Office of the Registrar

Computer Science - Bachelor of Science 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 Inquiry5Freshman Inquiry5Freshman Inquiry5
MTH 2514MTH 2524Approved Lab Science Elective5
Approved Lab Science Elective5Approved Lab Science Elective5CS 1624
  CS 1614  
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits18Total Spring Credits14

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

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4Sophomore Inquiry4Sophomore Inquiry4
MTH 253 or MTH 2614CS 2504CS 2054
CS 1634General Elective4CS 2514
General Elective4  General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits12Total Spring Credits16

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster4Upper Division Cluster4Upper Division Cluster4
CS 3024CS 3144Upper Division Programming Intensive Elective4
CS 3504CS 3334CS 4864
WR 227Z4ECE 3414  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits12

Third Year Milestone: Opt-in to major via the department during fall term. 

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
CS 3584CS 4693CS 4703
Upper Division CS Elective4Upper Division CS Elective4Upper Division CS Elective4
Math Elective4Math Elective3Upper Division CS Elective4
CS Security Elective4CS 3052General Elective3
  General Elective4  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Approved Lab Science Elective: See the PSU Bulletin for the lists 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 Programming Intensive Elective: Computer Science courses utilizing a "P" after the course number (e.g., CS 410P, CS 465P, CS 494P, etc.).
  • Upper Division CS Elective: See the PSU Bulletin for the lists of approved courses
  • Math Elective: See the PSU Bulletin for the lists of approved courses
  • CS Security Elective: See the PSU Bulletin for the lists of approved courses
  • 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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