Bridge Program

If you received your undergraduate degree from outside the U.S. and hold a  3 year undergraduate degree, you may be eligible  for admission into Portland State University's MBA, Master of International Management, Master of Science in Financial Analysis or Master of Real Estate Development programs through the PSU Bridge Program. 

What is the Bridge Program?

The Bridge Program offers incoming international students holding a 3 year undergraduate degree a pathway for admission into a Graduate Business Program. This program requires incoming students to take 26 General Education credits at PSU before beginning graduate level coursework. Once the 26 General Education credits have been completed, you are eligible to take the first 16 credits of your graduate business program.Once you have completed all 42 required pre-admissions credits of the bridge program, you will be fully admitted as a Graduate Business student at PSU. It is important to note that completion of the bridge program does not result in a Bachelor’s degree at Portland State University, it does however allow you to be fully eligible for graduate program admission.

How does this program work?

Students wishing to participate in the bridge program must first complete all the steps in the Admissions Process & Requirements and apply for admission to one of the following programs: MBA, MIM, MSFA or MRED. Once your complete application is received and you have been recommended for admission, the Graduate Business Programs admissions team will assist you with setting up your pre-admission path into the bridge program.

The Path to the Bridge Program Includes:

1. Bridge Program students are admitted with the condition they complete the bridge program before starting their graduate degree. 
2. Students are admitted as a graduate student, but are required to first take 26 General Education undergraduate credits.
3. General Education classes include:
   
   • Writing 121 (4 credits)
   • Communications 220 (4 credits)
   • Math 105 (4 credits)
     Based on an applicant’s transcripts, some of the General Educations credits may be waived.  The Office of International Admissions will decide if the above mentioned classes can be waived. If waived, the student will be notified and their schedule will be altered accordingly. 
4. Once all 26 General Education credits are complete, bridge program students will begin their graduate business program of choice and complete 16 graduate business credits. 
5. After successful completion of all 42 credits, the pre-admission requirements are officially completed and bridge program students will have their "conditional admission" removed. These students will then become regular graduate students at PSU.

When are applications due?

Students admitted to the Bridge Program will need to arrive two or three terms early to ensure enough time for completion of the 26 General Education credit requirements. Students should plan to apply for admission to PSU's graduate Business Programs at least 5 months prior to the start of the quarter by using the following guidelines:

Application & Enrollment Timeline
 

What is the cost of the PSU Bridge Program?

Students enrolling in the Bridge Program classes estimated tuition and fees per quarter will be as follows: