General Education Requirements

All universities have a general education curriculum included as part of the baccalaureate degree requirements. The general education curriculum differs at each institution and is typically titled differently. The goal of general education curricula is to assure that all graduates have a common set of coursework designed around the university's educational goals and gain skills that employers seek: communication, critical thinking, teamwork and collaboration. General education curriculum is also designed to assure that graduates have a breadth of coursework from across the university's curricula. At PSU, University Studies and the Honors College are the two options for general education. Both programs include unique requirements over in a four-year pathway. Transfer students are placed based on the credits upon entry to PSU.

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS A major is a primary field of study, an in-depth academic focus; you develop a significant level of knowledge in a specific academic area. In order to graduate, you must complete the requirements for one of the majors offered by PSU. The number of credits required for each major vary.

Details about the specific requirements for the undergraduate majors offered by PSU are located on each academic department's website and in the PSU Bulletin. Search for majors on the Undergraduate Programs page to view an overview of the program and degree planner.

GPA REQUIREMENT You must have a minimum of 2.0 cumulative grade point average (G.P.A) in all PSU coursework at the completion of your degree. You also need at least a 2.0 in the courses in your major. Some majors require higher than a 2.0 in the major courses, and some require that you maintain a minimum G.P.A. in order to avoid a probationary status in the department.

ELECTIVES Electives are courses that do not directly apply toward general education, degree, or major requirements. Most students need elective credits to meet the 180 total credit and/or 72 upper-division credit requirements for graduation. PSU does not require a specific number of electives; the number varies. WRITING REQUIREMENT Students must complete 2 college-level composition courses or their approved equivalents for their baccalaureate degree requirements. This requirement may be satisfied in one of the following ways: 1. Students admitted to PSU as freshmen (0-29 credits) meet the requirement by completing the first two years of University

Studies or University Honors (both approved equivalents of composition courses). 2. Students admitted to PSU having earned 30-89 credits meet the requirement with WR 121 (required for transfer admission) and the requisite number of Sophomore Inquiry or Honors sophomore courses determined by placement into University

Studies or University Honors. 3. Students admitted having earned 90 or more credits have four options for meeting the requirement:

Transfer into PSU with an approved equivalent of WR 121 plus one approved composition course for which WR 121 (or its approved equivalent) is a pre-requisite. Transfer into PSU with two approved composition courses for which WR 121 (or its approved equivalent) is a pre-requisite. Complete WR 121 plus one additional course from the following PSU course list: WR 200, 222, 227, 228, 300, 301, 323, 327, 333, 394, 400, 420 or a 4-credit Writing Intensive Course (WIC) course. HON 399 and HON 403 are approved WICs. Composition writing courses transferred into PSU may also be considered. Complete any two courses from the list above.

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS

Total credits required to graduate with a bachelor’s degree = 180 Total upper-division credits required = 62 Minimum credits required in residence at PSU = 45 of final 75, 150 total Maximum number of two-year college credits allowed towards degree = 124 Maximum number of Pass/No Pass (P/NP) credits allowed towards degree = 45 Maximum number of vocational/technical, PE, cooperative education credits allowed towards degree = 12 each

Learn More: pdx.edu/advising/general-education-requirement