Preprofessional programs

PSU offers courses which meet requirements of various professional schools. These programs are often based on the graduation requirements of other institutions. Therefore, if you decide to continue at PSU, rather than pursue a preprofessional transfer program, you should meet with an adviser to understand PSU graduation requirements. In some cases, these programs are merely the prerequisites or requirements for entrance into a program of graduate study (e.g., medicine or dentistry). In these situations, in order to receive a baccalaureate degree from PSU, you would also need to complete the University's graduation requirements.

These preprofessional programs are not majors. If you plan to graduate from PSU, you will need to choose a major appropriate to your preprofessional program of study. Popular majors selected by pre-health sciences students include biology, chemistry, general science, health studies, psychology, and social science. However, students can select any major, as long as they complete the prerequisite courses required by the professional program to which they plan to apply. Students should meet with advisers from their major department to ensure that they understand requirements for the major and with pre-health advisers in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Advising Center (498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822) for advising regarding preparation for professional health programs.

Preprofessional Programs Available at PSU

Agriculture

See PSU Bulletin for additional information.

Allied health

Chiropractic, medical technology, cytotechnology, naturopathic medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy, physician assistant, radiation therapy, and veterinary medicine. See a health sciences adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822).

Dentistry, medicine, osteopathy, and podiatry

See a health sciences adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822).

K-12 teacher preparation

Teacher education at PSU requires 12 to 18 months of study beyond the bachelor's degree. Portland State University educates prospective teachers through the Graduate School of Education. Teacher licensing is part of the Master of Education degree and is achieved through the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Please note: Additional programs in bilingual education, ESL, special education, library/media, counseling, postsecondary & adult education, and administration are also available in the Graduate School of Education; call 503-725-4619.

For pre-education undergraduate advising:

The Graduate School of Education offers weekly information sessions for those interested in any of their graduate programs. Any interested student should plan to attend. Call the Graduate School of Education (503-725-4619) for their schedule for the term.

Early childhood and elementary education:

Prospective elementary teachers should see an academic adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822.

Middle school education:

Prospective middle school teachers who have a preference for teaching multiple subjects (as in elementary education) should see an adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, 498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822. Those who prefer to get a content area specialization that may also apply to teaching at the secondary / high school level should contact the pre-education academic adviser in the academic department of choice.

Secondary/high school education:

Prospective high school teachers should contact the pre-education academic adviser within their major department. Academic majors and their prospective secondary endorsements are as follows: biology (biology and general science); physical education (physical education); history, anthropology,sociology, philosophy, political science, geography, and economics (social studies); health (health); mathematics (mathematics); English (English language arts); art (art); foreign languages and literatures (French, German, Japanese,Russian, Spanish); music (music); chemistry (chemistry); physics (physics); business and economics (business); drama (drama); communications (speech). Note: A current list of advisers is available from the GTEP admissions secretary, 602 School of Education Building.

Graduate Teacher Education Program advising:

Applicants to the PSU GTEP should make an appointment to attend an advising session for prospective applicants by calling 503-725-4619 or by stopping by the School of Education office (204 School of Education).

Forestry

See PSU Bulletin for information.

Law

Law schools in the United States generally do not require specific pre-law majors or particular courses of study in preparation for law school. They do recommend that the prospective law student acquire a broad liberal arts education providing a sound basic understanding and appreciation of arts and letters, science, and social science. Pre-law students are free to select their own undergraduate programs (there is no "pre-law" major as such), but they are advised to choose broad cultural fields in which they have keen intellectual interests, such as economics, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, political science, science, or sociology. Business administration and administration of justice, when strongly supplemented with work in arts and letters, science, or social science, are also suitable. The importance of analytical skills, abstract ideas, complex facts, and communications skills cannot be overemphasized, for lawyers must be able to research, analyze, and communicate. See the Bulletin for names of faculty advisers for pre-law students.

Nursing

See a health sciences adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822).

Pharmacy

See a health sciences adviser in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (498 Neuberger Hall, 503-725-3822).