Office of the Registrar

Child, Youth and Family Studies - Bachelor of Arts 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
BA Second Language 1013-5BA Second Language 1023-5BA Second Language 1033-5
BA Science/Social Science3-4BA Science/Social Science3-4BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4
    Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
Total Fall Credits11-14Total Winter Credits11-14Total Spring Credits14-18

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
BA Science or Math3-4PSY 311 or 4604HST/SOC/SPED4
ED 4204General Elective3General Elective4
Total Fall Credits14-17Total Winter Credits14-16Total Spring Credits15-17

Second Year Milestones: Complete the Opt-in form for the CYFS Major (Spring term). Complete PSY 311 or 460 (Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4CFS 4975
CFS 4932CFS 4944CFS 4952
CFS 3104CFS 4874CFS 3124
CFS 3914CFS 3814CFS Elective4
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits15

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

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Capstone or Honors Thesis6CFS Elective4CFS 4985
CFS 4924CFS 4884CFS 4962
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4HST/SOC/SPED4CFS 4892
HST/SOC/SPED4CFS Elective4CFS Elective4
Total Fall Credits18Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits13

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. Recommended for one course - BST 202 or NAS 201
  • 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.

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