Our combined master's and doctoral program in psychology prepares you to use science to make a meaningful impact after you graduate. We train students from all over the world in the use of applied research as a lever for understanding complex social problems and implementing social change.

Our program has a curriculum that allows you to complete a master's degree on the way to a doctoral degree. You'll learn to use innovative conceptual and methodological tools while working closely in faculty teams with community partners to understand and solve social problems.

Our faculty are clustered in five concentrations — applied developmental psychology, applied social psychology, community psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and applied quantitative psychology — and provide you with a rich training experience in an apprenticeship model. With cohorts of 10 to 12 students each and a small faculty-to-student ratio, we will ensure that you have the support and experience you need to succeed.

Our graduates are in high demand and you’ll leave our program prepared to work in a variety of applied research and academic settings, including private and public organizations, research institutes, and universities.

Become a part of our commitment to psychological science that makes the world a better place.

Show your physics mastery and make your theories known with a Doctoral Degree in Applied Physics. On the Ph.D. track, you will build upon what you’ve learned through the master’s program and hone your original research to solve real-world problems.

With a Ph.D. in Applied Physics at PSU, you will have the time, faculty access, and research support to experiment and explore applications for your theories. You will also benefit from access to incredible support resources for professional development, including support for developing skills in classroom instruction and grant writing.

For musicians with an unconventional mindset, you’re not alone in your desire to break the mold. A master’s degree in Jazz Studies will give you endless opportunities to deepen your knowledge and advance as a leader in your musical career.

Our program offers rigorous instruction in music theory, music history, improvisation techniques, jazz arranging, music literature, research methods, and pedagogy. Students have the opportunity for hands-on experience through participation in ensembles and combos. We also offer individualized applied lessons on your instrument of choice to deepen your knowledge.

Throughout the program, you will receive mentorship and career advice from renowned faculty, as well as opportunities for leadership within your cohort. Our alumni’s skills are in-demand as professional musicians and teachers.

Unique Program Features:

• Designed for Experienced Public Service Professionals – Courses are sequenced across the academic year to even out the workload and enable degree completion within 21 months. Classes are held approximately every other Saturday and supported by dedicated staff who provide a concierge level of service that enables you to focus on meeting your learning needs.
• Cohort Learning Model – Our model brings together students, faculty, mentors, alums, and practitioners in a rigorous peer-to-peer learning experience. This model fosters community, sparks creativity, and builds leadership and collaborative skills.
• Distinguished Faculty – Learn from credentialed and accomplished faculty with extensive real-world experience in a variety of government and non-government organizations. Our professors are dedicated to meeting the individualized learning needs of each student and doing so in ways that integrate the best of academic research with practice.
• Legacy of Leadership – Central to the EMPA curriculum is a tested leadership model built on reflective practice, active learning, and relevant application. We have developed this model over a 20 year period of doing leadership development in the U.S. and abroad, including Japan, China, and Vietnam.  
• Advanced Leadership Competencies – The program is designed to be intellectually challenging and personally rewarding. Students will master specific competencies that prepare them to successfully tackle multifaceted, cross-sector leadership problems at multiple scales.
• Intensive Field Experience – Enhance your understanding of equity, justice, and governance through a transformational cross-cultural experience in domestic and international settings.

PSU's certificate in Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (TJFL) prepares you to use your skills at home or abroad, teaching Japanese to speakers of other languages. This program is designed to familiarize participants with principles of instructional methods in teaching Japanese to speakers of languages whose orthography is not kanji-based. It is designed to fit into the programs of majors in a wide variety of fields, including Japanese, education, linguistics, and the social sciences. Candidates may enroll as post-baccalaureate students or while completing undergraduate degree requirements in another field.

The certificate is easily obtainable while completing degree requirements in Japanese or related language or linguistics programs.

Japanese proficiency at the ACTFL Intermediate High level is required for admission to this certificate program. Students whose proficiency is lower may be provisionally admitted; they will need to study Japanese while taking other courses in the certificate program.

Systems Science is the study of general principles governing systems of widely differing types, and the use of systems ideas and methods in research and socio-technical system design and management. Systems science draws on the natural and social sciences, mathematics, computer science, and engineering to address complex problems in the public and private sectors.

Systems ideas and methods offer valuable insights into and fundamental ways to think about a wide range of phenomena. They will help you to better understand and address problems in such diverse areas as climate change, resource use, renewable energy, and public health and biomedicine, and shed new light on the challenges and opportunities of new technologies.

