From assessing a new development site for the potential for flooding, earthquakes or other ground instability to shoring up a site after it closes down, demand for engineering geologists is only expected to grow in the next decade. With PSU's graduate certificate in Engineering Geology, you can upgrade your engineering credentials and take your career to the next level.

Our flexible certificate is designed for both practicing geologists looking to gain additional skills and expertise in engineering geology as well as post-baccalaureate students who are working toward a graduate degree.

Gain the quantitative analytical skills and software proficiency real estate employers are looking for.

Real estate finance skills are in high demand, and finance positions in commercial real estate are among the highest paid. PSU's Real Estate Investment and Finance Graduate Certificate program sets you up for career advancement by offering fundamental concepts, analytical techniques and software proficiency for commercial real estate investment and finance.

The certificate is designed for professionals working in commercial real estate, and for those who are interested in pivoting into the field. It can be earned as a stand-alone credential or paired with PSU’s Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), Master of Science in Finance or The Portland MBA to specialize your skillset. It’s also a great foundational first step toward the MSRE with potentially all of the certificate credits shared between the two credentials.

As you read this, billions of neurons and glial cells in your brain are buzzing with activity. Take a deep dive into the body's most complex organ with Portland State's new interdisciplinary neuroscience minor. 

In the neuroscience minor, you'll explore the relationship between our brains and behavior. Mental health, memory, attention, perception, language, feeling, bias, creativity and decision-making in social contexts all depend on nervous system structure and function — and with this minor, you'll learn how the underlying biology, biochemistry and physiology of the nervous system relates to individuals' psychological and behavioral processes.

The field of neuroscience is fundamentally interdisciplinary, and our minor brings together courses in biology, psychology, computer science, linguistics, philosophy, public health, social work, speech and hearing sciences and University Studies.

This interdisciplinary program is supported by both the Biology department and Psychology department.

Our program opens the doors for you to pursue a career in a variety of fields, including healthcare, science-related policy, regulatory oversight, private industry, K-12 education, community service, mental health, public outreach and the arts. Pursuing this minor is a no-brainer.

Neuroscience Minor Outreach & Research >>

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Unlock a career in the rapidly growing semiconductor industry with PSU’s Semiconductor Materials and Manufacturing Graduate Certificate. Designed around industry insights, this program prepares you to understand, analyze and innovate in semiconductor manufacturing and materials processes. Whether you’re a working professional or a graduate student, this certificate provides you with hands-on skills and advanced knowledge to  apply directly to today’s semiconductor challenges. Credits can also count toward a master’s or PhD program.

There's a nationwide demand for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVIs), especially in rural areas with limited resources. Become part of the solution with Portland State University's unique VIL program—the only one in the Pacific Northwest.

Whether aiming for an add-on endorsement through the Blindness and Low Vision graduate certificate or pursuing a Special Education master’s degree with initial licensure, our program equips you to serve students birth to 21 years old with visual impairments, ensuring they access a quality education.

Program Benefits:

• Learn to assist students with visual impairments to fully access the general education curriculum
• Study coursework needed to apply for licensure in special education with a TSVI Specialization  in visual impairment
• Experience incredible value: Learn from experienced teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price
• Gain practical experience via field placements in local educational agencies or at residential schools for the blind
• Explore multiple ways of educating with small-scope projects across a diverse range students with vision loss, including those with multiple disabilities

Program Specifics

• Participate in part-time, two year master's program for working professionals
• Already have a teaching license? Complete the Blindness and Low Vision graduate certificate for the added endorsement
• Enjoy convenient, hybrid scheduling for working professionals, including face-to-face and online learning environments where students learn individually and in groups
• Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experience in our unique cohort model

About the Program

PSU is the regional university preparation program for the Pacific and Northwest Consortium for Vision Education (PNWCVE). With a focus on consortium member states Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Idaho, and Montana, the VIL program prepares TSVIs and leaders in both  rural and urban areas to meet the critical shortage of professionals.

Students admitted to degree completion programs and graduate certificates may apply for and receive financial aid and are eligible for scholarships while fully admitted and enrolled in no fewer than five credits per term. Students falling beneath the five credit/term threshold will not receive financial aid for any terms that a “credit load” falls under five credits. The College of Education offers specific scholarships to students in COE degree programs. Applications open in October annually.

In addition, we recommend checking with your State Department of Education as they often have scholarships available for educators serving low-incidence populations. School districts may also be willing to fund part of your education with a commitment to return to the school district.

Our master’s thesis core offers a unique experience to engage in innovative research with mentorship from faculty.

Professionals who do not require licensure may take individual courses to satisfy a personal development plan with the permission of the instructor. Be aware that by taking individual courses, you will not satisfy program and licensure requirements.

Portland State University’s ABA program is fully online and provides a Verified Course Sequence (VCS) aligned with the 5th Edition Task List as a graduate certificate option; or in conjunction with a master’s degree as part of the Pathway 2 eligibility outlined by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®). In addition, the program includes a number of added curricular areas of focus, including an explicit emphasis on the use of Positive Behavior Interventions and Support, and use of behavioral supports within early childhood settings.

The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) has verified PSU’s course sequence toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional eligibility requirements and demonstrate they reside in an authorized country and province (Canada) before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination. 

The Applied Behavior Analysis program at Portland State University is currently pursuing recognition through ABAI’s Tiered Model of Education. Pursuit of recognition does not denote recognition status. Please refer to the BACB® for additional requirements and information.

Program Benefits

• Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) Verified Course Sequence (VCS)
• Resident tuition rates apply for non-degree students who reside outside of Oregon
• Scholarship opportunities and Financial Aid eligibility for degree-seeking students
• Access to a network of experts in the field
• Coursework content preparation for BACB®-administered credentialing exam
• Part-time format allows students to acquire independent supervised field experience required to sit for the credentialing exam

Portland State’s certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) is for students interested in working abroad after graduation. Completion of this program will give you the skills to help meet the changing needs in education throughout the world while immersing yourself in a new culture. Add it to your major or a previous degree, and it's your gateway to international jobs.

The TESL certificate helps you develop skills and knowledge to teach English internationally without the commitment of a two-year master's degree. If you already have a master's degree in another field, completion of this program may qualify you to teach English as a second language in community colleges across the United States.

Our seven-course program combines practical teaching skills with in-depth knowledge about English, language learning, and cross-cultural interactions. The program prepares you to become a more effective and adaptable teacher. This certificate does not license you to teach in public schools.

Students may enroll in the program as undergraduates or as postbaccalaureates.

The OHSU-PSU collaborative School of Public Health is an innovative structure, in which we bring the best of two universities to you. Our design is a product of our innovative spirit and values: we bring that approach to you, working to chart your path into clinical, educational, policy, and direct-service health care.

With five specialized Health Studies concentrations and two minors, we provide you with specialty training and a core foundation in public health that positions you to excel in the career path you seek.

In our Health Administration Services concentration, you will learn the policy, organizational, administrative, and financial foundations for health care systems and health services delivery. Our graduates are ready to enter the workforce in hospital or health provider administration, as project managers, and as patient support and health policy advocates.

We offer:

• Tailored, individualized advising and mentorship
• Expert faculty with extensive research and real-world experience
• Innovative curricula – we bring the community to you through guest speakers, applied learning activities, and a focus on current issues – all focusing on developing solutions to real-world problems
• Experiential learning -we bring you to the community through a mentored internship
• Faculty and career development opportunities from both universities

The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health: A great place to make a world of difference.

Great teachers start at PSU.

The master’s degree in education prepares you to be a part of a new wave of progressive K-12 teachers. As America’s schools become more racially and ethnically diverse, serving students with different cultures, languages, and abilities, our teachers need to adapt. The College of Education will equip you to teach in an inclusive and equitable environment, utilizing the latest technology to help you succeed. You will be a teacher who helps each student succeed on their unique terms.

To become a secondary teacher, you will need to earn a bachelor's degree and complete coursework in the content area you hope to teach. This track prepares you to teach 6th through 12th grade and can be completed over one or two years. The program requires 66 total credit hours including academic work and student teaching. Students will specialize in a specific subject area, learning teaching methodology directly related to the content.

Through the GTEP program you will:

• Earn your master’s degree and Oregon teaching license in one year (perfect for those who can go to school full-time) or two years (works great for those with other work commitments).
• Design, plan, and implement lesson plans that encourage creativity, build community, and make a real impact on your students’ goals and future careers.
• Challenge yourself to help create sustainable equity and inclusion in education.
• Learn from experienced secondary school teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price.

