Assessment

Portland State University assesses undergraduate student learning and engagement related to the eight Undergraduate Campus-Wide Learning Outcomes: Communication; Creative and Critical Thinking; Disciplinary and/or Professional Expertise; Diversity; Engagement; Ethics and Social Responsibility; Internationalization; and Sustainability, through a variety of activities.

Assessment of student learning and engagement occurs at classroom, departmental, and institutional levels. Your participation in assessment matters, as results are used to improve teaching practice, learning outcomes, program structure, and students' experiences at Portland State University.  

The types of assessments students might engage include standardized tests, placement tests, surveys, course evaluations, portfolios of student work, group or individual interviews, or classroom research, to name a few. Incoming students may be required to take a writing or math assessment, and may be assigned a specific course based on the results of those assessments.