1.8: Degree Requirements

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DEGREE REQUIREMENTS INTRODUCTION

To earn an undergraduate degree at PSU, all students complete:

Major Requirements
Degree Requirements
General Education Requirements (this will be explored fully in a later section)

There are basic requirements that all PSU students must complete in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. All credits must equal or exceed the following credits in each specific area as explained on the PSU webpage detailing graduation requirements. Some majors may have a higher credit requirement.

Through General Education, the foundation of the bachelor’s degree, students gain knowledge, skills and experiences that will enhance their learning in their chosen major.

OVERVIEW OF BACHELOR DEGREES

There are several types of bachelor degrees and each type requires a specific number of credits in a specific distribution of academic areas. Degree requirements and major requirements may overlap in some cases. The number of total credits needed for degree completion is generally 180, however some majors may have higher credit completion requirements. Most of the information outlined in the following section can be found on these advising pages on the PSU website.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

28 total credits (may be more depending on foreign language placement)
16 credits in Arts & Letters (4 of these credits must be in Fine & Performing Arts)
4 credits in Sciences/Math (excluding Math 100 or lower)
8 credits in Social Sciences/Sciences/Math (excluding Math 100 or lower)

**International students whose first language is not English automatically meet the foreign language requirement, either by submitting an English language proficiency test score, or by successfully completing the Pathways Program.

More information about the BA Foreign Language requirement can be found on the World Languages & Literatures website.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

28 total credits:
12 credits in Sciences (not including Math/Statistics; 8 of the 12 credits must be coursework with a lab or fieldwork)
12 credits in Arts & Letters/Social Sciences
4 credits in college-level Math/Statistics (excluding Math 100 or lower)

Bachelor of Music (B.M.)

Students must complete a program of music and applied music as prescribed by the Music Department.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)

Students must complete the specific program as prescribed by the Fine Arts department.

*Students completing a BS, BM or BFA who have not met the Second Language requirement will also need to satisfy this requirement prior to graduation. Please see the World Languages & Literatures website for information how to satisfy the requirement.

With many majors, students may select either the B.A. or the B.S. degree. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, Applied Linguistics, English, International Studies, Judaic Studies and World Languages majors may only earn a Bachelor of Arts degree, while Engineering and Computer Science majors may only earn a Bachelor of Science. Only music majors may select the Bachelor of Music and only Art Practices and Creative Writing majors can select the Bachelor of Fine Arts and both of these require selective admission to the major via audition or portfolio. Students should consult with the appropriate academic advisor regarding options in their intended major.

Source: https://www.pdx.edu/advising/bachelor-arts-bachelor-science-and-bachelor-music, February 16, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

A major is a primary field of study with an in-depth academic focus. Within their major, students will develop a significant level of knowledge in a specific academic area. To complete a bachelor’s degree, students must complete the requirements for one of the majors offered by PSU. PSU offers over 100 majors and the number of credits required for each major varies. This information and more can be found on this advising page.

Details about the specific requirements for undergraduate programs offered by PSU are located on each academic department's website, all of which can be accessed through this main page.

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS: DEGREE MAPS

Use the online Degree Mapping tool to find:

links to every major, minor and certificate at PSU
complete lists of courses required, term-by-term, for every degree
direct connections to academic advisors in each program
career resources for every program, including relevant jobs and professional organizations

Degree Maps Disclaimer: The Degree Maps provided on this site are academic planning tools to be used by students in consultation with an academic advisor. Degree Maps for the current year are displayed. The University makes every effort to offer required courses in the terms outlined, but the Maps do not constitute a promise that all courses will be offered in the terms indicated. The Maps do not replace the official Degree Audit System (DARS) used to certify degree completion, which is subject to department and University approval. Every effort is made to ensure accuracy, but the Maps are subject to update and correction.

Source: www.pdx.edu/degmap/college-maps, February 20, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

Following is an example of a Degree Map (first and second year only) for a BS in Architecture:

Source:www.pdx.edu/degmap/sites/www.pdx.edu.degmap/files/degree_maps/Degree_map_ARCH_BS_16.pdf, February 20, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

Students should be aware that a majority of their classes in the first two years of study may be degree electives or general education (University Studies). In addition to degree elective courses, students will also complete major elective courses. Both are necessary for degree completion, regardless of major. Major elective courses provide breadth of knowledge to the major courses that are studied in the third and fourth years of degree study.

