Office of the Registrar

Social Science - Bachelor of Science 2021-22 Degree Map

Requirements (Reqs) of a Bachelor 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 2021-22 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 5 Freshman Inquiry 5 Freshman Inquiry 5
General Elective 4 Lower Division Social Science 4 Lower Division Social Science 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 BS Math/Statistics 3-4
General Elective 1 General Elective 1 General Elective 2
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 14-15

First Year Milestone: Meet with Advisor(by end of First Year).

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry 4 Sophomore Inquiry  4
Lower Division Social Science 4 Lower Division Social Science 4 Lower Division Social Science 4
BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 16

Second Year Milestone: Math and Science complete or in progress.

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster 4  Upper Division Cluster 4 Upper Division Cluster 4
Upper Division Social Science 4 Upper Division Social Science 4 Upper Division Social Science 4
WR 323 or WIC Course 4 Upper Division Social Science 4 Upper Division Social Science 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 16

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

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Social Science 4 Upper Division Social Science 4 Senior Capstone 6
Upper Division General Elective 4 Upper Division General Elective 4 Upper Division Social Science 4
General Elective 3 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 2 General Elective 1 General Elective 1
Total Fall Credits 13 Total Winter Credits 13 Total Spring Credits 15

Fourth Year Milestones: Apply for Graduation (two terms in advance). Complete Capstone (by end of Spring term).

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Upper Division Cluster: Social Sciences courses cannot be used for this cluster requirement.
  • 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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