Business Economics - Bachelor of Science 2023-24 Degree Map

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. 

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2023-24 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.

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5
BA 1014EC 2014Economics Elective (300 Level & above)4
General Elective4General Elective4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits13Total Spring Credits12-13

First Year Note: Take math placement test (ALEKS) to determine first math class. Students should consider taking MTH 251 earlier than suggested in order to leave open the option of studying for the BS in Quantitative Economics. See Advisor for more information. 

First Year Milestone: Complete BA 101, EC 201 and EC 202 (by Spring term).

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement4
BA 2114BA 2134EC 311 or  EC 4154
MTH 2514STAT 243Z  or STAT 4514STAT 244  or STAT 4524
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Second Year Milestones: Complete MTH 251, BA 213 & EC 311 or EC 415 (by Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science 4
EC 4694EC 3124Economics Elective (300 Level & above)4
General Elective4Business Elective (300 & above)4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestones: Complete EC 312 & 469 (by end of Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Economics Elective (300 Level & above)4EC 420 or EC 440 or EC 4414Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
Business Elective (300 & above)4Business Elective (300 & above)4EC 3144
General Elective4Economics Elective (300 Level & above)4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective3  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • 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), 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.
  • Economics Elective (300 level & above): EC 403 and 415 may not be used as electives.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Business Economics