Office of the Registrar

Physics - Standard Option - 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
MTH 251 4 MTH 252 4 MTH 253 4
CH 221 4 CH 222 4 CH 223 4
CH 227 1 CH 228 1 CH 229 1
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 14

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
MTH 261 4 MTH 256 4 MTH 254 4
PH 211 or PH 201 4 PH 212 or PH 202 4 PH 213 or PH 203 4
PH 214 1 PH 215 1 PH 216 1
General Elective 1     BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 13 Total Spring Credits 15-17

Second Year Milestone: Complete all Math courses (by end of Spring term).

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
PH 311 4 PH 312 4 PH 316 4
PH 314 4 PH 315 4 PH 322 4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4 BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 15-16

Third Year Milestone: Complete PH 311 (by end of Fall term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
PH 431 4 PH 426 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
PH 4XX 4 PH 4XX 4 PH 424 4
Science/Technology Elective 4 General Elective 4 Science/Technology Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4    
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 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. 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.
  • PH 4XX: Chosen from PH 411, 425, 432, 434, or 464.
  • Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis: Option of Research Capstone, Winter and Spring terms (3 credits each).
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Physics - Standard Option

Talk to Advisor
Visit Department
Apply to Program