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 careers.

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 Community Health Education concentration, you will learn the societal, community, and individual-level factors that create risk -- or promote good health -- in populations. In particular, you will build skills to identify and address health disparities across populations, define health problems, and learn to design and implement strategies to promote health in the larger community.

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.

Our online Public Health Practice degrees and Graduate Certificate in Public Health offer professional expertise in a convenient, flexible format.

In the Public Health Practice MPH and Graduate Certificate in Public Health programs, you will gain applied knowledge that enhances your ability to engage stakeholders, identify community needs, gather data, design and implement programs and policies, lead organizations, and collaborate across disciplines.

The Public Health Practice MPH and Graduate Certificate in Public Health programs are ideal for:

• Professionals with full-time careers, including doctors, nurses, social workers, educators, nonprofit personnel, government officials, hospital administrators, and others whose work involves advancing the public’s health.
• Full-time students living in or near metropolitan Portland or those who live outside the Portland metropolitan area, especially those in rural areas of the Pacific Northwest.
• Graduate students in other fields (including medicine, law, and social work) who seek to add a public health lens to their work, through a graduate certificate in public health.

The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health (SPH) offers a fully online MPH in Public Health Practice, a hybrid online/on-campus MPH that you can complete in one year, and an online Graduate Certificate in Public Health. All three programs enable you to:

• Serve populations that bear a disproportionate share of society’s health risks.
• Connect and collaborate with various kinds of public health professionals, including (but not limited to) researchers, policymakers, program evaluators, health care practitioners, hospital and clinic administrators, and community advocates.
• Use a dynamic online course platform that promotes strong relationships and extensive interaction among students and faculty.
• Get personal, one-on-one attention from your instructors.

In addition, both the online and hybrid version of the MPH degree confer practical skills such as grant writing, program design and evaluation, data analysis, and public health research.

MPH in Public Health Practice (online only)

The two-year MPH in Public Health Practice pairs online coursework with hands-on engagement in your own community, wherever you live. Designed to accommodate recent college graduates as well as working adults, our online MPH can fit easily into any schedule, whether you are taking courses full-time or balancing them with your job, family, and other responsibilities.

The online Public Health Practice MPH is taught by the same preeminent faculty who lead the OHSU-PSU SPH’s in-person programs. And, it equips you with relevant, applied expertise in public health practice that you can use to guide health reform, exercise leadership, develop and evaluate programs, and better serve your community.

MPH in Public Health Practice (hybrid online/on-campus)

The hybrid Public Health Practice MPH combines online and in-person courses. Designed for completion on an accelerated 12-month schedule, it equips you with specialized public health expertise to support specific professional goals.

You can complete this rigorous hybrid MPH in Public Health Practice program during a year off from an MD, JD, MSW, MPA, or other graduate degree, adding complementary training that expands your scope of expertise and increases your marketability.

Graduate Certificate in Public Health (fully online)

The OHSU-PSU SPH’s online Public Health Certificate program caters to professionals already working in public health and related fields, including medicine, social work, public administration, and social services. You will develop academic grounding in statistical methods, epidemiology, environmental and occupational health, and health care delivery. The Graduate Certificate in Public Health is designed to be completed in one year.

Child, Youth, and Family Studies (CYFS) is an interdisciplinary blend of liberal arts education and professional preparation for those planning careers with children, youth, and families. Students learn to situate children and young people in current and historical social, political, and cultural contexts while developing the skills to practice effectively in youth work, education, social work, hospital, child welfare, early childhood, and other settings centering children, youth, and families.

The CYFS program is for students interested in improving the lives of children, youth, and families. Whether you are a returning student with years of experience, an activist fighting for justice and equity, or a curious undergrad still exploring your options, CYFS will put you on the path to a career with children and young people.

We offer:

• An outside-the-box interdisciplinary curriculum that breaks the mold of how we think about children and youth
• Nationally recognized faculty who bring original scholarship and real-world experience to the classroom
• Hands-on experience in schools and social service settings committed to awakening the power and potential of children and youth
• Transformative opportunities to build the skills necessary for fast-paced and dynamic workplaces
• Fearless confidence and a strong conviction that the world can be made into a better place and that YOU are an agent of change

Our grads are changing the world through service and direct practice, making a better future with and for children, youth, and families. Our alumni work across education and social service sectors across the greater Portland region and beyond. Across the country, our alumni are accepted into graduate programs in education, social work, youth studies, child life, counseling, public policy, and more.

You can graduate from CYFS with Honors, too! If you're interested in working closely with a faculty mentor, being recognized for your outstanding work, and changing the world in the process, consider our Honors Option. You'll develop and carry out an Honors thesis or project focused on addressing a social problem of your choice, and you'll emerge as a student leader in the CYFS program.

