Office of the Registrar

Community Development - 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 Elective4General Elective4BS Science4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits13Total Winter Credits13Total Spring Credits13

First Year Milestone: Meet with an Advisor.

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry (UNST 220) or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BS Math/Statistics3-4BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4
General Elective4General Elective4USP 300U4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits14-16

Second Year Milestones: Meet with Career Services (Fall term). Start volunteering (Winter term).

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4USP 4324Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
USP 301U4USP 3164Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
USP 350U4USP 4304CD Pathway Elective4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits16Total Spring Credits16

Third Year Milestones: Methods course taken (Fall term). Meet with Mentor, decide pathway (Winter term).

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
CD Pathway Elective4USP 460 Field Experience2USP 460 Field Experience4
CD Pathway Elective4USP 313U4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6
USP 4524USP 4404General Elective4
USP 312U4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4General Elective1
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits13-14Total Spring Credits15

Fourth Year Milestone: Practice Course setup (Fall term).

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • BS Math/Statistics: Students must place into Math 100 or higher. If necessary, lower-level courses should be taken in preparation.
  • 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), 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.
  • USP 460 Field Experience: The 6-credit USP field experience can be completed in one term, but gives more time to complete hours and portfolio when taken over two or more terms.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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