Undergraduate Programs
ABET accreditation assures that programs meet standards to produce graduates ready to enter critical technical fields that are leading the way in innovation and emerging technologies, and anticipating the welfare and safety needs of the public. Developed by technical professionals from ABET’s member societies, ABET criteria focus on what students experience and learn. ABET accreditation reviews examine program curricula, faculty, facilities, and institutional support. They are conducted by teams of highly skilled professionals from industry, academia, and government, with expertise in the ABET disciplines. ABET is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization with ISO 9001:2015 certification. More information about ABET, its member societies, and the accreditation criteria used to evaluate programs can be found at www.abet.org.
Our undergraduate engineering and computer science degrees are accredited as follows:
Civil & Environmental Engineering Accreditation
Bachelor of Science (Civil Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
Bachelor of Science (Environmental Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
The Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Civil and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria. The Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering (BSENVE) degree program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Environmental Engineering and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
Our Structural Engineering (Option in Engineering) program was accredited from 1976 until 1982 when the name was changed to Civil Engineering. We have maintained accreditation in CE since. The ENVE degree was first accredited in 2010.
The CEE Department is guided by a group of constituents who review our educational objectives and expected program student outcomes. The educational objectives are those objectives we want our graduates to attain 3-5 years after graduation. Program student outcomes are expected outcomes at graduation from our programs.
Constituents
The constituencies of the Civil Engineering program and Environmental Engineering program work together to determine the program's educational and student learning outcomes. The constituencies of these programs include:
- Current CEE students
- Civil and environmental engineering professionals, including employers
- CEE Faculty
The constituencies of the CEE program are part of the following formal committees or groups that evaluate and review the Department’s educational objectives:
- The CEE Advisory Council (a group of local professionals, employers, alumni, faculty and student representatives)
- The CEE Faculty and discipline-specific faculty groups (the discipline-specific groups include structural, environmental/water, geotechnical, and transportation)
Educational Objectives and Learning Outcomes
B.S. in Civil Engineering Program Educational Outcomes
The educational objectives of the Civil Engineering program at Portland State University are as follows:
Graduates are expected to practice civil engineering responsibly and ethically by (1) working effectively in the professional engineering community and (2) continuing to learn and enhance their abilities in civil engineering.
B.S. in Civil Engineering Student Outcomes
Graduates of the Civil Engineering program at Portland State University will have the skills and abilities to prepare them to begin professional practice or to succeed in graduate studies.
Graduates will have:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
B.S. in Environmental Engineering Program Educational Outcomes
The educational objectives of the Environmental Engineering program at Portland State University are as follows:
Graduates are expected to practice environmental engineering responsibly and ethically by (1) working effectively in the professional engineering community and (2) continuing to learn and enhance their abilities in environmental engineering.
B.S. in Environmental Engineering Program Student Outcomes
Graduates of the Environmental Engineering program will have the skills and abilities to prepare them to begin professional practice or to succeed in graduate studies.
Graduates will have:
- an ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering and undergraduate enrollment by academic year are available on the degree and enrollment data website.
Computer Science Accreditation
Bachelor of Science (Computer Science) - accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Program Criteria.
The Portland State undergraduate Bachelor of Science Computer Science degree program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Program Criteria.
Accreditation certifies that a program meets or exceeds the minimum criteria for quality education, ensuring a quality educational experience for students.
Accreditation has two advantages for students:
- Accreditation is a form of quality control. The CAC sets minimum standards for every aspect of a degree program, and, periodically, they send an evaluation team to examine everything from the degree requirements (which are stiffer than average, at their insistence) to the way classes are conducted and graded. The evaluation team will also interview students, staff, and faculty, and examine our facilities, and curriculum materials. A program is accredited only if everything is up to par.
- Accreditation adds real market value to the degree. For example, some companies (particularly those accustomed to hiring engineers) pay better starting salaries, and sometimes job titles, if the employee comes from an accredited degree program.
Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes
The design and delivery of our Bachelor's program is guided and informed by a set of program educational objectives and associated student outcomes that are posted on the department's website.
Annual Student Enrollment and Graduation Data
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Computer Science and undergraduate enrollment by academic year are available on the degree and enrollment data website.
Electrical & Computer Engineering Accreditation
Bachelor of Science (Electrical Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
Bachelor of Science (Computer Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Electrical, Computer, Communications, Telecommunication(s) and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.
Program Educational Outcomes
The electrical and computer engineering programs prepare our graduates for the following program educational objectives:
- Graduates are expected to be employed as electrical or computer engineers or in related fields that benefit from an electrical and computer engineering education.
- Graduates are expected to advance in their profession and engage in their professional community.
- Graduates are expected to continue to learn and adapt in a world of constantly changing environment and technology.
Student Outcomes
- An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics
- An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors
- An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
- An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts
- An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks, and meet objectives
- An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions
- An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.
Degree and Enrollment Data information for ECE programs.
Mechanical Engineering Engineering Accreditation
Bachelor of Science (Mechanical Engineering) - accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, https://www.abet.org, under the General Criteria and the Mechanical and Similarly Named Engineering Program Criteria.