Office of the Registrar

Liberal Studies - Bachelor of Science 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 Inquiry5Freshman Inquiry5Freshman Inquiry5
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Math/Statistics3-4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits12-13Total Winter Credits12-13Total Spring Credits12-13

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
BS Science4BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4General Elective4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits14-16

Second Year Milestone: Complete one Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR) course. 

Second Year Note: Work with your Advisor to be certain your general electives are preparing you for your upper division major courses.

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
WR 3234General Elective4General Elective4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4General Elective4General Elective4
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestone: Complete WR 323 and one Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR) course (by the end of Fall term).

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4
Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4Upper Division Liberal Studies Elective4General Elective1
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits13

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Freshman Inquiry: Freshman Inquiry is recommended but not required for Liberal Studies majors. Students not taking FRINQ will need to take a course to meet Part 1 of the University Writing Requirement (eg WR 121Z) and two additional General Electives.
  • 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.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Liberal Studies

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