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English - 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 or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5
General Elective 4 BS Math/Statistics 3-4 ENG Elective 4
ENG Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
    General Elective 3 General Elective 3
Total Fall Credits 13 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 16

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4
BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science 4
ENG Elective 4 General Elective 4 ENG 300 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 15-16

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4
WR 301 4 English Historical Literacy Course 4 ENG 326, 327 or 428 4
Upper Division ENG/WR Elective 4 Upper Division ENG/WR Elective 4 Upper Division ENG/WR Elective 4
General Elective 1 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 400 level ENG or WR Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 13 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 16

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6 400 level ENG/WR Elective 4 Upper Division ENG/WR Elective 4
English Historical Literacy Course 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
400 level ENG/WR Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
    General Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 12

Fourth Year Milestone: Apply to graduate for Spring term(by Fall term). 

Additional Map Notes:

  • ENG Elective: 12 credits of 200 level ENG courses are expected preparation for all upper division English courses. Students are strongly recommended to take 200-level ENG courses for their first three English electives.
  • General Elective: Strongly recommended using electives slots to complete minor requirements.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • 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). If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • ENG 300: Prerequisite for any 400 level ENG course.
  • WR 301: Prerequisite to enroll in or can be taken concurrently with 400 level ENG course.
  • English Historical Literacy Course: See department website for list of Historical Literacy courses.
  • Upper Division ENG/WR Elective: WR 411 Internship recommended.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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