Office of the Registrar

Environmental Studies - Bachelor of Science 2021-22 Degree Map

Requirements (Reqs) of a Bachelor 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 2021-22 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 5 Freshman Inquiry 5 Freshman Inquiry 5
GEOG 210 4 STAT 243 4 GEOG 230 4
ESM 230 4 ESM 231 4 General Elective 4
ESM 150 1 General Elective 2 General Elective 2
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 15 Total Spring Credits 15

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry  4
ESM 220 4 ESM 221 4 ESM 222 4
SCI 341 or General Elective 4 BI 212/215 or SCI 342 4-5 BI 213/216 or General Elective 4-5
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16-17 Total Spring Credits 16-17

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster 4
GEOG 380 4 ESM 333 4 ESM 335 4
ESM 330 4 ESM 334 2 GEOG 488 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 16

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Senior Capstone 6 Major Emphasis Areas 4 Major Emphasis Areas 4
ESM 342 2 Major Emphasis Areas 4 Major Emphasis Areas 4
Major Emphasis Areas 4 ESM 407 1 WR 327 4
COMM 410 Environmental Communications 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 1
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 13 Total Spring Credits 13

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • ESM 230: MTH 111 (or ALEKS score >60) is a pre- or co-requisite for ESM 230.
  • SCI 341 or General Elective, BI 212/215 or SCI 342 and BI 213/216 or General Elective: Must complete either SCI 341/342 or BI 212/213 (with associated labs). 
  • Major Emphasis Areas: Must take 3 courses in ESM and 2 courses in GEOG/ANTH from approved list.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Environmental Studies

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