Office of the Registrar

Computer Science - Bachelor of Science 2025-26 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 2025-26 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. 

 

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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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Admission to the Upper Division

Admission to the Computer Science major is necessary before students can register for most upper division CS courses (i.e., CS 3xx or CS 4xx courses).  Admission is guaranteed for every student once the required lower-division requirements have been completed. But admission is not automatic: students must complete the “opt-in form” to begin the process, generally in the first term after completing the requirements.

Please speak to an advisor or visit the Computer Science department's Undergraduate Admissions web page  for more information about the admission requirements and the opt-in process.
 

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5First Year Inquiry5
Approved Lab Science Elective5Approved Lab Science Elective5Approved Lab Science Elective5
MTH 251Z4MTH 252Z4CS 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 253Z 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 CS Security Elective4
CS 3504CS 3334CS 4864
WR 227Z4CS 305 or PHL 314U4Upper Division CS Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestone: Opt-in to major via the department during fall term prior to week 8. 

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
CS 3584CS 4694CS 4704
Upper Division CS Elective4Upper Division CS Elective4Upper Division CS Elective4
Math Elective or CS 3114Math Elective3Upper Division CS Elective4
  General Elective4General Elective3
Total Fall Credits12Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits15

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Approved Lab Science Elective: See the Computer Science website for list of approved courses. 
  • CS 161: Students interested in the Discover CS Cohort should begin that program with CS 161 in Fall and work with their advisor to make appropriate schedule adjustments
  • 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). 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 Security Elective: See the Computer Science website for list of approved security elective courses. 
  • Upper Division CS Elective: See the Computer Science website for list of approved courses. 
  • Math Elective or CS 311: See the Computer Science website for list of MTH, STAT and CS elective 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.

Resources for Computer Science

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