Office of the Registrar

Urban and Public Affairs - Bachelor of Arts 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
UPA 1034BUPA Required Course4BA Second Language 1033-5
BA Second Language 1013-5BA Second Language 1023-5General Elective4
  General Elective1General Elective1
Total Fall Credits12-14Total Winter Credits13-15Total Spring Credits13-15

First Year Milestone: Meet with adviser(by end of Spring term). 

First Year Note: Professional Development activities are recommended during every quarter of your academic career. Meet with your adviser for more information.

Second Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter Courses Winter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Sophomore Inquiry or Honors4Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4
BA Second Language 2013-5BA Second Language 2023-5BA Second Language 2033-5
BUPA Required Course4BUPA Required Course4BUPA Required Course4
General Elective4General Elective4General Elective4
Total Fall Credits15-17Total Winter Credits15-17Total Spring Credits14-17

Second Year Note: Professional Development activities are recommended during every quarter of your academic career. Meet with your adviser for more information.

Third Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4Upper Division Cluster or Honors4
BUPA Required Course4BUPA Required Course4UPA 3354
Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement3-4BA Social Science/Science3-4General Elective4
Upper Division General Elective4Upper Division General Elective4BA Fine & Performing Arts3-4
Total Fall Credits15-16Total Winter Credits15-16Total Spring Credits15-16

Third Year Note: Professional Development activities are recommended during every quarter of your academic career. Meet with your adviser for more information.

Fourth Year

Fall CoursesFall CreditsWinter CoursesWinter CreditsSpring CoursesSpring Credits
BUPA Research Skills4Senior Capstone or Honors Thesis6BUPA Upper Division Elective4
BUPA Upper Division Elective4Internship/Field Experience4Urban & Public Affairs Seminar4
BUPA Upper Division Elective4BUPA Upper Division Elective4BUPA Upper Division Elective4
General Elective4  General Elective1
Total Fall Credits16Total Winter Credits14Total Spring Credits13

Fourth Year Milestones: Apply to graduate (by end of Fall term). Meet with adviser for post-graduation plans(during Winter term).

 

Additional Map Notes:

  • UPA 103: CUPA Pathways to Success. Recommended for success in your academic career, can be replaced with an elective. 
  • BUPA Required Course:  Choose From: CCJ 200, 230 OR 240, 330U; PA 311U, 312U, 313U; PHE 250, 350, 446U; PS 431, 101 OR 102, 204 OR 205; USP 301, 300U, 311U; EC 201, 202, 332U; INTL 201, 202, 203
  • 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.
  • UPA 335: World Changing Jobs. Recommended for success in your academic career,  can be replaced with an elective.
  • BUPA Research Skills: If STAT 243Z is used for Research Skills course, then the general elective in this term may need to be an upper division general elective within the major. If STAT 243Z is not used, then the general elective in this term must be a BA Math/Science course. 
  • BUPA Upper Division Elective: Any upper division course in CCJ, EC, INTL, PA, PS, USP or PHE. No more than 3 courses may be from a single academic unit.
  • You may need to add additional general elective credits to your plan to reach 180 total credits.

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