Our location in Portland provides you access to a geological paradise. What better place to study the earth than in the center of a volcanic region, within walking distance of a landslide, driving distance of glaciers, and an important source area of meteorites and other geologic activity that can provide us with new insights into the past, present, and future.

Our dedicated faculty also bring a broad range of expertise to your classes, and many have years of experience working with K-12 schools and teachers.

You can get involved with our student clubs CoRiBa, chapters of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and the Association of Petroleum Geologists. Learn about Earth science geology and related topics outside the classroom, listen to invited speakers, explore careers in geology, and go on field trips and hikes.

At PSU, you'll gain a unique understanding of climate change in a city that has been addressing the issue for nearly 25 years.

Our program provides you with a solid and fundamental understanding of the physical science basis behind climate change, how it differs from and influences weather, and how physical scientists study the climate system. You'll learn the core risks and vulnerabilities associated with climate change and various spatial and temporal scales.

You'll learn about different approaches to addressing climate change, from the local to international levels, including the United Nations Framework on Climate Change, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Paris Accord, cap and trade, and climate action and adaptation plans.

You'll be exposed to and gain experience with climate research methods and climate adaptation planning processes.

At PSU, we have faculty from a wide range of disciplines who focus on various aspects of climate science and management and bring their expertise to the classroom. Many are also working on applied projects with local, state, and federal agencies.

In addition to a core set of classes, the minor offers two tracks: management and policy, and physical science. You can choose courses from nine different disciplines across PSU: geography, environmental science, and management, physics, philosophy, sociology, economics, urban studies and planning, environmental engineering and systems science.

Online Learning: Develop skills in virtual communication. Collaborate with colleagues from around the nation and globe.

Action Research: Inquire into a question or problem in your professional work that you feel passionate about through the culminating action research sequence.

Innovative Practice: The program draws on the practice of educators at the Helen Gordon Child Development Center. Our curriculum includes anti-bias and inquiry-based education. Internships and practicum experiences can be arranged.

Study Abroad: Explore early childhood and infant-toddler centers around the world.

Summer Intensives: Learn about constructivist curriculum such as making learning visible and using multiple modalities to support thinking through our optional summer intensive opportunities.

Interdisciplinary Faculty: Core classes are often co-taught. Faculty include early childhood faculty in the Curriculum & Instruction and Special Education departments.

University Support: PSU’s individual support resources and real-world applications incorporate the needs of the whole person. Our students are encouraged to nurture strong convictions and fearless confidence.

Portland State's program draws on the diverse expertise and interests of faculty across the university, allowing it to offer a truly interdisciplinary program. Our location in Portland is also a major asset; as a national leader in innovative work on sustainable food systems, Portland provides unique opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and experience of food systems and respond to the growing demand in the region and around the world. The city offers access to a wide range of nonprofits, businesses, urban and rural farms, government agencies, and other established community partners. Our students have many options once they complete the program; some have pursued additional graduate education at PSU or at other institutions, while others have gained employment in non-profit organizations, government agencies, or the private sector.

PSU has dedicated pre-health advisors to help students plan their coursework, support them in gaining relevant healthcare experience, and guide them through the process of applying to medical schools (including both MD and DO programs).

There are a very wide range of clinical and other volunteer opportunities available in the Portland area to help students better understand the role of nurses and other healthcare providers, and gain exposure to different clinical settings.

Beyond the pre-requisite courses needed to apply to nursing school, PSU offers many additional courses of interest to pre-nursing students, including Communicable and Chronic Disease (PHE 363), Gender, Race, Class, & Health (PHE 452), Biomedical Ethics (PHL 446), Sociology for the Health Sciences (SOC 250), and many others.

Many of Portland State’s departments and schools offer student research opportunities, including Biology, Chemistry, and the School of Public Health.

PSU has the Ignite Scholarship program, developed in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and Portland Leadership Foundation, which emphasizes a culture of support and community for students in healthcare career pathways that can sometimes be complex and overwhelming. Students who receive the Ignite scholarship will be part of a program emphasizing leadership and mentorship (supported by a $5,000 scholarship), which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.

