Sonic Arts & Music Production - Bachelor of Arts 2024-25 Degree Map

Requirements (REQ) of a Bachelors Degree

Degree Maps & Advising

Degree maps show just one possible course plan for how to earn a degree in four years. 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. Talk with your advisor regularly to develop a personalized plan that works best for you, especially if you have any earned transferrable academic credit.

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Bulletin or Catalog Year

This guide outlines the requirements in the 2024-25 Bulletin. Bulletin or 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. Review PSU's course catalog policy and talk with your advisor about which catalog requirements make sense for you.

PSU Bulletins (2015-present)

DARS System

Students are highly encouraged to run their own Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS) report in myPSU to track their progress through their program. You'll need to know which catalog year you'd like to use for your audit request. Students are also encouraged to contact an advisor if they have any questions about their DARS, catalog/bulletin year, or degree requirements in general. DARS audits are advising tools and are not an official record of earning a degree, major, minor, or certificate. You must apply to have a degree or certificate awarded.

How to Run a DARS

First Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5	First Year Inquiry or Honors	5
BA Second Language 101	3-5	BA Second Language 102	3-5	BA Second Language 103	3-5
MUS 101	4	MUS 102	4	MUS 103	4
MUS 191: Group Lessons Beg: Piano	2	MUS 192: Group Lessons Beg: Piano	2	MUS 193: Group Lessons Beg: Piano	2
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
MUS 145	1	MUS 146	1	MUS 147	1
Total Fall Credits	15-17	Total Winter Credits	15-17	Total Spring Credits	15-17

First Year Milestone: Completion of all of the following sequences: MUS 145, 146, 147; MUS 101, 102, 103; and MUS 191, 192, and 193.

First Year Note: No piano proficiency required.

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
BA Second Language 201	3-5	BA Second Language 202	3-5	BA Second Language 203	3-5
BA Science/Social Science	3-4	BA Science/Social Science	3-4	BA Science/Math	3-4
MUS 245	3	MUS 246	3	MUS 247	3
MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0	MUS 188	0
Large or Small Ensemble	1	Large or Small Ensemble	1	Large or Small Ensemble	1
				MUS 045	0
Total Fall Credits	14-17	Total Winter Credits	14-17	Total Spring Credits	13-17

Second Year Milestone: Complete MUS 045 (Portfolio Review).

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
MUS 345	3	MUS 346	3	MUS 347	3
MUS 344	1	MUS 344	1	MUS 344	1
Music History Course	4	MUS 357	4	Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement	3-4
		General Elective	2
Total Fall Credits	12	Total Winter Credits	14	Total Spring Credits	11-12

Fourth Year

Fall Courses	Fall Credits	Winter Courses	Winter Credits	Spring Courses	Spring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis	6	SAMP Elective	4	SAMP Elective	4
Upper Division Music Elective	4	MUS 445	3	MUS 476	3
General Elective	4	Upper Division Elective	1	Upper Division Music Elective	1
General Elective	4	General Elective	4	Upper Division General Elective	4
				General Elective	4
Total Fall Credits	18	Total Winter Credits	12	Total Spring Credits	16

Fourth Year Milestone: Apply to graduate (by the end of Fall term).

Additional Map Notes:

Students must complete all degree requirements with a C or better.
MUS 101, MUS 102, MUS 103: Mus 101, 102, and 103 (4 credits each) may be substituted with 111, 112, and 113 (3 credits each), plus 114, 115, 116 (1 credit each.)
MUS 191: Group Lessons Beg: Piano, MUS 192: Group Lessons Beg: Piano, MUS 193: Group Lessons Beg: Piano: Required. SAMP majors must enroll in Group Piano.
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), Chicanx/Latinx 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.
Large or Small Ensemble: Students can switch piano sequence & ensemble sequence if desired. Choose from MUS 194/195/196/197/198.
Music History Course: Choose 4 credits from among MUS 301, 302, 355, 365, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 470, or 482.
SAMP Elective: Choose 8 credits from among 446, 447, and 449
MUS 045 (portfolio review): SAMP Majors must submit two creative projects and a statement of purpose for acceptance as a SAMP major after completing Music Theory Requirements and Mus 247, or upon transferring to PSU with equivalent coursework.
You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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