The graduate program in Book Publishing at Portland State University is at the forefront of publishing education nationally. In fact, Publishers Weekly described the program as a place where “publishing education gets innovative.”

Ooligan Press, the heart of the book publishing program, honors the cultural and natural diversity of the Pacific Northwest. The press produces several books a year, each providing a uniquely compelling portrait of the place where our work is rooted.

As far as locations go, there's no better place to begin your immersion in publishing than in the city of Portland, whose thriving literary community is home to indie book publishers like Tin House, Dark Horse Comics, beloved independent bookstore, Powell's, and the city's growing Portland Book Festival. And as a part of your coursework, you can jump right into the scene by taking advantage of the program's exciting internships in publishing.

 Courses within the Certificate program are taught by faculty from the School of Urban Studies and Planning, and the School of Business Administration. Classes combine theoretical, empirical, and case studies methods, and involve assistance from the Portland metropolitan area real estate industry professionals. All required classes are taught during evening hours to accommodate the demands of working professionals, as well as full-time students.

In speech and hearing sciences, we believe in learning by doing. That’s why we offer you unmatched opportunities to gain valuable, real-world clinical experience as an undergraduate.

At PSU, you can work, volunteer or observe in our on-campus speech and hearing clinic, faculty research labs, and schools and private clinics throughout the Portland area. These clinical experiences are important for graduate school admission and can lead to jobs after graduation.

Our excellent faculty is committed to your success. They are leading researchers and experienced, practicing professionals who bring the best evidence-based clinical practice to your classes.

You’ll find a close, diverse community with active student groups, peer mentors, and lots of activities and events.

And you’ll graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to help people with speech and hearing disorders in your community.

The Minor in Medieval Studies is an excellent complement to any major, and particularly well-suited for students seeking to develop cultural competencies. Students can sample freely from on-line and face-to-face courses across the university, and are required to take classes in at least three different disciplines, exposing them to a range of approaches and methodologies for understanding the medieval world. In addition to an engaged faculty, Portland State has an excellent teaching collection of medieval manuscripts and early printed books, as well as a robust library collection covering the field of medieval studies.

Portland State is the only institution in the Pacific Northwest that offers a minor in the Persian language, drawing students from all over the region. The minor can be bundled with any major, giving you an added qualification to be competitive in today’s job market.

Our small Persian class sizes will provide you the opportunity to get hands-on learning in an inclusive and supportive environment. Our faculty provide one-on-one advising and mentoring; guiding you through your minor and the process of applying to graduate school and jobs. Our faculty are leaders in pedagogy and material development for Persian programs across the nation.

We offer a wide range of scholarships to support our students and enhance their learning experience. Our alumni are accepted to prestigious graduate programs and found gainful employment using their Persian language proficiency.

As a physics major, you will take a group of core courses that provide you with a solid foundation in the subject.

Your courses will also include the following topics:

• force and motion
• heat
• optics
• electricity
• magnetism
• atomic and nuclear physics
• quantum mechanics
• the physical properties of materials

You'll have the flexibility to take courses that best fit your interests and career goals by choosing one of three pathways:

• Standard physics gives a strong background in physics. Courses focus on force and motion, heat, optics, electricity, magnetism, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, and the physical properties of materials, learning both the theoretical and the experimental aspects.
• Environmental physics explores the measurement and analysis of interactions between organisms and their environment. Courses include Climate Change and Human Life, Atmospheric Physics, and Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, and electives from biology, chemistry, geography, and environmental science and management.
• Biomedical physics focuses on the application of physics concepts, theories, and methods to medicine and healthcare. Courses include Physics in Biomedicine and Radiation Therapy Physics, as well as electives from biology and chemistry.

We encourage students to take advantage of our undergraduate research experiences. Students make discoveries alongside our excellent faculty and graduate students. Our faculty and graduate student expertises include: biomedical physics, biophysics, climate and atmospheric science, physics education, and materials physics and nanotechnology. Our staff and faculty also have close ties with local industry. Portland State is home to the Center for Electron Microscopy and Nanofabrication. It is a signature research facility for the Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute. A collaboration between Oregon's research universities, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories, and industry partners.

