Business Administration: Finance - Bachelor of Arts 2025-26 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

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

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2025-26 Bulletin. Bulletin or 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. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present)

DARS System

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

How to Run a DARS

IF YOU ARE TRANSFERRING IN AP, IB AND/OR COLLEGE LEVEL CREDITS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO A BUSINESS ADVISOR AS YOUR DEGREE MAP WILL LOOK DIFFERENT BASED ON YOUR TRANSFER CREDITS.

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5
BA Second Language 101	3-5	BA Second Language 102	3-5	BA Second Language 103	3-5
BA 101Z	4	STAT 241 or 243Z	4	General Elective	4
General Elective (See Note)	2
Total Fall Credits	12-16	Total Winter Credits	12-14	Total Spring Credits	12-14

First Year Note: MGMT 200: Business School Basics is an optional course for incoming business students. This course is designed to enhance student success in the School of Business at PSU. The course will focus on tools specifically designed to help students survey appropriate career and academic choices, learn more about campus resources, and focus on skills specific to success in the university environment. Highly recommended for first year students.

First Year Milestones: Meet with Academic Advisor (during Fall term).

Second Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	BA Second Language 203	3-5
BA Second Language 201	3-5	BA Second Language 202	3-5	BA 300	2
BA 169Z	4	EC 201Z	4	EC 202Z	4
COMM 111Z	4	BA 211Z	4	BA 213Z	4
				General Elective	1
Total Fall Credits	13-15	Total Winter Credits	15-17	Total Spring Credits	14-16

Second Year Milestone: Opt-in to School of Business(during Fall term). Connect with a School of Business Career Coach(by Spring term).

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
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4	BA 302	4	FIN 319	4
BA 301	4	ACTG 381	4	FIN 352	4
BA 303	4	General Elective	2	BA 325	4
Total Fall Credits	15-16	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	16

Third Year Milestone: Explore a Summer internship.

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
FIN 449	4	BA 339	4	BA 495	6
BA 311	4	BA 385	4	BA Fine & Performing Arts	3-4
BA 327	2	FIN 419	4	FIN Elective	4
General Elective	2	FIN 431	4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
Total Fall Credits	15-16	Total Winter Credits	16	Total Spring Credits	13-14

Fourth Year Milestone: Apply to graduate two terms in advance (Fall term).

Additional Map Notes:

BA Second Language 101, 102, 103, 201, 202, and 203:If already proficient in a second language, you may be able to test out of the language requirement. You will need additional non-business courses to meet requirements. See Advisor.
STAT 241 or 243Z: Placement assessment required – See Math Department.
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
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), Chicanx/Latinx 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.
BA 303: The prerequisite course to Finance.
FIN Elective: Choose from FIN 410, FIN 441, FIN 456, FIN 457, FIN 465 or FIN 473. Some electives have prerequisites in addition to BA 303.
BA 495: Prerequisite - All 8 BA 300 level courses and Senior Class standing. Meets PSU's Capstone requirement.
You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Finance

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