Office of the Registrar

Psychology - 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. 

Talk with Advisor about this content

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
General Elective4PSY 2004PSY 2044
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
    General Elective4
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits13Total Spring Credits17

First Year Milestone: Complete PSY 200, 204 (by the 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
BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science4
General Elective4STAT 243Z4STAT 2444
General Elective4General Elective4PSY Elective (200 level or above)4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits15-16

Second Year Milestones: Complete STAT 243Z (by the end of Winter term). Complete STAT 244 (by the end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
PSY 300/400 Level Elective4PSY 300/400 Level Elective4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
PSY 3214PSY 300/400 Level Elective4Upper Division General Elective4
General Elective3General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits15-16

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

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Human Diversity Requirement4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6PSY 410-498 Elective4
PSY 410-498 Elective4PSY 300/400 Level Elective4PSY 410-498 Elective4
General Elective4PSY 410-498 Elective4General Elective4
General Elective4    
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits12

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.

Resources for Psychology

Talk to Advisor
Visit Department
Apply to Program