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Chemistry - Bachelor of Science 2023-24 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 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.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5
CH 2214CH 2224CH 2234
CH 2271CH 2281CH 2291
MTH 2514MTH 2524MTH 2534
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits14

First Year Milestone: Complete General Chemistry sequence and Calculus sequence.

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement4
CH 3344CH 3354CH 3364
CH 3204CH 3372CH 3393
CH 3212PH 2124PH 2134
PH 2114PH 2151PH 2161
PH 2141    
Total Fall Credits19Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits16

Second Year Milestone: Complete Organic Chemistry sequence (by the end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
CH 4114CH 4414CH 4424
CH 4404CH 4XX4CH 4443
CH 4432BS Arts & Letters/Social Science4CH 4XX4
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits15

Third Year Milestone: Complete Physical Chemistry sequence.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6CH 4264BS Arts & Letters/Social Science4
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science4CH 4274General Elective4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement4General Elective4General Elective4
  General Elective4General Elective1
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits13

 

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: Meet with assigned advisor regarding Sophomore Inquiry and Race & Ethnic Studies requirements. 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.
  • MTH 253: MTH 261 and MTH 254 may be substituted for MTH 253.
  • CH 440: Recommended to take MTH 253 before CH 440.
  • CH 4XX: 400 level Chem electives.
  • BS Arts & Letters/Social Science: Needed unless satisfied using CLUSTER courses. 
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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