Office of the Registrar

Communication Studies - Bachelor of Science 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQs) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. 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. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or 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. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

DARS System  

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

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Communication majors are encouraged to use cluster and elective classes toward earning a minor.

Students must earn a letter grade of C- or higher in Communication major classes to count toward major requirements.

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5
General Elective4COMM Lower Division Elective4COMM Lower Division Elective4
General Elective4BS Math/Statistics3-4BS Science4
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits12-13Total Spring Credits13

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BS Science with Lab3-4COMM Lower Division Elective4COMM 3004
COMM Lower Division Elective4BS Science with Lab3-4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits15-16

Second Year Milestones: Complete WR 222 or 323 (by end of Winter term). Complete COMM 300 (by 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
COMM 3114COMM 316 or 3264COMM 3264
COMM Upper Division Elective4COMM Upper Division Elective4COMM Upper Division Elective4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestones: Complete COMM 311, COMM 316 and COMM 326(by end of Spring term). 

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
COMM 4XX Elective4COMM 4XX Elective4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
COMM 4XX Elective4Upper Division General Elective4COMM 4XX Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective2General Elective1
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits15

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • COMM Lower Division Elective: COMM 111Z recommended for one of these electives.
  • 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: 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), Chicanx/Latinx 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.
  • COMM 311; COMM 316 or COMM 326: Courses do not need to be taken in sequence. COMM 300 is a prerequisite for all three courses. 
  • COMM 4XX Elective: 12 credits must be numbered 410 or higher. No more than 4 credits can be numbered 401-409. 
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Communication Studies

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