With a bachelor's degree or minor in Applied Linguistics, you will understand an essential part of being human:  language. Applied linguists study how human languages are structured, how they function, and how they relate to culture, identity, and power. Applied linguists then use that knowledge to solve problems in the real world. 

In the PSU program, we use our knowledge about language to improve language teaching, document the languages in Portland, highlight social justice issues, determine what makes specialized texts more or less effective, help students be more successful in higher education, create resources for literacy learners, improve digital communication, inform policy decisions, and much more. 

Because language is fundamental to many fields, Applied Linguistics majors go on to diverse careers: teaching, international development, artificial intelligence, refugee services, marketing, and translation, to name just a few. Applied linguistics is excellent preparation for law school or graduate degrees in social sciences and humanities.

The Applied Linguistics major or minor pairs well with foreign languages, computer science, speech and hearing sciences, English, anthropology, and other social sciences. A dual major or minor gives you an advantage in the job market. With Applied Linguistics and Computer Science, you will be better prepared for natural language processing. With a dual degree in Applied Linguistics and other fields, you will be better prepared for working in multilingual and multicultural contexts. 

American Sign Language (ASL) is a valuable language to learn as an estimated 2 million people speak ASL in the United States and parts of Canada. A minor in ASL from Portland State will help you develop the vocabulary and receptive and expressive skills you'll need to become effective communicators with deaf and hard-of-hearing ASL users.

Gaining proficiency in ASL can prepare you for a variety of fields where sign-language interpretation skills are increasingly in demand, including education, medicine, law, and artistic performances.

In the Minor in Science, Technology, and Society, students use multidisciplinary perspectives to study science and its applications as a system of knowledge and as a social institution. Goals are to gain a deeper appreciation of reasoning and evidence in science; of the historical development of science and related disciplines; and of the social, cultural, political, and ethical contexts of science and technology.

The minor is open to students of all majors. It may be of particular interest for students contemplating graduate or professional studies in medicine, humanities, science, or law.

Thought to be the oldest spoken language in the world, Arabic is complex and nuanced. Spoken in many different countries and by more than 300 million people, the history, culture, and literature associated with the Arabic language are rich and vibrant.

A minor in Arabic from Portland State will provide you with the opportunity to become proficient in the language and knowledgeable of the culture and history of those who speak it.

PSU's Arabic program is one of the leading programs in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. Our classes focus on teaching modern literary Arabic with an emphasis on reading, writing, and overall understanding of the language, comprehension of current and historical literature, and an appreciation of the culture of Arabic-speaking populations. You'll have the opportunity to take courses on cinema, media, folklore, novel and short stories, calligraphy, translation, phonology and morphology.

We boast small class sizes and our experienced faculty are committed to getting to know their students and providing them with one-on-one advising and continuous feedback. We also offer dedicated language tutors who can offer additional advising related to the Arabic language, curriculum, degree completion, and study abroad options.

As the scientific management of lakes and reservoirs becomes increasingly vital in Oregon and across the country, PSU's certificate in Lake and Reservoir Management provides you with an understanding of the physical, ecological and economic aspects of lake management that is needed to contribute to solutions.

Our certificate will help you become more aware of the multiple dimensions of lake management, and prepare you to serve as a more effective liaison between the general public and the highly technical requirements and processes of agencies charged with protecting these resources.

With PSU's certificate, you'll also meet the academic requirements to be certified as a lake manager by the North American Lake Management Society.

A bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies from Portland State University prepares you to succeed in our interconnected world of diverse cultures and religions.

In the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies, we take the 3,000-year-long history and culture of the Jews as our point of our departure for grappling with urgent human questions about justice and knowledge, tradition and change, and crisis and resilience.

Truly interdisciplinary, the Judaic Studies major explores topics in history, English literature, Hebrew language, religion, and film studies.

We welcome students of all backgrounds who seek an intensive liberal arts experience. Our faculty offer close mentoring to support your success. Our partnerships provide opportunities for internships, study abroad and scholarships.

Chiropractic practice is based on the concept that the nervous system, the body's communication network, is central to health and is greatly affected by the relationships among the skeletal system, muscles, and nerves. The major therapeutic tool used by chiropractors, the adjustment by hand of the body's skeletal system and soft tissues, results in an improvement in the function of the nervous system. Chiropractors are adept in the treatment of back pain and headaches. They emphasize preventative measures through nutritional counseling, stress management, and physical conditioning as crucial adjuncts to comprehensive patient care. They treat patients using drugless and non-invasive methods.

Portland State offers a strong pre-chiropractic program that enables students to complete their prerequisite coursework, earn a baccalaureate degree, and obtain assistance in preparing for and applying to chiropractic programs.

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine is a professional track, not a major. Students can select any major of their choice. Common majors for pre-chiropractic students include Health Studies: Health Science, Science, and Biology.

Prospective students interested in PSU can meet with a pre-health advisor to learn about PSU’s pre-chiropractic program. Students must complete a minimum of 135 credits including a specific set of prerequisite courses before matriculating to a professional school to study chiropractic medicine.

Pre-Chiropractic Medicine is a professional track, not a major. Students can select any major of their choice.