A general definition of the term “elective” may mean that something is optional. However, when elective is used in the context of degree study, it is a requirement that students must may fulfill through selection of one option among several.

In the Degree Map in Architecture showing the first two years of degree study previously cited, of the 22 courses in the first two years of study, nine are major courses. The remainder of the coursework is comprised of elective courses required for a BA degree and six courses within University Studies.

University Studies (UNST) courses are required for all majors and for degree completion at Portland State University. These general education courses develop the connection of all subjects studied as part of an undergraduate degree. It is this integration and interdisciplinarity that are at the core of a liberal arts education. More information about UNST coursework is outlined below and can be found on this UNST webpage.

University Studies provides students with integrated and connected learning experiences that lay the foundation for lifelong intellectual development. Extending through all four years, the program teaches students how to think critically, communicate effectively, and gain a broad awareness of the human experience to instill a deep sense of responsibility to oneself, their peers and their community.

Source: PSU Advising and Career Services presentation to IELP, 2016

INTRODUCTION TO UNIVERSITY STUDIES (UNST)

The source for the following information is the University Studies landing page on the PSU website. Nearly all institutions of higher learning require students to complete a general education program in addition to their major field of study. Portland State University's nationally recognized approach to education is based on an extensive review of current research. Strong evidence shows that tightly structured clusters of courses with an interdisciplinary thematic approach help to create a more effective education program. Using mentored inquiry sections, extending the program throughout the four years, and integrating carefully articulated goals further increase the program’s effectiveness. The University Studies general education program is designed to provide those environmental factors and learning opportunities that are known to enhance learning, satisfaction, and retention for students.

University Studies begins with Freshman Inquiry, a yearlong course introducing students to different modes of analysis and provides them with the tools to succeed in advanced studies and their majors. At the sophomore level, students choose three different Sophomore Inquiry courses, each lead to a thematically linked, interdisciplinary cluster of courses at the upper level. Finally, all students are required to complete a Capstone course, which consists of teams of students from different majors working together to complete a project that addresses a real problem in the Portland metropolitan community.

Placement within the University Studies sequence is based upon the student’s admission type.
Students who earned university credit at another college or university before matriculating at PSU may be exempted from some UNST requirements based upon the number of credits earned and accepted as transfer credits.

Credits earned in IELP classes are included in calculating class standing, however credits earned in IELP classes are NOT included when determining UNST placement and requirements. For example, a student admitted as a freshman with no previous university study who studies in the IELP for 3 terms may earn 50 or more credits. The student will have sophomore standing but their UNST placement will be in FRINQ.

View this VIDEO for more details about University Studies

All PSU students admitted as freshmen with no previous college coursework are required to meet the UNST requirements outlined below. Transfer students may have earned credits at another institution that are equal to some UNST courses. All students, regardless of transfer credits, will need to fulfill some or all UNST requirements in order to graduate.

Source: www.pdx.edu/unst/unst-introduction, February 9, 2018, © Portland State University 2018.

This table demonstrates the number of credits necessary for each category of class standing and the corresponding University Studies placement for each year of study.

Year Standing Credits earned Course level UNST course
First Freshman 0-44 100-200 FRINQ
Second Sophomore 45-89 100-200 SINQ
Third Junior 90-134 300-400 Junior Cluster
Fourth Senior 135-180 300-400 Senior Capstone

UNST THEMES

The courses in UNST have different themes and students may choose a theme that aligns with their major. For example, a graphic arts or architecture major may be interested in taking “Work of Art,” where students study through different visual and written texts. Science majors may be interested in the theme “Design and Society,” which explores how we create the world we live in.

Students who choose a theme that does not align directly with their major will still gain the required foundation that the general education program provides. For example, the theme “Immigration, Migration, and Belonging” explores what it is to live in an increasingly multicultural world. Many students choose the “Portland” theme because they want to learn more about the various historical, social and political aspects of the city.

Regardless of the theme that students select, they will gain insight by connecting various experiences and perspectives, while also developing research and critical thinking skills. Each of these components give them a well-rounded basis as they acquire their liberal arts education.

