Arts and Letters
The arts and letters academic distribution area consists of courses taken in applied linguistics, architecture, art, black studies (BSt 221, BSt 351, BSt 352, BSt 353, BSt 421, BSt 424, BSt 425, BSt 426, BSt 427 only), chicano/latino studies (ChLa 302, ChLa 330, ChLa 411, ChLa 414 only) communication, conflict resolution, English, world languages and literatures, music, philosophy, and theater arts.
Science
The science academic distribution area consists of courses taken in biology, chemistry, environmental studies, geography (only Geog 210, Geog 310, Geog 311, Geog 312, Geog 313, Geog 314, Geog 320, Geog 322, Geog 333, Geog 340, Geog 380, Geog 407, Geog 413, Geog 414, Geog 418, Geog 420, Geog 475, Geog 481, Geog 482, Geog 484, Geog 485, Geog 488, Geog 489, Geog 490, Geog 492, Geog 493, Geog 494, Geog 495, Geog 496, and Geog 497), geology, mathematics/statistics, physics, and science education.
Social Science
The social science academic distribution area consists of courses taken in criminology and criminal justice, anthropology, black studies (except BSt 221, BSt 351, BSt 352, BSt 353, BSt 421, BSt 424, BSt 425, BSt 426, BSt 427), chicano/latino studies (ChLa 201, ChLa 301, ChLa 303, ChLa 375, ChLa 380, ChLa 399, ChLa 450 only), child and family studies, economics, geography (only Geog 230, Geog 240, Geog 321, Geog 331, Geog 332, Geog 345, Geog 346, Geog 347, Geog 348, Geog 349, Geog 350, Geog 351, Geog 352, Geog 353, Geog 354, Geog 355, Geog 356, Geog 360, Geog 363, Geog 364, Geog 366, Geog 368, Geog 415, Geog 425, Geog 430, Geog 432, Geog 442, Geog 445, Geog 446, Geog 447, Geog 448, Geog 450, Geog 453, Geog 462, Geog 465, and Geog 480), history, international studies, indigenous nations studies, political science, psychology, religious studies, sociology, urban studies and planning, and women, gender, and sexuality studies.
In addition to meeting all of the nonmajor and general education baccalaureate degree requirements, a student in one of the above majors must complete 52 credits in one of the following areas: arts and letters or science or social science. A minimum of 32 of the 52 credits must be upper-division with at least 8 upper-division credits in each of two departments. In addition to 52 credits, all students must take Wr 323 or a Writing Intensive course for a total of 56 credits.
Courses
| | Upper-division credits from one department in the major academic area | 8 |
| | Upper-division credits from a second department in the major academic area | 8 |
| | Additional upper division credits from any department(s) in the major academic area | 16 |
| | Additional credits in the major academic area | 20 |
| | | |
| Wr 323 | Writing as Critical Inquiry | 4 |
| | or | |
| | WIC course | 4 |
Total Credit Hours: 56
Liberal Studies
A student majoring in liberal studies must complete the general University requirements (except general education requirements), either Wr 323 or an approved Writing Intensive Course, and the following requirements for the liberal studies major:
Courses
| | Upper-division credits from the arts and letters, science and/or social science academic distribution areas | 81 |
4 credits Wr 323, or an approved Writing Intensive Course which can be included in the 81 upper-division requirements.
Courses used to satisfy the major requirements, whether taken at PSU or elsewhere, must be graded C- or above. A maximum of 12 credits may be graded P.
Students majoring in Liberal Studies and also in a second major must meet the general education requirement and the upper-division requirement in the academic distribution areas for the second major.