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Philosophy - 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
BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4PHL 2014BA Science/Social Science3-4
Total Fall Credits11-14Total Winter Credits12-14Total Spring Credits11-14

First Year Milestone: Complete PHL 201 (by end of Spring term).

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
BA Science/Social Science3-4General Elective (Winter)4General Elective (Spring)4
General Elective4PHL Elective4PHL 3014
Total Fall Credits14-17Total Winter Credits15-17Total 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
PHL 3034PHL 3244PHL Thematic Requirement4
PHL 3804PHL History of Philosophy Requirement4General Elective4
BA Science3-4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4PHL Thematic Requirement4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
PHL History of Philosophy Requirement4PHL Elective4PHL Thematic Requirement4
PHL Thematic Requirement4General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective4General Elective3  
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits14

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • General Elective (Winter): PHL 331 suggested.
  • PHL Elective: PHL 320 suggested.
  • 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. BST 378 Philosophy of Race and NAS 351 Indigenous Philosophy focus on the U.S. experience; ChLa 341/PHL 341: Latinx Philosophy meets the the European and U.S. Colonialism and Imperialism. 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.
  • General Elective (Spring): PHL 316 or 306 suggested.
  • PHL Thematic Requirement: PHL 424 suggested.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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