Chemistry: Biochemistry - Bachelor of Arts 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)

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors	5	Freshman Inquiry or Honors	5	Freshman Inquiry or Honors	5
CH 221	4	CH 222	4	CH 223	4
CH 227	1	CH 228	1	CH 229	1
MTH 251	4	MTH 252	4	MTH 253	4
Total Fall Credits	14	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	14

First Year Milestone: Complete General Chemistry sequence and Calculus sequence.

Second Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Sophomore Inquiry or Honors	4	Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
CH 334	4	CH 335	4	CH 336	4
CH 320	4	CH 337	2	CH 339	3
CH 321	2	PH 212	4	PH 213	4
PH 211	4	PH 215	1	PH 216	1
PH 214	1
Total Fall Credits	19	Total Winter Credits	15	Total Spring Credits	15-16

Second Year Milestone: Complete Organic Chemistry and Physics sequences (by the end of Spring term).

Third Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
BA Second Language 101	3-5	BA Second Language 102	3-5	BA Second Language 103	3-5
Upper Division Cluster or Honors	4	CH 491	4	CH 492	4
BI 211/214	5	BI 212/215	5	BI 213/216	5
CH 490	4	4XX Science Elective	4	CH 493	3
Total Fall Credits	16-18	Total Winter Credits	16-18	Total Spring Credits	15-17

Third Year Milestone: Complete Biochemistry (by end of Spring term).

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
BA Second Language 201	3-5	BA Second Language 202	3-5	Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis	6
BA Upper Division Cluster (FPA)	4	CH 441	4	BA Second Language 203	3-5
CH 440	4	CH 426	4	Upper Division Cluster(RESR) or Honors	4
4XX Science Elective	4	CH 427	4
Total Fall Credits	15-17	Total Winter Credits	15-17	Total Spring Credits	13-15

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.
MTH 253: MTH 261 and MTH 254 may be substituted for MTH 253.
4XX Science Elective: See department for approved electives.
CH 440: Recommended to take MTH 253 before CH 440.
BA Upper Division Cluster (FPA): See Advisor for Cluster courses that meet the Fine & Performing Arts elective.
Upper Division Cluster(RESR) or Honors: See advisor for CLUSTER courses that meet the Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement. If pursuing Honors, see advisor.
You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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