The systems minor offers coursework in methods for approaching complex systems including opportunities to design conceptual models using graphical understanding, computational models to simulate system behaviors, dynamics of biological or ecological systems, the evolution of cooperation, and networks in society.

Learning systems ideas and methods will enhance the knowledge and skills you gain in any specific program, making the minor a perfect complement to any major. Our systems minor has been designed to be entirely cross-disciplinary, meaning engineering or biology majors can take systems just as comfortably as a philosophy or geography major. The classes can also help you fulfill requirements for a number of core curriculum courses.

Immerse yourself in the language and culture of ancient Rome with a minor in Classical Studies, and gain new insights into how this major world culture continues to influences modern society.

For nearly two millennia, much of European literature, scholarship, diplomacy, and even aspects of everyday life, have found expression in Latin. Minoring in classical studies will give you language and writing skills that will make learning any other language easier.

The minor pairs well with a degree in history, English, philosophy, and art history, as it gives you a foundation in understanding the writings and thoughts of creators from centuries past in their original language.

Application Submission Deadline for Fall 2025 is SEPTEMBER 1.
Attend an information session to waive the application fee.
Scholarships still available -- no extra steps needed to be considered. Apply early before funding runs out.

Located in a city known for sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship, our program reflects Portland’s values—creative problem-solving, community impact, and environmental responsibility.

Designed for working professionals and full-time students alike, The Portland MBA blends core business skills with training in sustainable practices, inclusive leadership, and ethical decision-making.

You’ll join a selective, diverse cohort on Oregon’s most diverse campus and benefit from strong connections to local industry leaders, startups, and nonprofit organizations.

With flexible evening and daytime options, The Portland MBA offers an immersive experience rooted in real-world challenges and career advancement—only at Portland State University.

Two MBA Paths to Match Your Career Stage

At Portland State University, The Portland MBA offers two tailored program formats—each designed to align with your professional goals. Both tracks share a core curriculum built around business fundamentals, leadership development, and real-world application.

Evening MBA: For Career Accelerators
For experienced professionals ready to advance into leadership roles or grow within their current field.

• Designed for working professionals with 4+ years of experience
• Focus on executive presence, leadership growth, and strategic thinking
• Flexible hybrid format: attend in-person or join remotely via global classroom technology

Daytime MBA: For Career Explorers
For early-career professionals looking to switch industries or clarify their career direction.

• Ideal for students with less work experience or planning a career pivot
• Emphasis on personal growth, core business skills, and industry exposure
• On-campus experience supports strong peer connections and career exploration

Choose to study Russian and you will learn to communicate in a language spoken by over 200 million people in Russia and across Eurasia. From being able to read Dostoevsky in the original to discussing in Russian the politics and environment in Russia and Central Asia, you will gain insights into the rich history and vibrant cultures of the Russian-speaking world.

Participating in PSU's dynamic Russian program, you'll have opportunities to immerse yourself in Russian-speaking communities here in Oregon, where Russian is the third most widely spoken language.

Whether you want to study the Russian language and culture to get in touch with your family's heritage, immerse yourself in Russian culture and arts, or prepare for a career in government or international diplomacy, business, or technology, a bachelor's degree in Russian from Portland State will help you build professional proficiency in the language and gain experience in cross-cultural communication. A bachelor's degree in Russian from Portland State University prepares you for a variety of careers in the Portland Metro-area and all over the world.

The Comics Studies Program draws from theory and hands-on practice, preparing participants to work in the field of comics and cartoon art as writers, artists, and scholars. Portland is particularly well known as the home of numerous artists, authors, scholars, and publishers specializing in comic art, and this program seeks to enhance ties with the local comics community. Comics studies at Portland State University is a vibrant, dynamic program on the cutting edge of contemporary literature and art practice that serves our students, our mission as a university, and our local community.

Portland is one of the largest hubs for comics in the country. Dark Horse Comics, Inc., founder, and president, Mike Richardson, didn’t just get his degree at PSU, he also chose the PSU library as the home for the Dark Horse Comics archives.

In addition to Dark Horse Comics, the Portland area is home to Oni Press, Image Comics, Milkfed Criminal Masterminds, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

The comics studies certificate is available to graduate, undergraduate, and postbaccalaureate students. It features an exciting mix of courses with exceptional faculty across the disciplines as well as special courses with highly-lauded comics industry professionals. Classes are taught by a mix of PSU professors, comics professionals in Portland, and guest writers and artists from companies like Marvel, DC, and The New Yorker. Competitive internships with local companies are also offered each term.

The comics studies certificate is a great complement to programs such as English, art, or publishing, but students from all majors and levels are able to complete the program.