Incoming pre-health students seeking mentorship can apply to be matched with PSU's Ignite mentors. This is a one-year commitment (fall, winter, and spring terms) for mentors and mentees.

Student organizations on campus help students to connect with peers pursuing pre-health tracks or science fields, as well as many different multicultural, social, and community involvement focused groups. Examples of student groups include the Health Promotion Student Organization, Portland State Women in STEM, Science Outreach Society, Biology Investigation and Outreach, and the Neuroscience Club at PSU.

PSU is the public research university for the Portland metro area. We have a commitment to sustaining a vibrant and connected learning community that includes students of color, LGBTQ, and indigenous peoples. You will have the opportunity to work with supportive faculty and alongside your colleagues who are educators like you; passionate about their work and making a difference in the world.

In this program, you will:

• Work closely with outstanding faculty
• Connect with other students. PSU's online course platform encourages direct, frequent interaction among classmates
• You'll take your core courses with the same group of students, enabling you to develop strong relationships
• Apply what you learn to your daily practice
• Use course material to address challenges specific to your own classroom, school district, nonprofit or governmental agency
• Develop the skills to promote ethical, culturally sensitive instruction and curriculum in your education career

PSU has dedicated pre-health advisors to help students plan their coursework, support them in gaining relevant healthcare experience, and guide them through the process of applying to physical therapy schools.

There are a huge range of clinical and other volunteer opportunities available in the Portland area to help students better understand the role of physical therapists and other healthcare providers, gain exposure to different clinical settings, and boost their application to physical therapy programs in the future.

Beyond the pre-requisite courses needed to apply to physical therapy programs, PSU offers many additional courses of interest to pre-physical therapy students, including Applied Kinesiology (PHE 370), Physiology of Exercise (PHE 473), Communicable and Chronic Disease (PHE 363), Physics in Biomedicine (PHY 337), Gender, Race, Class, & Health (PHE 452), Biomedical Ethics (PHL 446), Sociology for the Health Sciences (SOC 250), and many others.

Many of Portland State’s departments and schools offer student research opportunities, including Biology, Chemistry, and the School of Public Health.

PSU has the Ignite Scholarship program, developed in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and Portland Leadership Foundation, which emphasizes a culture of support and community for students in healthcare career pathways that can sometimes be complex and overwhelming. Students who receive the Ignite scholarship will be part of a program emphasizing leadership and mentorship (supported by a $5,000 scholarship), which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.

Incoming pre-health students seeking mentorship can apply to be matched with PSU's Ignite mentors. This is a one-year commitment (fall, winter, and spring terms) for mentors and mentees.

Student organizations on campus help students to connect with peers pursuing pre-health tracks or science fields, as well as many different multicultural, social, and community involvement focused groups. Examples of student groups include the Health Promotion Student Organization, Portland State Women in STEM, Science Outreach Society, Biology Investigation and Outreach, and the Neuroscience Club at PSU.

PSU has dedicated pre-health advisors to help students plan their coursework, support them in gaining relevant healthcare experience, and guide them through the optometry school application process. There are a very wide range of clinical and other volunteer opportunities available in the Portland area to help students better understand the role of optometrists and other healthcare providers, gain exposure to different clinical settings, and boost their application to optometry programs in the future.

Many of Portland State’s departments and schools offer student research opportunities, including Biology, Chemistry, and the School of Public Health.

Beyond the pre-requisite courses needed to prepare to apply to optometry school, PSU offers many additional courses of interest to pre-optometry students, including Communicable and Chronic Disease (PHE 363), Physics in Biomedicine (PHY 337), Gender, Race, Class, & Health (PHE 452), Biomedical Ethics (PHL 446), Sociology for the Health Sciences (SOC 250), and many others.

PSU has the Ignite Scholarship program, developed in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and Portland Leadership Foundation, which emphasizes a culture of support and community for students in healthcare career pathways that can sometimes be complex and overwhelming. Students who receive the Ignite scholarship will be part of a program emphasizing leadership and mentorship (supported by a $5,000 scholarship), which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.

