Exploratory Courses

Below is a list of courses which can help you to explore the different academic majors available at Portland State. Please refer to the PSU Bulletin or the specific department's website for course descriptions and a full list of major requirements. Courses with an asterisk (*) have pre-requisites as noted in the Bulletin.

List of exploratory courses at PSU
Major Course(s)
Anthropology

ANTH 101 - Introduction to Biological Anthropology

ANTH 102 - Introduction to Archaeology

ANTH 103 - Introduction to Social/Cultural Anthropology

Applied Health & Fitness

PHE 250 - Our Community/Our Health

PHE 270 - Basic Biomechanics

Applied Linguistics (BA only)

LING 232 - Language and Society 

LING 233 - Language and Mind

LING 390 - Intro to Linguistics (sophomore level and above)

Architecture

ARCH 100 - Intro to Architecture

ARCH 101 - Intro to Environmental Design

Art History

ARH 106 - Intro to Visual Literacy

ARH 204, 205, or 206 - History of Western Art

Art Practice  ART 131 - Intro to Drawing
Arts & Letters Any 100 or 200 level course from an Arts & Letters subject
Biology BI 211 - Principles of Biology*
Biomedical Informatics (BS only; 5 year dual degree CS 161 - Intro to Computer Science*
Black Studies BST 202 - Intro to Black Studies
Business (all Business concentrations) BA 101 - Intro to Business & World Affairs
Chemistry or Biochemistry CH 221/227 - General Chemistry*
Child, Youth & Family Studies

CYFS 101 - Intro to Child & Family Studies (2 credits)

UNST 228 - Family Studies

Civil & Environmental Engineering (BS only) CE 111 - Intro to Civil & Environmental Engineering
Communication Any 100 or 200 level Communication course
Community Development

UNST 220 - Community Studies

USP 300U - Intro to Urban Studies (sophomore level and above)

Computer Engineering (BS only) ECE 171 - Digital Circuits*
Computer Science (BS only) CS 161 or 162 - Intro to Computer Science*
Conflict Resolution CR 301 - Intro to Conflict Resolution (sophomore level and above)
Creative Writing (BFA only)

WR 212 - Intro to Fiction Writing OR

WR 213 - Intro to Poetry Writing OR

WR 214 - Beginning Non-Fiction Writing

Criminology & Criminal Justice

CCJ 200 - Criminology & Criminal Justice

CCJ 230 - Policing in America

CCJ 240 - Punishment & Corrections

Earth Science G 201/204, 202/205 - Geology and Geology Lab
Economics EC 201, 202 - Principles of Economics
Electrical Engineering (BS only) ECE 101 - Exploring Electrical Engineering
English Any 100 or 200 level English course
Environmental Engineering (BS only) CE 111 Intro to Civil & Environmental Engineering
Environmental Studies/Science

ESM 150 - Orientation to Environmental Sciences & Management

ESM 220 - Intro to Environmental Systems

Film FILM 130 - Intro to Digital Filmmaking for Non-Majors
Geography

GEOG 210 - Physical Geography

GEOG 230 - Environment & Society

Geology G 201/204 or 202/205 - Geology and Geology Lab
History Any 100 or 200 level History course
Indigenous Nations & Native American Studies NAS 201 - Intro to Native American Studies
International & Global Studies (BA only) INTL 201 - Intro to International Studies
Judaic Studies (BA only) JST 201 - Intro to Judaism
Mathematics MATH 251 - Calculus I (or based on math placement)
Mechanical Engineering (BS only) ME 120 - Introduction to Engineering*
Music (BA, BS, BM)

MUS 101, 102, 103 - Contemporary Music Theory

MUS 111 - Music Theory &  MUS 114 - Sight-Singing/Ear Training

Physics

PH 201/204 - General Physics* or

PH 211/214 - Gen. Physics with Calculus*

Political Science

PS 101 - United States Government or PS 102 United States Politics

PS 204 - Intro to Comparative Politics

PS 205 - Intro to International Relations

PS 208 - Intro to Political Theory

Psychology

PSY 200 - Psychology as a Natural Science

PSY 204 - Psychology as a Social Science

Public Health Studies (all concentrations)

PHE 250 - Our Community: Our Health

PHE 295 - Health Promotion & Disease Prevention

Science Any 100 or 200 level Science course
Sexuality, Gender & Queer Studies

UNST 231 - Gender & Sexualities OR

WS 332U - Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality

Social Science Any 100 or 200 level Social Science course
Social Work

PSY 204 - Psychology as a Social Science

SOC 200 - Intro to Sociology

SW 301U - Intro to Social Work (sophomore level and above)

Sociology SOC 200 - Intro to Sociology
Special Education SPED 418 - Survey of Exceptional Learner (sophomore level and above)
Speech & Hearing Sciences SPHR 222 - Intro to Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences    
Theater Arts

TA 102 - Intro to Acting

TA 144 - Voice for the Actor

Urban & Public Affairs

UPA 103 - Pathways to Success

UPA 335 - World Changing Jobs

Women's Studies WS 101 - Intro to Women's Studies
World Languages & Literatures (BA only) May depend on prior knowledge; student with prior knowledge should take a placement test prior to selecting a course - those without prior knowledge should choose 101 of language of interest