Office of the Registrar

Philosophy - Bachelor of Science 2022-23 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. 

Talk with Advisor about this content

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2022-23 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 or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5
BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science 4
General Elective 4 PHL 201 4 BS Math/Statistics 3-4
Total Fall Credits 12-13 Total Winter Credits 12-13 Total Spring Credits 12-13

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

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective (Winter) 4 General Elective (Spring) 4
PHL 308 4 PHL Elective 4 PHL 301 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 15-16

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4
PHL 303 4 PHL 324 4 PHL Thematic Requirement 4
PHL 380 4 PHL Historical Figure Requirement 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 16

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 PHL Thematic Requirement 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
PHL Historical Figure Requirement 4 PHL Elective 4 PHL Thematic Requirement 4
PHL Thematic Requirement 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 3    
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15 Total Spring Credits 14

 

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. 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 (Winter): PHL 331 suggested.
  • PHL Elective: PHL 320 suggested.
  • 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.

Resources for Philosophy

Talk to Advisor
Visit Department
Apply to Program