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  1. Home
  2. School of Science, Engineering, and Technology
  3. Science (B.S.)

Courses

Be sure to refer to the Suggested Academic Plan and consult with your adviser regarding the proper sequence of courses.

For the B.S. degree in Science, a minimum of 124 credits is required, with at least 15 credits at the 400 level.

In addition to General Education requirements (45 credits), this major requires the following:

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MAJOR: 94 credits

(This includes 15 credits of General Education courses: 9 credits of GN courses; 6 credits of GQ courses.)

COMMON REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR (All options)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (20 credits)
CHEM 110 GN(3)[1], CHEM 111 GN(1), CHEM 112 GN(3), CHEM 113 GN(1), MATH 140 GQ(4)[1], MATH 141 GQ(4) (Sem: 1-2)
BIOL 110 GN(4)[1] (Sem: 1-4)

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OPTIONS: 60-88 credits

GENERAL SCIENCE OPTION: (68-79 credits)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (15-20 credits)
Select 4 credits from BIOL 129 GN(4), BIOL 220W(4), BIOL 230W(4), BIOL 240W(4) or BIOL 141 GN(3) and BIOL 142(1) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 3-4 credits from STAT 200 GQ(4), or STAT 250 GQ(3) or STAT 301(3) or STAT 401(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 8-12 credits from PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2); or PHYS 250 GN(4)[1], PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3-6)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (53-59 credits)
(A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation.)
Select 20-26 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) (Sem: 1-8)
Select 3 credits from earth and mineral sciences (Sem: 3-8)
Select 18 credits in life, mathematical, or physical sciences, with at least 9 credits[1] at the 400 level[60] (Sem: 3-8)
Select 3 credits in Global, Social and Personal Awareness from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Select 3 credits in Teamwork and Interpersonal Communication from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Select 6 credits of 400-level courses (Sem: 5-8)

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH PROFESSIONS OPTION: (66-80 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (3 credits)
H P A 101(3) (Sem: 3-6)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (24-31 credits)
Select 4 credits from BIOL 129 GN(4), BIOL 220W(4), BIOL 230W(4), BIOL 240W(4) or BIOL 141 GN(3) and BIOL 142(1) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 3-4 credits from STAT 200 GQ(4), or STAT 250 GQ(3) or STAT 301(3) or STAT 401(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 6-8 credits from CHEM 210(3), CHEM 212(3), CHEM 213(2) or CHEM 202(3), CHEM 203(3) (Sem: 3-6)
Select 3 credits from B M B 211(3), B M B 251(3), MICRB 201(3), BIOL 222(3), or BIOL 322(3) (Sem: 3-6)
Select 8-12 credits from PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2); or PHYS 250 GN(4), PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3-6)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (39-46 credits)
(A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation.)
Select 15 credits from program list for Healthcare/ Medicine/Ethical Competencies; 6 credits must be at the 400-level (Sem: 3-8) Select from department approved course list in consultation with adviser.
Select 9-16 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC. (Sem: 1-8)
Select 3 credits in Global, Social and Personal Awareness from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Select 3 credits in Teamwork and Interpersonal Communication from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Select 9 credits[1] of 400-level B M B, BIOL, BIOTC, or MICRB courses (Sem: 5-8)

LEGAL STUDIES, GOVERNMENT SERVICE, PUBLIC POLICY OPTION (68-78 credits)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (15-20 credits)
Select 4 credits from BIOL 129 GN(4), BIOL 220W(4), BIOL 230W(4), BIOL 240W(4) or BIOL 141 GN(3) and BIOL 142(1) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 3-4 credits from STAT 200 GQ(4), or STAT 250 GQ(3) or STAT 301(3) or STAT 401(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 8-12 credits from PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2); or PHYS 250 GN(4)[1], PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3-6)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (53-58)
Select 11-16 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC. (Sem: 1-8) 
Select 18 credits in life, mathematical, or physical sciences, with at least 9 credits[1] at the 400 level[60] (Sem: 3-8)
Select 18 credits from program list for Legal Studies, Government Service, Public Policy; 6 credits must be at the 400-level (Sem: 3-8)  Select from department approved course list in consultation with adviser.
Select 3 credits in Global, Social and Personal Awareness from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)
Select 3 credits in Teamwork and Interpersonal Communication from department approved course list in consultation with adviser (Sem: 3-8)

