Office of the Registrar

Criminology and Criminal Justice - 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 Science3-4CCJ 2004CCJ 2304
Total Fall Credits11-14Total Winter Credits12-14Total Spring Credits12-14

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4BA Second Language 2033-5
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5CCJ Lower Division Elective4
CCJ 2404BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4General Elective4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International)3-4CCJ Lower Division Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits14-17Total Winter Credits14-17Total Spring Credits15-17

Second Year Milestones: Science complete, Second Language started (by end of Second Year).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
CCJ 3XX4CCJ 3XX4CCJ 3XX4
CCJ Upper Division Elective4CCJ Upper Division Elective4CCJ Upper Division Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestone: Meet with CCJ Internship Coordinator in preparation for your senior year(by end of Fall term). 

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
CCJ 3XX4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6CCJ 4048
CCJ 3XX4CCJ 4204General Elective4
CCJ 3174CCJ Upper Division Elective4  
General Elective4General Elective3  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits12

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International): Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: CCJ 317 counts for the U.S. experience course; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. The second course 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.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • CCJ 3XX: CCJ 310, 320, 330, 340, and 380. CCJ 340 and 380 should not be taken concurrently.
  • CCJ 404 and CCJ 420: Always offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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