Undergraduate Programs
Portland State University is committed to providing its students with maximum opportunities for intellectual and creative development within the context of its urban and international mission. Students earning a baccalaureate degree will complete a rigorous program of study leading to mastery of the chosen field of study at the undergraduate level. In addition, Portland State University is committed to providing the foundation for continued learning after completing the baccalaureate degree. This foundation includes the capacity to engage in inquiry and critical thinking, to use various forms of communication for learning and expression, to gain an awareness of the broader human experience and its environment (local, national, and international), along with an ability to appreciate the responsibilities of individuals to themselves, each other, and community.
Undergraduate students at Portland State University may work toward a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, or a Bachelor of Music degree with one or more majors. See Programs of Study for majors leading to a baccalaureate degree.
Students working toward a bachelor’s degree must complete the (1) University requirements, (2) University Studies (general education) requirement, (3) University Writing Requirement, (4) Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement (RESR) (5) Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, or Bachelor of Science requirements, (6) requirements for a major, and (7) Foreign Language competency if admitted with a high school foreign language deficiency. Students majoring in Liberal Studies or completing the Urban Honors Program do not need to meet the University Studies general education requirement. Specific requirements for a baccalaureate degree are detailed in the undergraduate degree and credential requirements section. Students pursuing supplementary programs must complete additional requirements as specified in the curricula of these programs.
Students working toward a bachelor’s degree may wish to supplement their major coursework with:
A certificate program which is an approved academic award given in conjunction with the satisfactory completion of a program of instruction, signifying a standard of knowledge in a specific subject. Certificate types vary, with some available as part of a baccalaureate degree program, others available in non-degree status, and others available to post-baccalaureate students.
A minor is an optional, undergraduate credential, comprised of a formally defined set of courses in a declared secondary subject area/field of study, distinct from and outside of the degree major.
For a list of available certificates and minors, see Programs of Study.