Get ahead, catch up or try something new

Choose from hundreds of classes, including many that meet core or prerequisite requirements. You’ll find options to fast track your graduation or explore a personal passion while still enjoying all that Portland summers have to offer.

Not currently a PSU student? No problem. Summer Term at PSU is open to high school students earning college credit, visiting students home for break, and professionals seeking career advancement. Learn more about non-degree enrollment.

Key Dates

  • Registration opens: May 4, 2026
  • Classes begin: June 22, 2026

Browse our highlights below:

Race & Ethnic Studies Requirement

The requirement ensures our graduates are equipped with an understanding of how historically rooted and ongoing racism affects institutions in Oregon, the U.S. and the world. Students satisfy the requirement by completing two RESR-designated courses; one must focus on the U.S. experience (domestic), and the other must focus on European and U.S. colonialism and imperialism (international). Courses can double-count to satisfy your major, minor, University Studies, Honors and/or elective requirements.

Domestic Focus

  • Intro to Black Studies (BST 202)
    • Online; CRN 80098
  • Race, Class, and Gender (BST 207)
    • Online; CRN 80099
  • Intro to African American Literature (BST 221)
    • Online; CRN 80939
  • African American Education (BST 316)
    • Online; CRN 80940
  • Chicano/Latino Communities (301U)
    • Online; CRN 80147
    • American Identities, Community Studies, and Family Studies clusters
  • Chicana/Latina Experience (CHLA 303U)
    • Online; CRN 80148
    • American Identities, Family Studies, and Global Perspectives clusters
  • Bilingualism in U.S. Latinx Communities (CHLA 360)
    • Online; CRN 80910
  • Intro to Native American Studies (NAS 201)
    • Online; CRN 80499
  • Diversity, Prejudice & Intergroup Relations (PSY 428)
    • Online; CRN 80606
  • Prejudice, Privilege and Power (SOC 337U)
    • Online; CRN 80624
    • American Identities and Community Studies clusters
  • Women of Color in the U.S. (WS 330U)
    • Online; CRN 80945
    • American Identities, Family Studies, and Gender/Sexualities Studies clusters
  • Race, Class, Gender & Sexuality in U.S. (WS 332U)
    • Online; CRN 80874 or CRN 80875
    • American Identities, Family Studies, and Gender/Sexualities Studies clusters
  • Intro to Queer Studies (WS 360U)
    • Online; CRN 80878
    • Gender/Sexualities cluster

International Focus

  • African Studies (BST 211)
    • Online; CRN 80100
  • African History since 1800 (BST 306U)
    • Online; CRN 80915
    • Global Perspectives cluster
  • African Cinema and African Cultures (BST 363U)
    • Online; CRN 80105
    • Global Perspectives and Popular Culture clusters
  • Sara Gomez/Cuban Film (BST 399)
    • In-person; CRN 80941
  • Contemporary India (GEOG 325U)
    • Online; CRN 80944
    • Global Perspectives cluster

University Writing Requirement

Students must complete 2 college-level composition courses or their approved equivalents for their baccalaureate degree requirements.

  • Composition I (WR 121Z)
    • Online; CRN 80854
  • Technical Writing (WR 227Z)
    • Online; CRN 80857 or 80856
  • Critical Writing in English (WR 301)
    • Online; CRN 80858
  • Writing as Critical Inquiry (WR 323)
    • Online; CRN 80859 or 80860 or 80861
  • Technical Report Writing (WR 327)
    • Online; CRN 80862

Get Out Into the Field

Get hands-on experience outside the classroom with opportunities for field trips and overnight camping.

  • Field Methods: Biodiversity Monitoring Techniques (ESM 342)
    • This course will monitor biodiversity of invertebrate pollinators, birds and mammals using a variety of techniques including pan trap surveys, point counts, and motion detect cameras. We will conduct this work in areas within a sustainably managed forest where different forest management actions have been applied. Data collected will be summarized and presented to the forest managers in a written report.
    • Aug. 10-13; CRN 80330
    • 2 credits
  • Ecology & Management of Fire (ESM or GEOG 440)
    • This class focuses on the complex challenges of managing wildfire in integrated social and ecological systems, with field-based studies and overnight camping in Deschutes, Linn, and Lane counties. $350 fee per student to pay van rental, gas, and campsite fees.
    • June 24-July 3; CRN 80331 or 80351
  • Field Studies: Columbia River Gorge (EES 200)
    • July 24-25; CRN 81036

Pre-Health Prep

If you have your sights set on a career in healthcare, you can satisfy some of your prerequisites with full-year sequences of biology, chemistry, physics or math, and behavioral science courses. Be sure to first consult with your pre-health advisor.

