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Science - 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
General Elective 4 Lower Division Science 4 BS Lower Division Math 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
General Elective 1 General Elective 1 General Elective 2
Total Fall Credits 14 Total Winter Credits 14 Total Spring Credits 15

First Year Milestone: Meet with Advisor (by Spring term).

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
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4 BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4 BS Arts & Letters/Social Science 3-4
BS Science with Lab 3-4 BS Science with Lab 3-4 Lower Division Science Elective 4
General Elective 4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 14-16 Total Winter Credits 14-16 Total Spring Credits 14-16

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
Upper Division Science 4 Upper Division Science 4 Upper Division Science 4
WR 323 or WIC Course 4 Upper Division Science 4 Upper Division Science 4
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement 3-4 General Elective 4 General Elective 4
Total Fall Credits 15-16 Total Winter Credits 16 Total Spring Credits 16

Third Year Milestone: WR 323 or WIC; SCI upper division started.

Fourth Year

Fall Courses Fall Credits Winter Courses Winter Credits Spring Courses Spring Credits
Upper Division Science 4 Upper Division Science 4 Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis 6
Upper Division General Elective 4 Upper Division General Elective 4 Upper Division 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:

  • 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.
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors: Science courses cannot be used for this cluster requirement.
  • Upper Division 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.

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