LIFE SCIENCE OPTION: (60-88 credits)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (24-30 credits)
Select 4 credits from BIOL 220W GN(4), BIOL 230W GN(4), BIOL 240W GN(4) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 3 credits from CMPSC 101 GQ(3), MATH 250(3), or STAT 250 GQ(3) (Sem: 3-4)
Select 3 credits from B M B 211(3), B M B 251(3), or MICRB 201(3) (Sem: 3-4)
CHEM 202(3), CHEM 203(3); or CHEM 210(3), CHEM 212(3), CHEM 213(2) (Sem: 3-6)
PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2); or PHYS 250 GN(4)[1], PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3-6)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (36-58 credits)
(A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation.)
Select 21-35 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) (Sem: 1-8)
Select 0-8 credits in a foreign language (proficiency demonstrated by examination or course work to the level of the second semester; if fewer than 8 credits are needed to reach the required proficiency, students choose selections from program list to total 8 credits) (Sem: 1-8)
Select 6 credits of 400-level courses (Sem: 5-8)
Select 9 credits[1] of 400-level B M B, BIOL, BIOTC, or MICRB courses (Sem: 5-8)

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCE OPTION: (61-88 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (5-6 credits)
CMPSC 122(3), MATH 220 GQ(2-3) (Sem: 3-6)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (24-29 credits)
Select 3 credits from B M B 211(3), B M B 251(3), or MICRB 201(3) (Sem: 3-4)
CMPSC 121 GQ(3), CMPSC 201 GQ(3), or CMPSC 202 GQ(3) (Sem: 3-6)
MATH 230(4) or MATH 251(4) (Sem: 3-6)
CMPSC 360(3) or MATH 311W(3-4); STAT 301 GQ(3) or STAT 318(3) (Sem: 3-8)
PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2); or PHYS 250 GN(4)[1], PHYS 251 GN(4) (Sem: 3-8)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (32-53 credits)
(A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation.)
Select 17-30 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) (Sem: 1-8)
Select 0-8 credits in a foreign language (proficiency demonstrated by examination or course work to the level of the second semester; if fewer than 8 credits are needed to reach the required proficiency, students choose selections from program list to total 8 credits) (Sem: 1-8) 
Select 9 credits[1] of 400-level CMPSC, CSE, MATH, or STAT courses (Sem: 5-8)
Select 6 credits of 400-level courses (Sem: 5-8)

PHYSICAL SCIENCE OPTION: (63-85 credits)

PRESCRIBED COURSES (15 credits)
ASTRO 291 GN(3), PHYS 211 GN(4)[1], PHYS 212 GN(4), PHYS 213 GN(2), PHYS 214 GN(2) (Sem: 3-6)

ADDITIONAL COURSES (16-19 credits)
Select 3 credits from B M B 211(3), B M B 251(3), or MICRB 201(3) (Sem: 3-4)
CHEM 202(3), CHEM 203(3); or CHEM 210(3), CHEM 212(3), CHEM 213(2) (Sem: 3-6)
MATH 230(4) or MATH 251(4) (Sem: 3-6)
Select 3-4 credits from ASTRO 292 GN(3; E MCH 211(3); M E 300(3); or PHYS 237(3) (Sem: 3-8)

SUPPORTING COURSES AND RELATED AREAS (32-51 credits)
(A maximum of 12 credits of Independent Study [296, 496] may be applied toward credits for graduation.)
Select 17-28 credits from program list (Students may apply 6 credits of ROTC.) (Sem: 1-8) 
Select 0-8 credits in a foreign language (proficiency demonstrated by examination or course work to the level of the second semester; if fewer than 8 credits are needed to reach the required proficiency, students choose selections from program list to total 8 credits) (Sem: 1-8)
Select 6 credits of 400-level courses (Sem: 5-8)
Select 9 credits[1] of 400-level ASTRO, CHEM, or PHYS courses (Sem: 5-8)

[1] A student enrolled in this major must receive a grade of C or better, as specified in Senate Policy 82-44.
[60] Physical sciences include ASTRO, CHEM, PHYS; mathematical sciences include CMPSC, MATH, STAT; life sciences include BIOL, BIOTC, B M B, MICRB.


This page is not a part of the official Penn State University Bulletin.

Science (B.S.)

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