The Graduate Certificate in Urban Design at Portland State University, a joint effort of the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning and the School of Architecture, has been created to offer planners, designers, and architects the opportunity to engage and incorporate in their own work the principles and methods of urban design. It utilizes the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan region as a laboratory, an urban place renowned for its use of urban design and attention to urban design concerns. This certificate is intended for those who are currently seeking an advanced planning or architecture degree, or who are currently employed as a professional planner, architect, or designer.

Embark on a cutting-edge journey in technology with Maseeh College's Electrical Engineering program. Our ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree gives you skills in power systems, signal processing, electromagnetics, and digital electronics.

During your time at PSU, you’ll:

• Learn from expert faculty with real industry experience as they teach you about topics like electronics, electromagnetics, acoustics, signal processing, and integration.
• Build prototypes of your ideas in our one-of-a-kind Electronics Prototyping Lab and work on computational modeling, wireless sensor technology, and more in other major-specific labs.
• Create projects with real-world applications involving electric vehicles, satellite receivers, green energy, and sustainable power grids.
• Gain valuable industry experience while working at paid internships with local tech companies such as Intel and Mentor Graphics.
• Join a program that prepares you for the forefront of electrical engineering innovation.

You’ll be deeply engaged in your education as you work with instructors, peers, and the local tech community to build your expertise and create new opportunities through:

Hands-on learning
You’ll get a hands-on education early in the program as you learn all about hardware interfacing and project management, and interact with technology in our teaching labs and one-of-a-kind Electronics Prototyping Lab.

Undergraduate Research
You’ll have the chance to work with a faculty mentor on specialized research and present your findings to peers, faculty, and industry professionals as part of our Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Program.

Expert faculty
Our dynamic faculty work to protect the power grid, develop new sensors to treat Parkinson’s disease, and use machine learning to solve pressing problems. They bring the best research and real-life perspectives into the classroom, and model what it looks like to develop technologies that positively impact society.

In addition to being admitted to PSU, you must also meet the eligibility requirements and opt into the upper division program in the Computer Science Bachelor of Science program.

Electrical Engineering Minor

The Electrical Engineering Minor pairs well Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics majors.

The minor includes the fundamentals of electrical engineering, including programming, circuit analysis, and digital logic.

Postbaccalaureate Options

If you are interested in earning a second bachelor's degree (postbaccalaureate) in Electrical Engineering, contact eceinfo@pdx.edu. Postbaccalaureate students may also go directly into the master’s program through the ECE bridge program.

Social work is an academic discipline and a practice profession. Social workers envision an economically, socially, and racially just world in which resources and opportunities are more equitably distributed. Social workers engage in critical analyses of power relations, aim to dismantle inequitable social structures, and work in solidarity with groups that experience poverty, oppression, and exploitation. Social workers assist individuals, families, groups, and communities to achieve their goals, while also working toward macro-level, policy, and institutional change.

If you want to assist others, serve your communities, and work toward social change, a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at PSU could be your path to a meaningful career in social work, human services, and other health and education fields.

We Offer:

• A transformative experience that unlocks student potential by building self-confidence and honoring students’ identities, experiences, life stages, and backgrounds.
• A field placement in a community agency that builds practical, hands-on skills for real-world impact.
• Classes that challenge students to learn new perspectives and to become effective agents of social change.
• A cohort model that promotes peer learning and mutual support.
• Postbaccalaureate paths to MSW Advanced Standing programs.
• A choice between fully online or in-person program delivery.
• Job preparation for direct practice employment in a wide variety of federal, state, local, and non-profit organizations and agencies.
• Academic preparation for top social work and social science graduate programs nationally and internationally.

In addition to being admitted to PSU, students must apply separately to the Bachelor in Social Work (BSW) program. The BSW program only admits students once a year for fall term.

Learn about transferring to our BSW program.

We encourage you to start planning your application to the program in your sophomore year. Review the BSW admissions information and read about the BSW curriculum.

Civil engineers plan, design, operate, and construct the infrastructure in our communities. PSU’s innovative civil engineering program will provide you with the education and skills to join talented professionals in this exciting field, and create strong career prospects.

As a student in the program, you’ll:

• Learn about transportation practices and structural, geotechnical, and water resources from expert faculty who offer real-life perspectives.
• Participate in community service projects that support and improve the municipalities in the Portland metro area.
• Gain valuable work experience through paid internships with government agencies and engineering firms, such as the City of Portland, Oregon and Washington Departments of Transportation, HDR Engineering.
• Engage in student groups that offer networking, career support, leadership development, and team building opportunities.

