Office of the Registrar

Social Science - Bachelor of Arts 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. 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. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or 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. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you. 

 

PSU Bulletins (2015-present) about this content

DARS System  

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

How to Run a DARS about this content

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5First Year Inquiry or Honors5
BA Second Language 1013-5BA Second Language 1023-5BA Second Language 1033-5
General Elective4BA Science/Math3-4Lower Division Social Science4
    General Elective1
Total Fall Credits12-14Total Winter Credits11-14Total Spring Credits13-15

First Year Milestone: Started or plans to start BA Second Language; Meet with Advisor by end of First Year. 

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4General Elective4Lower Division Social Science4
Lower Division Social Science4Lower Division Social Science4Lower Division Social Science4
Total Fall Credits14-17Total Winter Credits15-17Total Spring Credits14-17

Second Year Milestone: Complete BA Science/Math and Fine & Performing Arts electives (by end of Fall term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
Upper Division Social Science4Upper Division Social Science4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
WR 323 or WIC Course4Upper Division Social Science4Upper Division Social Science4
General Elective4General Elective4Upper Division Social Science4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits15-16

Third Year Milestone: WR 323 or WIC; SSC UD started(by Fall term).

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Social Science4Upper Division Social Science4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
Upper Division General Elective4Upper Division General Elective4Upper Division Social Science4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
General Elective2General Elective2General Elective2
Total Fall Credits14Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits16

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.
  • 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), Chicanx/Latinx Studies (CHLA), Indigenous Nations Studies (NAS), or Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies (WS). Many Upper Division RESR courses are in the Social Science distribution. If you choose a RESR course that can be applied towards another requirement, take an elective here instead.
  • Upper Division Social 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.

Resources for Social Science

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