Office of the Registrar

Child, Youth and Family Studies - 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
BA Second Language 101 3-5 BA Second Language 102 3-5 BA Second Language 103 3-5
BA Science/Social Science 3-4 BA Science/Social Science 3-4 BA Fine & Performing Arts 3-4
        Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4
Total Fall Credits 11-14 Total Winter Credits 11-14 Total Spring Credits 14-18

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
BA Second Language 201 3-5 BA Second Language 202 3-5 BA Second Language 203 3-5
BA Science or Math 3-4 PSY 311 or 460 4 HST/SOC/SPED 4
ED 420 4 General Elective 3 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 14-17 Total Winter Credits 14-16 Total Spring Credits 15-17

Second Year Milestones: Complete the Opt-in form for the CYFS Major (Spring term). Complete PSY 311 or 460 (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 CFS 497 5
CFS 493 2 CFS 494 4 CFS 495 2
CFS 310 4 CFS 487 4 CFS 312 4
CFS 391 4 CFS 381 4 CFS Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 15

Third Year Milestone: Complete CFS 493 (Fall term) CFS 494 & attend practicum orientation (Winter term) CFS 495 (Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Capstone or Honors Thesis 6 CFS Elective 4 CFS 498 5
CFS 492 4 CFS 488 4 CFS 496 2
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 HST/SOC/SPED 4 CFS 489 2
HST/SOC/SPED 4 CFS Elective 4 CFS Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 18 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 13

Additional Map Notes:

  • BA Science/Social Science: Recommended - BST 202; PSY 200 or 204; NAS 201; SOC 200; or WS 101.
  • 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.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • HST/SOC/SPED: CFS requires HST 343, and SOC 339 or 461, and SPED 417 or 418.
  • CFS Elective: See CFS Curriculum website for list of CFS electives.
  • CFS 498: Requires CFS 487 as a pre- or co-requisite.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Child, Youth and Family Studies

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