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Environmental Studies - 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
GEOG 210/L or GEOG 2304GEOG 210/L or GEOG 2304BA Fine & Performing Arts Elective3-4
ESM 1501    
Total Fall Credits13-15Total Winter Credits12-14Total Spring Credits11-14

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
ESM 2204General Elective4ESM 2224
General Elective or MTH 111Z4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-17Total Winter Credits14-17Total Spring Credits15-17

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
ESM 3334Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4Major Electives-Focal Area4
ESM 3342GEOG 348U or GEOG 345U4GEOG 380U/L4
ESM 3354Major Electives-Focal Area4General Elective4
ESM 3422    
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6Major Electives-Focal Area4Major Electives4
Major Electives-Focal Area4General Elective4General Elective4
Major Electives4General Elective4General Elective4
  General Elective4General Elective2
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • GEOG 210/L or GEOG 230: Can choose to take ESM 330 later instead of GEOG 230. 
  • ESM 220: MTH 111Z (or ALEKS score >60) is a pre- or co-requisite for ESM 230.
  • 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.
  • Major Electives-Focal Area and Major Electives: Choose six classes from list with at least one from ESM and one from GEOG, four at the 400 level, and four from one Focal area. 
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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