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Psychology - Bachelor of Arts 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. 

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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
BA Second Language 101 3-5 BA Second Language 102 3-5 BA Second Language 103 3-5
General Elective 4 PSY 200 4 PSY 204 4
        General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 12-14 Total Winter Credits 12-14 Total Spring Credits 16-18

First Year Milestone: Complete PSY 200, 204 (by the 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
BA Second Language 201 3-5 BA Second Language 202 3-5 BA Second Language 203 3-5
BA Fine & Performing Arts 3-4 BA Arts & Letters(or General Elective) 3-4 PSY Elective(200 Level or Above) 4
BA Arts & Letters(or General Elective) 3-4 STAT 243 3-4 STAT 244 4
Total Fall Credits 13-17 Total Winter Credits 13-17 Total Spring Credits 14-17

Second Year Milestones: Complete STAT 243 (by the end of Winter term). Complete STAT 244 (by the 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
PSY 300/400 Level Elective 4 PSY 300/400 Level Elective 4 Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4
PSY 321 4 PSY 300/400 Level Elective 4 Upper Division General Elective 4
General Elective 3 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 15-16

Third Year Milestone: Complete PSY 321 (by Fall term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Human Diversity Requirement 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6 PSY 410-498 Elective 4
PSY 410-498 Elective 4 PSY 300/400 Level Elective 4 PSY 410-498 Elective 4
General Elective 4 PSY 410-498 Elective 4 General Elective 4
        General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 12 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 16

Fourth Year Milestone: Registered for last Cluster and Capstone (by Winter term).

 

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.
  • STAT 244: If choosing to tale PSY 320 instead of STAT 244, plan to take it in the Senior/Fourth Year. See advisor for additional info. 
  • PSY 300/400 Level Elective: Excluding 401-409.
  • Human Diversity Requirement: May be 300/400 PSY course, but other options available. Can overlap with Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR). See Advisor.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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