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History - 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 1013-5HST Lower Division Elective4BA Second Language 1033-5
HST Lower Division Elective4BA MTH/Science3-4HST Lower Division Elective4
  BA Second Language 1023-5General Elective1
Total Fall Credits12-14Total Winter Credits15-18Total Spring Credits13-15

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
HST Lower Division Elective4HST Elective4HST Upper Division Western Elective4
BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4General Elective2General Elective4
Total Fall Credits14-17Total Winter Credits13-15Total Spring Credits14-17

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4HST Upper Division Western Elective4HST Upper Division Non-Western Elective4
HST 3004General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
HST Upper Division Non-Western Elective4HST 400 Level Elective4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
HST 4904HST 4914HST 4924
General Elective4Upper Division General Elective4HST 400 Level Elective4
General Elective4    
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits12Total Spring Credits14

Fourth Year Notes: No more than 20 credits of lower division history count toward major. Must have at least 20 credits of 4XX level history for major.

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • 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.
  • HST 490: May be taken any term in Senior year.
  • With the approval of the department Chair, up to 8 credits of elective coursework in non-History courses, taken at PSU, may be applied to the History Major. Non-History elective credits may not be applied to the History Department's requirement of a minimum of 20 credits in History coursework at the 400-level or its regional distribution requirements.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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