You’ll grow personally and professionally as you prepare to join the next generation of civil engineers, and learn how to keep communities safe and healthy through your work.
As a student joining PSU’s diverse community of aspiring engineers, you’ll learn how to solve problems and develop your critical thinking skills through:

• Hands-on experiences: You’ll enjoy plenty of opportunities to develop your expertise through coursework that turns the city into your classroom. During the program, you’ll participate in projects that support local communities and allow you to make a fast and lasting impact.
• Undergraduate research: Our faculty members receive more than 3 million in research funding every year, giving you the opportunity to conduct real-world research with them as an undergrad.
• Career-building opportunities: You’ll have the chance to gain valuable work experience through our Engineering Work Experience and Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program. These competitive programs offer paid internships at top companies such as Jacobs, the City of Portland, and David Evans and Associates.

When you graduate from PSU, you’ll have the skills and connections to pursue your next steps, whether you’re starting your civil engineering career or going on to graduate school.

Our civil engineering Bachelor of Science 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.

In addition to being admitted to PSU, you must also separately request approval to the Upper Division Program.

Embark on a cutting-edge journey in technology with Maseeh College's Computer Engineering program. Our ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree gives you strong skills in computer hardware, embedded systems, and digital electronics.

During your time at PSU, you’ll:

• Build skills in all branches of the digital electronics and computer industry, including wireless communications, semiconductors, embedded systems, and computer architecture.
• Get hands-on experience in PSU’s state-of-the-art teaching labs and Electronics Prototyping Lab.
• Partner with top faculty on important research in our Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Program.
• Gain valuable industry knowledge working paid internships with top companies like Intel and Daimler Trucks.
• Participate in internships through Engineering Work Experience (EWX) and the Multiple Engineering Cooperative Program (MECOP) programs. You can work with tech giants like Intel and Daimler Trucks.

Join a program that prepares you for the forefront of digital innovation.

You’ll be deeply engaged in your education as you work with instructors, peers, and the local tech community to build your expertise and create new opportunities through:

Hands-On Learning
You’ll get a hands-on education early in the program as you learn all about hardware interfacing and project management, and interact with technology in our teaching labs and one-of-a-kind Electronics Prototyping Lab.

Undergraduate Research
You’ll have the chance to work with a faculty mentor on specialized research and present your findings to peers, faculty, and industry professionals as part of our Undergraduate Research and Mentoring Program.

Expert Faculty
Our dynamic faculty bring the best research and real-life perspectives into the classroom, and have extensive experience using technology to tackle the world’s most pressing issues. They’ll teach you to develop technologies that provide actual value, and prepare you to make a unique impact on society.

In addition to being admitted to PSU, you must also get approval to enroll in upper division courses in the Computer Engineering Bachelor of Science program. Review the Upper Division Approval process for more details.

Postbaccalaureate Options

If you are interested in earning a second bachelor's degree (postbaccalaureate) in Electrical Engineering, contact eceinfo@pdx.edu. Postbaccalaureate students may also go directly into the master’s program through the ECE bridge program.

A bachelor's degree in biology prepares students for a variety of careers in biological research, development, teaching, health sciences, biotechnology, conservation and wildlife, forestry, and other applied science fields. It also provides the necessary background and foundation for advanced study leading to specialized graduate degrees, professional programs, and entry into the workforce.

We offer:

• A strong foundation in the biological sciences with opportunities for hands-on learning extensions.
• Expert faculty who bring the best research and real-life perspectives into the classroom.
• Student-driven curriculum and freedom to choose area(s) of specialization.
• Departmental support from the biology student success coordinator, faculty, and graduate students.
• State-of-the-art research labs and multiple field sites where students can apply their knowledge.
• Opportunities to participate in internships, leadership, science education, community outreach, and as active researchers.

Our alumni are accepted to top graduate, healthcare, and other professional programs.

Our environmental engineering program will provide you with the tools, information, and skills to create sustainable, innovative solutions and make a lasting impact in your community.

During your time at PSU, you’ll:

• Build skills in the foundational areas of environmental engineering as you learn about water resources, air quality, environmental chemistry, and containment transport.
• Connect with local organizations, government agencies, and an extensive alumni network to create new industry relationships.
• Work with professionals on field assignments, like a recent project where students helped the city of Milwaukie model the impacts of a dam breaching.
• Conduct research that applies engineering concepts to real-world problems such as testing water quality and developing sustainable solutions for managing stormwater.

You’ll grow personally and professionally as you prepare to join the next generation of computer engineers, and launch a successful career in the field.

In addition to being admitted to PSU, you must also separately request for approval to the Upper Division Program.

Environmental Engineering Minor

We also offer a minor in environmental engineering which pairs well with majors that require a strong science, math, or engineering background or students interested in water resources, sustainable solutions, and environmental policy.  The curriculum focuses on fluid mechanics, hydraulics, environmental engineering, water resources, and unit operations of environmental engineering.