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Environmental Science Science Track - 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
ESM 2204ESM 2214ESM 2224
ESM 1501200 Level Geology or Physics4BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4
General Elective3MTH 112Z or MTH 2514  
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits17Total Spring Credits12-13

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4
Chemistry Core Option 1 or 24Chemistry Core Option 1 or 24ESM 315 or CH 223 & 229 (5 cr)4
Biology Core Option 1 or 24Biology Core Option 1 or 24WR 3274
ESM 3404GIS Core Option 1 or 24  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits12

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster(RESR) or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
ESM 3204ESM 3214ESM 3224
ESM 3232ESM 3242ESM 3252
BA Second Language 1013-5BA Second Language 1023-5ESM 3354
    BA Second Language 1033-5
Total Fall Credits13-15Total Winter Credits13-15Total Spring Credits17-19

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
ESM 4XX Elective4ESM 4XX Elective4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
ESM 4XX Elective4ESM Topical Area Elective4ESM 4XX Elective4
ESM Topical Area Elective4ESM 407 Seminar1ESM Topical Area Elective4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
Total Fall Credits15-17Total Winter Credits12-14Total Spring Credits17-19

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • ESM 220 and MTH 112Z or MTH 251: MTH 111Z (or ALEKS score >60) is a pre- or co-requisite for ESM 220 and MTH 112Z. MTH 112Z (or ALEKS score >75) is a pre-req for MTH 251.
  • General Elective: CH 121 Preparatory Chemistry recommended if no HS Chemistry.
  • Chemistry Core Option 1 or 2: Take option 1 - ESM 230 & 231 (8 credits) or option 2 - CH 221/227 & 222/228 (10 credits).
  • Biology Core Option 1 or 2: Take option 1 - 8 credits from SCI 341U, SCI 342U, and ESM 343 or option 2 - BI 211/214, 212/215, and 213/216 (15 credits, additional term needed).
  • GIS Core Option 1 or 2: Take option 1 - G 424 or G 425 (4 credits each) or option 2 - GEOG 380U & GEOG 448 (8 credits total).
  • 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.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • Upper Division Cluster(RESR) or Honors: See advisor for CLUSTER courses that meet the Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement. If pursuing Honors, see advisor.  
  • ESM Topical Area Elective: List of approved courses available on the department website at www.pdx.edu/environmental-science .
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Environmental Science Science Track

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