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Science - 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. 

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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
General Elective4Lower Division Science4BS Lower Division Math4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective1General Elective1General Elective2
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits15

First Year Milestone: Meet with Advisor (by 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 Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4
BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4Lower Division Science Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits14-16Total Winter Credits14-16Total Spring Credits14-16

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
Upper Division Science4Upper Division Science4Upper Division Science4
WR 323, 327 or WIC Course4Upper Division Science4Upper Division Science4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestone: WR 323, 327 or WIC; SCI upper division started.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Science4Upper Division Science4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
Upper Division General Elective4Upper Division General Elective4Upper Division Science4
General Elective3General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective2General Elective1General Elective1
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits13Total Spring Credits15

Fourth Year Milestones: Apply for Graduation (two terms in advance). Complete Capstone (by end of Spring 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. Meet with assigned advisor regarding Sophomore Inquiry and Race & Ethnic Studies requirements.
  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement: Meet with assigned advisor regarding Sophomore Inquiry and Race & Ethnic Studies requirements. 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.
  • Upper Division Science: A minimum of 16 credits must be from two different departments.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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