Advising

Degree Requirements

You must choose one of the degree types below and complete the requirements to earn that degree type. Most majors allow you to select either the BA or the BS degree. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule: 

  • Applied Linguistics, Judaic Studies and World Languages majors may only earn a Bachelor of Arts degree
  • Engineering, Computer Science and Quantitative Economics majors may only earn a Bachelor of Science
  • Graphic Design and Creative Writing majors may only earn the Bachelor of Fine Arts
  • Some Art Practice majors will earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts, while others may choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
  • Some Music majors will earn a Bachelor of Music, while others may choose the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science
  • The Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees may require selective admission to the major via portfolio or audition. Please check with the appropriate academic advisor regarding options in your intended major.

Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A.)

A minimum of 23 credits (may be more depending on foreign language placement), as follows:

MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIREDADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Two years college-level language proficiency (completion of a minimum of 3 credits in 203 or a more advanced level course OR language waiver1)Students with no prior experience in a certain language will complete 101-103 and 201-203 in that language.
10 credits minimum in arts & lettersA minimum of 3 of the 10 credits must be in fine & performing arts
10 credits minimum in sciences and/or social sciencesA minimum of 3 of the 10 credits must be in science or mathematics, excluding Math 100 or lower

1Students who are proficient in another language may be able to waive these language credits through a proficiency-based assessment or document review attesting proficiency; in that case, a minimum of 3 additional credits must be earned in arts & letters (i.e., student will need a minimum of 13 credits in arts & letters, of which at least 3 must be in fine & performing arts) in order to earn the total credits required.

More information on the B.A. language requirement can be found on the World Languages & Literatures website.

Bachelor of Science Degree (B.S.)

A minimum of 23 total credits required, as follows:

MINIMUM CREDITS REQUIRED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
One year of science courses (10 credits minimum) Two courses (6 credits minimum) must include a lab or field work component. Courses may, but do not need to, be taken from the same science department.
3 credits minimum in college-level mathematics/statistics Excluding remedial math (100 or lower)
10 credits minimum in arts & letters and/or social sciences  

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A)

Students must complete the specific program as prescribed by their major department.

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Students must complete a program of music and applied music as prescribed by the Music Department.

Students who have not met the Second Language Admission requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. 

Academic Distribution Areas

Arts & LettersSciencesSocial Sciences

American Sign Language, Applied Linguistics, Architecture*, Art*, Art History*, Arts & Letters, Black Studies (221, 351-3, 421, 424-427 only), Communication, Conflict Resolution, Design*, English, Film*, Judaic Studies (325, 431, 435 only), Music*, Philosophy, Systems Science (421 only), Theater Arts*, World Languages & Literatures, Writing

*Fine and Performing Arts

Anthropology1, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science/Studies, Geography2 Geology, Physics, Science (SCI),Speech & Hearing Sciences3(370, 371, 461, 487 only), Systems Science (330, 332, 334, 411, 414, 431, 435, 440, 445 and 452 only)Anthropology1, Black Studies (except 221, 351-53, 421, 424-427), Chicano/Latino Studies, Child & Family Studies, Criminology & Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography2, History, International Studies, Judaic Studies (except 325, 431, 435), Native American Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, Social Work (310, 320, 340, 341, 350, 351, 384, 375, 399, 416, 430, 431, 432, 450 and 451 only), Speech & Hearing Sciences3(except 370, 371, 461, 487), Sociology, Systems Science (336, 340, 342, 338, 350, 413, 418 only), Urban Studies & Planning, Women's Studies

1The following Anthropology (ANTH) courses will count as Science regardless of when the course was taken; those marked with an asterisk will count as lab science: 101, 102*, 350*, 355*, 370/370L*, 372, 373, 376, 379, 452*, 453*, 454*, 455*, 471, 472, 477, 478, 479. For catalogs prior to 2018-19, courses on this list will count as Science if the course was taken Fall 2018 or later. If the course was taken Summer 2018 or earlier, the course will count as Social Science. All other ANTH courses not on the list above are considered Social Science, regardless of when taken or which catalog year is being used.

2The following Geography (GEOG) courses will count as Science regardless of when the course was taken; those marked with an asterisk will will count as lab science: 210*, 310*, 311, 312*, 313, 314, 320*, 322, 333, 340, 380*, 407, 413-415, 418, 420*, 440*, 475, 476*, 477*,480-482, 484, 485, 488*, 489, 490, 492*, 493-497. For catalogs prior to 2015-16, courses on this list will count as Science if the course was taken Fall 2015 or later. If the course was taken Summer 2015 or earlier, the course will count as Social Science. All other GEOG courses not on the list above are considered Social Science, regardless of when taken or which catalog year is being used.

3Speech and Hearing Sciences courses designated as Science or Social Science above will count as such regardless of when the course was taken. Example: SPHR 222 taken Fall 2010 will be Social Science IF you are using the Fall 2023 catalog. For catalogs prior to 2023-24, courses designated as Science or Social Science above will count as such above will count as Science or Social Science if the course is taken Fall 2023 or later. If the course was taken Summer 23 or earlier, the course will count as Arts and Letters. Example: SPHR 222 taken Fall 2010 will be Arts and Letters IF using a 2022 or older catalog.

Concurrent Degrees

Students may receive two different baccalaureate degrees in two majors at the same time (e.g., BA in International Studies and BS in Environmental Science) by completing the following requirements:

  1. meet the requirements in the specific degree (BA, BS, BFA, BM), the general education requirements AND each major's requirements; 
  2. earn 36 credits beyond the 180 minimum required for a single baccalaureate degree (i.e., 216 credits total); and
  3. meet the PSU residence credit requirement by completing 45 of the last 60 or 165 of the total 216 at PSU.