Office of the Registrar

Earth 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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First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5
G 2013G 2023EES 2001
G 2041G 2051Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
CH 221Z4CH 222Z4General Elective4
CH 227Z1CH 228Z1  
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits13-14

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4MTH 251Z or MTH 2114Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4
BI or PH Sequence5BI or PH Sequence5STAT 243Z4
G 3183G 3123G 3143
G 3192G 3132G 3152
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits18Total Spring Credits13

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
G Upper Division 300 level Elective4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4G Upper Division 400 level Elective4
General Elective4G Upper Division 300 level Elective4General Elective4
General Elective2G Upper Division 400 level Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4G Upper Division 400 level Elective4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
G Upper Division 400 level Elective4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4
General Elective4General Elective4G Upper Division 400 level Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4Upper Division General Elective1
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits14-15

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • G 201 or G 202: May substitute G 203/206, G 301, GEOG 210/210L, ESM 220/220L for G201/204 or 202/205.
  • CH 221Z: Or ESM 230/230R and 231/231L.
  • BI or PH Sequence: Chosen from BI 221Z, 222Z, 223Z, 201/204, 202/205, 203/206, 207/L, 208/L, 209/L or PH 201/214, 202/215.
  • 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.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • STAT 243Z: STAT 243Z OR G 324/L OR ESM 333/334 or STAT 451.
  • G Upper Division 300 level Elective: May include up to 4 credits of 300-level mathematics, science, engineering, and/or School of Earth, Environment, and Society (SEES) courses (G, GEOG, ANTH, ESM, SYSC).
  • G Upper Division 400 level Elective: May include up to 12 credits of 400-level mathematics, science, engineering, and/or School of Earth, Environment, and Society (SEES) courses(G, GEOG, ANTH, ESM, SYSC).
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Earth Science

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