  • Principles of Biology (BI 221Z, 222Z, 223Z)
    • Online; CRN 80890, 80891, 80892 with corresponding labs
  • Elementary Microbiology (BI 234) with lab (BI 235)
    • Online; CRN 80086
  • Intro to Genetics (BI 341) with recitation (BI 341R)
    • Online; CRN 80089
  • General Chemistry (CH 221Z, 222Z, 223Z) with corresponding labs (CH 227Z, 228Z, 229Z)
    • In-person; CRN 80900, 80901, 80902/80903
  • Organic Chemistry (CH 334, 335, 336) with lab (CH 337, 338)
    • Online; CRN 80137, 80138, 80139
  • Biochemistry (CH 350)
    • Online; CRN 80144
  • General Physics (PH 201, 202, 203) with lab (PH 214, 215, 216)
    • In-person; CRN 80524, 80525, 80526
  • Precalculus (MTH 111Z, 112Z)
    • Online; CRN 80471, 80472
  • Elementary Statistics I (STAT 243Z)
    • CRN 80763 (in-person) or 80762 (online)
  • Intro to Psychology I (PSY 201Z, 202Z)
    • In-person; CRN 80591, 80592
  • Human Development (PSY 311U)
    • Online; CRN 80595
  • Intro to Sociology (SOC 204Z)
    • Online; CRN 80931 or 80932

There are also several courses that may be of interest to those interested in health:

  • Film & History: Viral Stories of Contagion (HST 297)
    • Online; CRN 81075
  • Plagues & People (HIST 390U)
    • Online; CRN 80401
  • Psychology of Happiness and Wellbeing (PSY 410)
    • Hybrid; CRN 80599
  • Clinical Psychology (PSY 410)
    • Online; CRN 80603
  • Alcohol & Other Drugs (SOC 314U)
    • Online; CRN 80623

Language Immersion

Whether you're brushing up your language skills for a trip or working toward your second language requirement, you can take an entire year of Spanish or Russian this summer.

  • First-Year Spanish (SPAN 101, 102, 103)
    • In-person; CRN 80665, 80667 (in-person) or 80668 (online), 80669
  • Second-Year Spanish (SPAN 201, 202, 203)
    • Hybrid; CRN 80671, 80673, 80676 or 80677 (online)
  • Third-Year Russian (RUS 301, 302, 303)
    • In-person; CRN 80613, 80615, 80617

Skill Building

Get a handle on skills that will prove helpful in school, work and life.

  • Public Speaking (COMM 111Z)
    • Hybrid; CRN 80185
  • Media Literacy (COMM 312U)
    • Online; CRN 80186
    • Leading Social Change and Popular Culture clusters
  • Intro to Conflict Resolution (CR 301U)
    • Online; CRN 80218 or 80217
    • Community Studies and Leading Social Change clusters
  • Critical Thinking (PHL 320U)
    • Online; CRN 80584
    • Design Thinking and Knowledge, Values, Rationality clusters
  • Personal Decision Making (PSY 300U)
    • Online; CRN 80593
    • Knowledge, Values, Rationality cluster

More Cool Courses

  • FIFA 2026 Mega Events & Media (COMM 410)
    • Online; CRN 80190
  • Oregon History (HST 338U)
    • Online; CRN 80397
    • American Identities cluster
  • Architecture with ITECK (NAS 410)
    • In-person; CRN 80500
  • Manga: Japanese Graphic Novels (JPN 344U)
    • Online; CRN 80431
    • Global Perspectives and Popular Culture clusters
  • Silicon Forest Tech (CH 410 or PH 410)
    • In-person; CRN 80145 or 80536
  • Global Climate Crisis (SOC 410)
    • Online; CRN 80625
  • Sociology of Horror Films (SOC 456)
    • Online; CRN 80627
  • Fairy Tales: Arab Folklore (WLL 319U)
    • Online; 81057