Incoming pre-health students seeking mentorship can apply to be matched with PSU's Ignite mentors. This is a one-year commitment (fall, winter, and spring terms) for mentors and mentees.

Student organizations on campus help students to connect with peers pursuing pre-health tracks or science fields, as well as many different multicultural, social, and community involvement focused groups. Examples of student groups include the Health Promotion Student Organization, Portland State Women in STEM, Science Outreach Society, Biology Investigation and Outreach, and the Neuroscience Club at PSU.

PSU has dedicated pre-health advisors to help students plan their coursework, support them in gaining relevant healthcare experience, and guide them through the process of applying to pharmacy schools.

There are a huge range of clinical and other volunteer opportunities available in the Portland area to help students better understand the role of pharmacists and other healthcare providers, gain exposure to different clinical settings, and boost their application to pharmacy programs in the future.

PSU’s Health, Science, and the Earth pathway advising team offers workshops and events to help you in preparing to apply for pharmacy school in the future.

PSU and Pacific University offer a Bridge Program which aims to nurture career interests, provide enriching pre-professional development, and pave a way for success in Pacific’s 3-year Doctor of Pharmacy degree program. PSU students who apply and are accepted into the Bridge Program have the option of transferring back their first year of pharmacy coursework to apply toward a B.S. in Science from PSU.

Beyond the prerequisite courses needed to prepare to apply to pharmacy school, PSU offers many additional courses of interest to pre-pharmacy students, including Communicable and Chronic Disease (PHE 363), Gender, Race, Class, & Health (PHE 452), Biomedical Ethics (PHL 446), and many others.

PSU has the Ignite Scholarship program, developed in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and Portland Leadership Foundation, which emphasizes a culture of support and community for students in healthcare career pathways that can sometimes be complex and overwhelming. Students who receive the Ignite scholarship will be part of a program emphasizing leadership and mentorship (supported by a $5,000 scholarship), which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.

Incoming pre-health students seeking mentorship can apply to be matched with PSU's Ignite mentors. This is a one-year commitment (fall, winter, and spring terms) for mentors and mentees.

Student organizations on campus help students to connect with peers pursuing pre-health tracks or science fields, as well as many different multicultural, social, and community involvement focused groups. Examples of student groups include the Health Promotion Student Organization, Portland State Women in STEM, Science Outreach Society, Biology Investigation and Outreach, and the Neuroscience Club at PSU.

PSU has dedicated pre-health advisors to help students plan their coursework, support them in gaining relevant healthcare experience, and guide them through the physician assistant (PA) school application process.

There are a very wide range of clinical and other volunteer opportunities available in the Portland area to help students better understand the role of physician assistants and other healthcare providers, gain exposure to different clinical settings, and boost their application to PA programs in the future.

Beyond the pre-requisite courses needed to prepare to apply to physician assistant programs, PSU offers many additional courses of interest to pre-health students, including Communicable and Chronic Disease (PHE 363), Physics in Biomedicine (PHY 337), Gender, Race, Class, & Health (PHE 452), Philosophy of Medicine (PHL 318), Biomedical Ethics (PHL 446), Sociology for the Health Sciences (SOC 250), and many others.

Many of Portland State’s departments and schools offer student research opportunities, including Biology, Chemistry, and the School of Public Health.

PSU has the Ignite Scholarship program, developed in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente and Portland Leadership Foundation, which emphasizes a culture of support and community for students in healthcare career pathways that can sometimes be complex and overwhelming. Students who receive the Ignite scholarship will be part of a program emphasizing leadership and mentorship (supported by a $5,000 scholarship), which includes serving as mentors for incoming pre-health students.

Incoming pre-health students seeking mentorship can apply to be matched with PSU's Ignite mentors. This is a one-year commitment (fall, winter, and spring terms) for mentors and mentees.

Student organizations on campus help students to connect with peers pursuing pre-health tracks or science fields, as well as many different multicultural, social, and community involvement focused groups. Examples of student groups include the Health Promotion Student Organization, Portland State Women in STEM, Science Outreach Society, Biology Investigation and Outreach, and the Neuroscience Club at PSU.