When you take Hebrew at PSU you are supported by a tightly-knit team of professors in two departments: World Languages and Literatures and the Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies. The faculty of both programs collaborate closely to accelerate your success. For example, a Hebrew language assignment could be matched to support your project in a concurrent Judaic Studies course. Modern Hebrew instructors are knowledgeable with the language from biblical to modern times and can support you in other courses that may demand familiarity with older historical layers of Hebrew.

You’ll enjoy small classes that facilitate Hebrew conversation with your fellow students during class time. Students of Hebrew get to know each other, become friends, and support each other’s study as they progress from one term to the next. Your language learning will also be supported by the student-run Hebrew Club and a professor-led study group to supplement Hebrew student learning called “Hebrew in English.”

The Department of World Languages & Literatures offers renewable scholarships of up to $1000 to students enrolling in and completing second and third-year modern Hebrew sequences. The Harold Schnitzer Family Program in Judaic Studies also offers scholarships and study abroad opportunities.

Portland State’s Philosophy program provides a modern perspective with an eye toward challenging the status quo and engaging real-world problems. Whether studying in-person or online, you’ll benefit from:

Expert Faculty: Our instructors are dedicated to undergraduate education and student success, delivering courses both in-person and online.

Personalized Learning: You can tailor your studies to focus on the areas of philosophy that interest you most, from ethics to law, to the philosophy of science.

Real Connections: In both online and classroom settings, our courses encourage direct engagement with faculty and peers. Join a community of thinkers through discussions, advising, and research opportunities.

Impactful Capstones: Contribute to the greater Portland community through hands-on projects like teaching philosophy to children or participating in the Oregon High School Ethics Bowl.

Our vibrant department also hosts events such as the Socratic Society, where leading philosophers from around the world engage in thought-provoking discussions.

Philosophy Program Highlights
No matter how you choose to take courses—in-person, online, or both—you’ll have access to the same exceptional curriculum, including:

• Ancient philosophy
• Early Modern philosophy
• Formal logic
• Business ethics
• Environmental ethics
• Philosophy of law
• International human rights
• Biomedical ethics
  ... ande many more.

Portland State University is the only institution of higher education in the Pacific Northwest that offers a degree in Black Studies. It is a unique degree with courses that cover Africa, African America, and the Caribbean (and includes South America and Europe).

Black Studies seeks to expose students from all cultural, religious, and ethnic backgrounds to academic information that goes beyond what is found in traditional college curricula.

The department offers a Black Bag Speaker Series that has been ongoing since 2006 and brings in a variety of speakers to inform and enlighten students and the community-at-large.

At PSU, students have the opportunity to study the politics, culture, and history of Africans in Africa, the United States Caribbean, and Europe and engage deeply in student groups dedicated to celebrating these populations.

• Association of African Students (AAS) at PSU: A student group formed in the mid-seventies by African students. Since its formation, AAS has worked to bring Africans living in the diaspora together with the larger PSU community.
• Black Student Union PSU (BSU): The BSU serves as a social, intellectual, and political community for students of the African diaspora through education, organizing, and action.
• Pan-African Commons: A community space that reclaims African, Black American, Caribbean, Central/South American, and black identities across the world. Programming and identity development aims to preserve ancestry and indigenous solidarity among Afro-descent cultures.

PSU's liberal studies degree provides you the greatest range of academic areas and the most flexibility in course selection, integrating courses from three broad areas: sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

As a Liberal Studies major, you'll design a personalized plan with an academic advisor that aligns with your career goals and outlines your path to an undergraduate degree.

You get to learn what you love and love what you learn.

Online Liberal Studies Bachelor’s Degree Option 

Complete your bachelor's degree online and build adaptable skills for an interconnected world.
The online Liberal Studies program offers you a perfect balance of flexibility and structure as you focus on your own interests. You will: 

• Work closely with outstanding faculty. The same faculty who teach our in-person courses also lead our online courses. 
• Connect with other students. PSU's easy-to-use online course platform encourages direct interaction among classmates.
• Get credit for previous college work. We accept most transfer credits from accredited community colleges and universities. 
• Find support when you need it. Our academic advisors, financial aid counselors, and other support staff will respond quickly to your needs and concerns.

Our online liberal studies degree will give you a clear path to finishing your degree and the independence to take charge of your own education.