Special Education - Bachelor of Science 2023-24 Degree Map

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. 

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.

First Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5Freshman Inquiry or Honors5
BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4BS Arts & Letters/Social Science3-4
BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science with Lab3-4BS Science4
    General Elective4
Total Fall Credits11-13Total Winter Credits11-13Total Spring Credits16-17

First Year Milestone: Explore volunteer opportunities during your first year. 

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
MTH 2114MTH 2124General Elective(Note2)4
General Elective(Note1)4SPED 4183General Elective(Note3)4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits15Total Spring Credits15-16

Second Year Milestones: Apply to major (by end of Winter). Complete all BA courses and MTH 211-212 (by end of Spring).

Second Year Note: Students must be admitted to the major to start major coursework. Admission is not guaranteed.

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring CreditsSummer CourseSummer Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4Upper Division Cluster or Honors 4SPED 4303
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement  3-4SPED 4374SPED 4223SPED 409 Professional Practices Seminar 13
SPED 4113SPED 4483SPED 4322  
SPED 4154SPED 4143SPED 4264  
Total Fall Credits14-15Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits13Total Summer Credits6

Third Year Milestone: All junior year SPED courses complete by Spring term. 

Third Year Note: Summer courses required at the end of Year 3.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6SPED 4124SPED 425 - Student Teaching12
SPED 409 Professional Practices Seminar 23SPED 4333SPED 407 Student Teaching Seminar1
SPED 4233SPED 409 Professional Introduction to the School Year3  
SPED 4384General Elective3  
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits13Total Spring Credits13

Fourth Year Milestone: Register for Capstone for fall term. 

Additional Map Notes:

  • Sophomore Inquiry or Honors: Family & Society SINQ recommended. For University Studies, two Sophomore Inquiry courses are required, but for Honors, three Sophomore courses are required.
  • General Elective(Note1): SPED 417 strongly advised.
  • 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.
  • General Elective(Note2): SPED 409 Practicum Reading Clinic strongly advised.
  • General Elective(Note3): MTH 213 strongly advised.
  • Upper Division Cluster or Honors: Family & Society Cluster highly recommended, with UNST 321U, SPHR 372U and CFS courses strongly advised.
  • Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis: UNST 421 Learning from Persons with Disabilities recommended.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.