 BI Upper Division Elective 4
BA Fine & Performing Arts 3-4 Science Elective 4 Science Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 13-14 Total Winter Credits 12 Total Spring Credits 14

 

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.
  • BI 211/214 and CH 221/227: Students must place into Math 111 in order to take Chemistry 221. Biology 211/214 should not be taken without concurrent enrollment in CH 221, or prior completion of CH 221.
  • Calculus or Statistics Sequence Course: Complete MTH 251 and MTH 252 OR STAT 243 and STAT 244.
  • Biology Area A, B, or C Course: Students must take at least one course from each of Areas A & B, and complete BOTH courses in Area  C.See department or academic advisor for course list.
  • Biology Area C Course: Students must take at least one course from each of Areas A & B, and complete BOTH courses in Area C. See department or academic advisor for course list.
  • Science Elective: Select from Anthropology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Math/Stats, Public Health Education, Psychology, or Physics at the 200-level or above, not including "U" courses. 
  • Biology Req. #2 Course w/Lab: Students must complete at least TWO courses with a major lab or field component. See department or academic advisor for course list.
  • BI 412-499 Level Course: Select from any Biology course numbered 412-499 or approved BI410 courses. 
  • PH 201 & 214: Students may choose to take PH 211 & 214, PH 221 & 214 or PH 231 & 214. 
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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