Chemistry: Biochemistry - Bachelor of Science 2022-23 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 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.

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
CH 221 4 CH 222 4 CH 223 4
CH 227 1 CH 228 1 CH 229 1
MTH 251 4 MTH 252 4 MTH 253 4
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 14

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

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 4
CH 334 4 CH 335 4 CH 336 4
CH 320 4 CH 337 2 CH 339 3
CH 321 2 PH 212 4 PH 213 4
PH 211 4 PH 215 1 PH 216 1
PH 214 1        
Total Fall Credits 19 Total Winter Credits 15 Total Spring Credits 16

Second Year Milestone: Complete Organic Chemistry sequence and Physics sequence (by the end of 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 BI 213/216 5
BI 211/214 5 BI 212/215 5 CH 492 4
CH 490 4 CH 491 4 CH 493 3
    4XX Science Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 13 Total Winter Credits 17 Total Spring Credits 12

Third Year Note: Upper Division Cluster courses must satisfy BS Arts & Letters/Social Science requirements, or use General Electives (3) to satisfy this requirement.

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
4XX Science Elective 4 CH 441 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 CH 426 4 General Elective 4
CH 440 4 CH 427 4 General Elective 4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 General Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 14

Fourth Year Note: Upper Division Cluster courses must satisfy BS Arts & Letters/Social Science requirements, or use General Electives (3) to satisfy this requirement.

 

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.
  • 4XX Science Elective: See department for approved electives.
  • CH 440: Recommended to take MTH 253 before CH 440.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Chemistry: Biochemistry