How to Become a Teacher in Oregon

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.
2. Choose a subject and grade level (Secondary).
3. Complete a teacher preparation program. The program must qualify for a TSPC Oregon Preliminary Teaching License.
4. Complete your student teaching requirements through the GTEP program.
5. Apply for your license through the state, complete your background check, and pass testing requirements.

Accreditation

The Graduate Teacher Education Program is  accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

The Leadership for Sustainability Education (LSE) program specialization leads to a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Policy. This program fosters skills in sustainability education and collaborative, emergent leadership. Learn to envision, design, and implement sustainable solutions in a variety of settings including schools, nonprofit organizations, local governments, and businesses.

Sustainability leadership and education encompass ways to facilitate and teach in ways that are inclusive, collaborative, holistic, and critical of injustice and oppression. In LSE we learn how to work effectively and emergently with others to challenge dominant systems to create just and regenerative communities and ecosystems. We believe this requires a shift in our ways of being and knowing, rooted in a deep acknowledgement of our inherent interconnectedness. This also requires a deep, ethical understanding of living within the limits of the earth’s natural systems, as well as personal and communal shifts in behaviors to create healthy and balanced solutions to the interconnected problems that face our bioregions. Sustainability education and leadership involve shifting to holistic, systemic, ecological, relational, and spiritual ways of teaching and leading.

We believe that sustainability education should be embodied in all of our classes and activities. In LSE, students and instructors take on the roles of both teachers and learners, and we strive to model education that is inclusive, participatory, experiential, thematic, critically questioning, place-based, and transformative.

The LSE program provides opportunities to address real sustainability issues through a theory-to-practice curriculum that includes ongoing community-based learning. You’ll create a network of relationships with your program colleagues and mentors, faculty, and community leaders, and will have the opportunity to apply your learning through numerous individual and group projects.

Working closely with a faculty advisor, LSE students develop a program of study that is tailored to their personal and professional goals. Some examples of ways to focus your study include: garden-based education, non-profit leadership, service-learning, entrepreneurial pursuits, sustainability education in higher education, community or governmental organizations, or school- based endeavors.

About LSE Graduate Program

LSE mission and guiding principles

Mission
LSE prepares graduates for careers as leaders and educators through the study of sustainability leadership and pedagogy that emphasizes interconnectedness, social and ecological justice, relationship-building, and skills for sustainable change.

The following values guide the LSE program: Justice, Interconnectedness, Compassion, Integrity, Community, and Love.

We strive to enact these values by:

• Upholding a strong commitment to inclusion, equity, and social, ecological, and economic justice
• Fostering interbeing and earth-connection
• Developing wise and compassionate leaders
• Empowering collaborative leaders and educators
• Facilitating holistic, participatory, inclusive, and transformative learning
• Integrating embodied and spiritual learning
• Centering indigenous and intuitive knowledge
• Practicing whole systems design
• Facilitating and promoting applied, experiential, and community-based learning
• Integrating theory, research, and practice
• Developing reflective practitioners and critical thinkers with strong communication skills
• Honoring multiple and non-dominant perspectives including multicultural, interdisciplinary, intergenerational, indigenous, and local perspectives
• Fostering critical hope and resiliency through networks and relationships

What’s unique about the Leadership for Sustainability Education program? In LSE you will:

• Be part of the movement to address climate change and systemic injustice
• Engage in community-based learning in every course
• Discover hands-on learning opportunities in leadership, garden-based education, and sustainable food systems at our 3-acre Learning Gardens Laboratory
• Build strong connections with peers in your learning community and cohort
• Connect to an ever growing community of committed alumni
• Explore interconnectedness, social and ecological justice, relationship-building, and skills for sustainable change
• Tailor this flexible academic program to meet your personal and professional goals

What kind of leader do you want to be?

As a student in the program, your learning will focus on the following 4 LSE Key Learning Areas, designed for you to:

• Gain a stronger awareness of yourself, including your own ecological identity and inherent inter-relatedness with the earth; articulate who you are and what is important to you as an educator and leader.
• Cultivate an understanding of sustainability issues as interconnected, holistic, and relational; develop stronger systems thinking; and elevate marginalized and under-heard perspectives
• Create strategies for working with diverse groups to create change; understand how power, privilege and (in)justice impact relationships; develop networks and partnerships
• Develop a toolkit for enacting sustainable change, including skills for whole system design and analysis, participatory facilitation, and collaborative leadership.