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Computer Science - Bachelor of Science 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 5 Freshman Inquiry 5 Freshman Inquiry 5
MTH 251 4 MTH 252 4 Approved Lab Science Elective 5
Approved Lab Science Elective 5 Approved Lab Science Elective 5 CS 162 4
    CS 161 4    
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 18 Total Spring Credits 14

First Year Note: Honors College options exist to replace University Studies. Contact Honors College for more information.

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry 4
MTH 253 or MTH 261 4 CS 250 4 CS 201 4
CS 163 4 General Elective 4 CS 251 4
General Elective 4     General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 12 Total Spring Credits 16

Second Year Milestone: Apply for admission to department (Spring term).

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster 4
CS 302 4 CS 314 4 Upper Division CS Elective-P 4
CS 350 4 CS 333 4 CS 486 4
WR 227 4 ECE 341 4    
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 12

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
CS 358 4 CS 469 3 CS 470 3
Upper Division CS Elective 4 Upper Division CS Elective 4 Upper Division CS Elective 4
Math Elective 4 Math Elective 3 Upper Division CS Elective 4
Science Elective 4 CS 305 2 General Elective 3
    General Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Approved Lab Science Elective: See Computer Science website for a list of approved courses.
  • 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). Students are encouraged to take RESR course in Junior year as part of their Junior Cluster, otherwise must take it as a General Elective course in their Senior year.
  • Upper Division CS Elective-P: See Computer Science website for list of programming intensive CS Elective courses.
  • Upper Division CS Elective, Math Elective and Science Elective: See Computer Science website for Math, Science, and CS elective choices.
  • General Elective: May need to use this elective to complete BS Arts & Letters/Social Science credit requirement, or complete Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement. 
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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