You can earn the Certificate of Advanced Proficiency in Russian by participating in PSU’s innovative Russian Flagship Program, either as an undergraduate or as a postbac student.  In the whole of the US, only eight universities host federally-funded Russian Flagship Programs, and PSU is home to one of the two programs available west of the Mississippi.

The Russian Flagship Program encourages students to enhance the major of their choice with professional level proficiency in Russian, and the Advanced Proficiency Certificate can be combined with any major at PSU.

Whether you are starting Russian from scratch at PSU or you know it from previous study or as a home language, PSU’s Flagship Program can help you achieve a professional level of proficiency in Russian and become a global professional.

The program offers students coursework in Russian language and culture, one-on-one tutoring, internships, and extensive study abroad opportunities in the Russian-speaking world. The Flagship Program has generous scholarships to help students participate in the study abroad experiences.

Through these experiences, you'll gain marketable skills and be prepared for exciting careers that use critical language and cultural skills in a globalized world. Graduates of PSU’s Flagship program have gone on to careers in government and business, including U.S.-Russian relations, federal and state government, political science, journalism, law, physics and space exploration, language psychology, and teaching English as a second language.

A career in medicine offers a broad array of opportunities, ranging from clinical practice to biomedical research to public health policy development. Physicians are knowledgeable about the scientific basis of medicine and the abnormal and normal functioning of the human body.

Portland State offers a strong pre-health medical program for students interested in becoming allopathic physicians (MDs) or osteopathic physicians (DOs).

Allopathic medicine is rooted in the practice of using treatment and remedies to reverse the effects of illness and disease. However, today’s allopathic physicians also typically use a preventive approach to medicine, emphasizing health promotion, and disease prevention.

Osteopathic medicine is rooted in a holistic philosophy with an emphasis on viewing the patient as a whole (mind, body, spirit) and understanding the way that structure influences function in the body. Like allopathic physicians, osteopathic physicians utilize remedies such as medication and surgery to reverse the effects of illness and disease; however, they are also trained in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) -- manual manipulation of the musculoskeletal system.

Allopathic and osteopathic schools of medicine require that applicants complete a specific set of prerequisite courses prior to enrollment and typically require students to earn a baccalaureate degree before matriculating to medical school. Students can choose to pursue any major at PSU while completing their pre-medical coursework. You can discuss with your pre-medical advisor how these two components fit together in your course plans.

Portland State offers a strong pre-medicine program that enables students to complete their prerequisite coursework, earn a baccalaureate degree, and obtain assistance in preparing for and applying to medical schools across the country.

Pre-medicine is a professional track (not a major), but common majors for pre-medical students include Science, Biology, Chemistry, Health Studies: Health Science, and Psychology. Students can choose any major while also completing their pre-medical coursework. You can discuss with your pre-medical advisor how these two components fit together in your course plans.

Prospective students interested in PSU can meet with a pre-medical advisor to learn about the pre-medicine track.

Pre-Medicine is a pre-professional track, not a major. Students can select any major of their choice.

Portland State University educates prospective K-12 teachers in the Graduate School of Education, through the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) and the Special Educator Program (SPED). Both GTEP and SPED are split into separate tracks to emphasize either elementary (K-5) or secondary (middle/high school) education, and both result in a master’s degree (Master of Education or Master of Special Education) and an initial teaching license.

Undergraduates at Portland State University may prepare for competitive admissions by consulting with appropriate advisors, by achieving high academic standards in the recommended and required courses for specialization, and in courses in liberal arts, and by documenting the successful experience with children in public schools. Passing scores on teacher exams mandated by the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) are also required for entry into the GTEP.

Early childhood and elementary education: Students who want to be elementary teachers choose from a wide range of majors to complete their undergraduate degrees. Pre-Education advisers have traditionally recommended interdisciplinary majors – such as Arts and Letters, Social Science, General Science, and Liberal studies – because they can include multiple subjects that are highly relevant to the elementary curriculum. However, specific disciplinary majors can also be fitting for the goal of progressing into GTEP. Such disciplines include (but are not limited to) English or History (especially those wishing to teach at the upper elementary level), Psychology, and Child and Family Studies. Prospective elementary teachers should consult with a Pre-Education Advisor.

Secondary (middle/high school) education: Prospective middle and high school teachers may receive general introductory pre-professional advising with a Pre-Education Advisor; however, subsequent advising for pre-secondary education should be with the academic adviser for the secondary education content area in which they wish to teach. These specialized advisors are familiar with all GTEP admission requirements for their respective content areas, and the Graduate School of Education relies on their recommendations to determine whether an applicant has sufficient understanding of the subject matter they wish to teach.

Academic majors and their respective secondary endorsements are as follows: biology (biology and general science); physical education (physical education); history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, political science, geography, and economics (social studies); health (health); mathematics (mathematics); English (English language arts); art (art); world languages and literatures (foreign language); music (music); chemistry (chemistry); physics (physics); business and economics (business); drama (drama); speech (speech).

Special education: All prospective special educators, whether they wish to teach special education at the elementary or secondary level, should consult with a pre-education advisor. Students who are interested in teaching special education at the secondary level as well as teaching a specific subject in their middle or high school should also meet with the content area advisor for that subject (see above).

Pre-Teacher Education is a pre-professional track (not a major or certificate), common majors for pre-teacher education students include Science, Biology, Chemistry, Special Education, History, Art Practice, and Mathematics.