TRANSFER STUDENTS AND UNIVERSITY STUDIES

Students who have transferred credit to PSU from another college or university must either transfer credits equivalent to UNST courses or complete UNST courses to gain the credits necessary to graduate from Portland State University. The following information is sourced directly from the UNST website.

Students are placed in the University Studies program according to the number of transfer credits completed once enrolled in classes at Portland State University (PSU) as a formally admitted student. After registering for courses at PSU as a formally admitted student, additional credits completed at another institution will not change this placement. Note that Non-Degree (also known as “Quick Entry”) admission is not formal admission, and courses completed at PSU as a Non-Degree student are considered transfer credits for University Studies placement. As noted previously, credits earned through IELP classes are not counted in UNST placement.

Placement in the University Studies program will be reflected on a student’s Transfer Evaluation and/or DARS report. As the table below indicates, students who transfer with 90 or more credits will have the lower-division portion of the University Studies courses waived (FRINQ and SINQ). Students exempted from lower-division UNST requirements must still complete the Upper-Division Cluster and Senior Capstone, a total of 18 credits. Note: The Upper Division Cluster requirement is a PSU requirement. There are no equivalent courses offered at other institutions. Three cluster courses must be chosen from the list of approved courses and may not come from the major department.

MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS PLACEMENT TEST

ALEKS Math Placement Exam

Students with majors specified below are required to complete the ALEKS Math Placement Exam. For the university’s purposes, the only exception is if a student has completed a college-level math course (level 100 or above) at a college or university within the past 12 months.

For the purposes of the Pathways Program, all students in the Pathways Introduction Seminar are required to complete the math placement exam as a required, graded class assignment. Becoming familiar with an online testing system such as ALEKS is beneficial to all students, regardless of their major.

All students in any of the majors listed below must complete the Math Placement Test (ALEKS) BEFORE meeting with an academic advisor in their major area of study. Students who have not completed the Math Placement Test will not be ready to meet with their PSU academic advisor, and their advisor will not be able to fully assist them in recommending academic courses to take in the next term.

Majors requiring the Math Placement Exam
Biologyhttps ://sso.pdx.edu/idp/profile/SAML2/Redirect/SSO?execution=e1s1
Biochemistry
Business Administration (all SBA majors)
Civil Engineering
Computer Engineering
Chemistry
Earth Science
Economics
Electrical Engineering
Environmental Science
Geology
Health Studies
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Physics
Psychology
Pre-Health Professions*
*Pre-Health Professions tracks include students planning to pursue pre-nursing, pre-medicine, pre-dental, pre-dental hygiene, pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-occupational therapy, pre-veterinary, pre-naturopathy, pre-clinical lab science, pre-radiation therapy and/or pre-chiropractic programs.

Notes about the Math Placement Test:

The math placement test is an online test
Students may log in to the test from any computer with an internet connection, on- or off-campus.
Results will be immediately available upon completing the test
Results will be automatically reported in students’ PSU student records and available to advisors on campus
Students should not study or prepare to take the math placement test; the test is meant to determine the correct level of math class appropriate to students’ skills without advance preparation
Students may register for any math class within their score code OR BELOW
- Many students choose to begin their math classes below their actual placement level. Although students may have strong math skills, studying math in English will be more challenging than studying it in their first language.

Carefully review all of the instructions and information provided about the math placement test BEFORE logging in to begin the test. You can also access the test portal through your Banweb account:

Additional information, including placement exam scores and math class options, can be found on the department’s website.

Score Course Placement

76 - 100 MTH 251: Calculus I

ECE 103: Engineering Programming

ECE 171: Digital Circuits

PH 201: General Physics

61 - 75 MTH 112: Introductory College Mathematics II

CH 221: General Chemistry

ECE 102: Engineering Computation

46 - 60 MTH 105: Excursions in Mathematics

MTH 111: Introductory College Mathematics I

MTH 211: Foundations of Elementary Mathematics I

STAT 105: Elementary Data Analysis

STAT 241: Application of Statistics for Business

STAT 243: Introduction to Probability and Statistics I (Click here for STAT 243 registration instructions)

30 - 45 MTH 095: Intermediate Algebra

0 - 29 None (Click here for further instruction)

For questions relating to the Math Placement Test or math placement at PSU in general, contact:

Math Department at 503-725-3621
Placement Coordinator at mathplacement@pdx.edu

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