Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
---|
45 | $28,175 | $30,650 | $39,245 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
LSE curriculum
Most LSE courses are offered in person, on campus or at the Learning Gardens Lab on weekdays from 3:30-6:00pm, once per week. Some courses are offered in a hybrid format, meeting less frequently. ELP core courses are offered fully online, both synchronously and asynchronously. Students typically take 1-2 courses during each quarter, selecting courses from the professional core, the LSE foundational courses, the LSE thematic specialization and electives. A master’s degree is typically completed within a period of two years, but some students choose to take more time to complete the degree.
LSE program of study
ELP Professional Studies Core: (16 credits)
Students may complete the professional studies core at any point in their program. However, it is recommended that students complete ELP 520 and ELP 511 as early as possible.
- ELP 511 Principles of Educational Research and Data Analysis I (4 credits)
- ELP 520 Developmental Perspectives on Adult Learning (4 credits)
- ELP 551 Social Foundations of Education (4 credits) OR ELP 554 Philosophy of Education (4 credits)
- ELP 568 Educational Organization and Administration (4 credits)
LSE Foundational Courses (8 credits)
The following are LSE foundational courses. Every LSE student should plan to take ELP 550 in the first fall term of their program, and ELP 517 in their first winter term.
ELP 550 Advanced Leadership for Sustainability (4 credits, all)
ELP 517 Ecological & Cultural Foundations of Learning (4 credits, winter)
ELP 506 Leadership Seminar (1 credit, spring - not required but highly recommended)
LSE Thematic Specialization and Electives (12 credits)
Students each develop a unique plan of study with their adviser, choosing from courses below, other ELP courses, graduate-level courses from within the College of Education or from other departments at Portland State University. LSE students frequently choose courses from Conflict Resolution, Community Development, Geography, Environmental Science and Management, Women Studies, Gender, Race and Nations, Public Health or Urban Studies and Planning.
ELP 518 Permaculture and Whole Systems Design: Principles and Practices for Sustainable Systems (4 cr)
ELP 508 Sense of Place (1cr)
ELP 548 Global Political Ecology (4 cr)
ELP 540 Urban Farm Education (4 cr)
ELP 524 Spiritual Leadership for Sustainable Change (4 cr)
ELP 506 Leadership Seminar (strongly recommended) (1 cr)
ELP 509 Learning Gardens Lab Internship (credits vary)
ELP 506 Sustainability Projects (independent study) (credits vary)
ELP 508 Comps Prep (1 cr)
Culminating Experience (4 credits)
Candidates for the master’s degree in LSE must take the LSE Comprehensive Exam Course (Comps). The LSE Comprehensive Exam (Comps) is a course in which students develop a problem-based paper that focuses on one sustainability education issue, and demonstrates a satisfactory level of knowledge and skill related to LSE key learning areas. This course, ELP 506 LSE Comps, is taken as Pass/No Pass. Students should have completed a minimum of 35 credits, including the ELP Professional Core Studies, before enrolling in this course. The Comps course meets in-person 4-6 times during the term to help guide students through the completion of their Comps paper. Students give a presentation of their paper at the end of the course.
Note: A Master of Arts differs from a Master of Science in that there is a second language proficiency requirement for Master of Arts degrees. Courses used to fulfill the second language requirement for an MA will not count toward LSE program requirements.
Community-based learning
Most ELP courses carry with them a requirement for 30 credit hours of community-based learning. Specific requirements for community-based learning are set by the instructor. Community-based learning can be carried out in a variety of organizations and educational settings across the metropolitan region. LSE students with an interest in school and community gardens often volunteer or intern at the Learning Gardens Laboratory, assisting with classes for middle school students or with other projects. Other students volunteer in educational organizations or for nonprofit organizations. Students are advised to create a plan for their CBL hours that creates a variety of meaningful experiences that supports their future career goals.
Internships/practicum: local, regional or international
Students also have the option of pursuing an internship or practicum. Such internships must match the student’s interest, the content of the LSE program, and the host institution’s mission and needs. Internships are arranged on an individual basis by the student and must be approved by the student’s adviser. For international internships, all rules, regulations, policies, and procedures set by the International Studies Office of PSU must be followed.
Pre-admission and transfer credits
- Students may enroll in courses prior to formal admission into the program. Pre-admission credits are defined as credits taken at any institution, including PSU before the term of formal admission.
- Students may also transfer credit hours into the degree program subject to approval by the department. These credits are defined as credits earned at any institution other than Portland State University.
- Students are limited to 15 credits of any combination of pre-admission and transfer credits to use towards their degree. Courses must not have been used towards any other degree. Courses with grades lower than a “B” and those graded as “Pass/No Pass” are not transferable into the program.
Community Based Learning
Community Based Learning (CBL) is experiential learning that takes place beyond the classroom and traditional academic settings. Through volunteering and internship placements, CBL complements coursework and theoretical concepts, allowing you to apply your learning in a work setting. Engage your head, heart, and hands by developing relationships and networks in the community and working in the field of sustainability education. Use your CBL requirement as an opportunity to build relationships with various organizations, try something new, or engage in a long term project with one group or organization.