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Criminology and Criminal Justice - Bachelor of Science 2022-23 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 2022-23 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 or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5 Freshman Inquiry or Honors 5
CCJ 200 4 CCJ 230 4 CCJ 240 4
BS Math/Statistics 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 12-13 Total Winter Credits 12-13 Total Spring Credits 13

Second Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses  Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 Sophomore Inquiry or Honors 4 CCJ 3XX 4
CCJ Lower Division Elective 4 CCJ Lower Division Elective 4 General Elective 4
BS Science 4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 General Elective 4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International) 3-4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 15-16 Total Spring Credits 16

Second Year Milestones: Math and Science complete (by end of second year).

Third Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4 Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4
CCJ 3XX 4 CCJ 3XX 4 CCJ 3XX 4
CCJ Upper Division Elective 4 CCJ Upper Division Elective 4 General Elective 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: Meet with CCJ Internship Coordinator in preparation for your senior year.

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
CCJ 3XX 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6 CCJ 404 8
CCJ Upper Division Elective 4 CCJ 420 4 General Elective 4
CCJ 317 4 CCJ Upper Division Elective 4    
General Elective 4 General Elective 3    
Total Fall Credits 16 Total Winter Credits 17 Total Spring Credits 12

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement (International): Two courses required, each minimum 3 credits: CCJ 317 counts for the U.S. experience course; the second course must center the experiences of groups under European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism beyond the United States. The second course 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.
  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • CCJ 3XX: CCJ 310, 320, 330, 340, and 380. CCJ 340 and 380 should not be taken concurrently.
  • CCJ 404 and CCJ 420: Always offered in Fall, Winter, and Spring terms.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

Resources for Criminology and Criminal Justice

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