Join our team of expert scientists right at the center of a geological paradise that will get into the field and into Portland’s science community. Our experienced faculty takes pride in providing you with quality education and mentoring that prepares you for a successful career in the geosciences.

Our location in Portland, midway between the coast and the Cascade Range, offers you unmatched opportunities to study geology, from extinct and active volcanoes to landslides, the Columbia River flood basalts, glaciers atop Mount Hood, and subduction-related events along the coast.

Our faculty excel at both teaching and research, with areas of expertise that include geochemistry and petrology, geophysics, geoscience education, hydrogeology, quaternary geology and geomorphology, urban geology, and geologic hazards, tectonics, and planetary science.

With specialized studies in hydrogeology, geomicrobiology, environmental geology, engineering geology, geomechanics, glaciology, and applied stratigraphy, you can branch out or deepen your knowledge in an area that best fits your interests and career goals.

You will also have opportunities to work closely with faculty in their research labs and on projects with local businesses, government, and regional universities.

Our student clubs, including Portland State's chapters of the Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists and the Association of Petroleum Geologists, provide you with opportunities to network with professionals and learn about the work being done in the field.

An essential part of PSU's Masters in Environmental Management degree is applying your knowledge and skills to a real environmental problem or issue — a project that can take between six and 12 months.

Working closely with a local agency or organization and with the support of your faculty advisor, you'll identify a problem, formulate and propose a project, complete the scope of work, and document and present the results.

Projects are geared to meet the needs of the community partner and can range from addressing basic or applied research questions, identifying best practices, or making site-specific management recommendations.

Our students have worked with the City of Gresham's Environmental Services, Columbia Riverkeeper, Gifford Pinchot Task Force, Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services, Sandy River Basin Watershed Council, Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation District, Tualatin Watershed Council, The Freshwater Trust, and Community Environmental Services.

We also offer a weekly seminar series that connects you with environmental professionals working in the field.

You'll graduate with the knowledge, skills, and experience you need to hit the ground running.

Portland State is Oregon’s urban research university. Located in the heart of Downtown Portland, within easy reach of the Willamette Valley, Oregon Coast, Cascade Mountains, and high deserts, PSU is a truly unique place to study Earth, environmental, and geospatial science. EES PhD students benefit from the diverse expertises of our faculty and students whose interests are at the heart of today's interdisciplinary solutions. At PSU, we regularly engage with local, regional, and national agencies, NGOs, and industries, with such partnerships enabled by our location in Oregon’s largest city. Additionally, the geological, ecological, and societal diversity of the region provides exceptional research opportunities for a wide range of academic and professional interests. The success of EES graduates across a wide range of disciplines and career pathways demonstrates the unique training opportunities we provide.   

Areas of PhD student research focus in the EES program include: 

• Atmospheric science
• Climate science
• Earth science
• Ecology and Ecological Restoration
• Environmental justice
• Forest, landscape, and disturbance ecology
• Geographic information and spatial data science
• Geology
• Hydrology
• Limnology
• Marine science
• Planetary science
• Political ecology
• Remote Sensing
• Resources management
• Social sciences
• Sustainability and resilience
• Wildfire and natural hazards
• Zoology

Our location in Portland, Oregon gives you access to an array of opportunities to hone your Earth, environmental, or social science skills to practice disciplinary scholarship or interdisciplinary approaches. You can also take advantage of the vibrant policy landscape of Oregon, home to the nation's first bottle bill, climate action plan, urban growth boundary, as well as innovation in many other arenas such as wildfire, plastics, watersheds, and planning. Our place and our expertise allow students to develop original research ideas that dive deep into fundamental challenges of the future while seeking applications and solutions focused on urban and cultural landscapes, socio-ecological systems, and justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. When you graduate with a doctorate in Earth, Environment, and Society, you will be well on your way to becoming one of the world’s experts on the future challenges at the nexus people, place, and our planet. 

With PSU's Professional Science Master's degree, you'll complete advanced specializations that combine theory with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job.

The curriculum allows you to choose your areas of specialization – including hydrology, GIS, geology, sustainability, conflict resolution, food systems, environmental and resource economics, or emergency management and community resilience –  while taking courses in project management and demonstrating your capacities through a capstone project or internship.

The Professional Science Master's degree sets itself apart from our other graduate programs by offering students the ability to combine a rigorous science-based curriculum with professional development skills and perspectives.  Through your degree, you'll learn how to successfully organize and manage a project, and communicate and interact with community partners and other stakeholders.

With your internship or project, you'll have the opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to real-world settings by working with a community partner and advisor to tackle an environmental problem. Past projects have ranged from a review and recommendations of statewide wetland policies to recommendations for a site-specific restoration.

You'll graduate ready to address relevant, urgent environmental challenges.

Our master of science degree prepares you to become a skilled researcher and professional in the growing field of environmental science and management. Our program blends courses in fundamentals such as ecological, physical, and management sciences, with technical courses in statistics and GIS and specialty courses in an area of your choice.

You'll become familiar with the scientific literature in your concentration and gain skills to analyze environmental problems, develop research questions, conduct field studies or lab experiments, present results and discuss the impact of your work.

Though you'll work independently on your research, you'll have the support of our expert faculty to advise you in developing and completing your thesis and opportunities to work with them in their research labs. Our small classes also provide you with opportunities to extensively interact and learn from them.

Our location in the heart of downtown Portland gives you access to a wide variety of environmental agencies and organizations, including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Land Management, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland Bureau of Environmental Studies, and The Nature Conservancy.

Our department and the Association of Environmental Science Students also jointly host a weekly Friday Science seminar, providing you with an opportunity to present your work and get feedback from people outside your area of study.

• Industry Connected Curriculum. Our program incorporates internships, case studies, consulting projects and research opportunities that connect you directly with leading companies in engineering and technology. 
• Cutting-edge Skillset. Develop an innovative mindset through courses like Leading Technological Innovation and immersive design thinking experiences that prepare you to drive new solutions and technological advancements. 
• Values-Driven Leadership. Gain perspectives to lead engineering and technology initiatives in socially and environmentally responsible ways alongside a diverse cohort of driven professionals. 
• Faculty With Real Expertise. Learn from faculty who blend industry experience at top companies with pioneering research that is advancing engineering and technology management. 
• Applied Learning Experiences. Go beyond the classroom with immersive leadership experience, local industry projects and international opportunities that provide vital hands-on learning.

What alumni are saying about the program:

"The ETM Doctorate program gave me the perfect blend of technical depth and business acumen to truly excel as an engineering leader. The applied learning experiences like consulting projects with major tech companies were invaluable."

"I came into the program with decades of technical experience, but the ETM Doctorate took my leadership abilities to new heights. Learning cutting-edge innovation methodologies while being pushed to think from a socially responsible mindset was transformative."

The PSU Department of History emphasizes the mastery of advanced knowledge in a variety of specific fields of history. Students develop research skills in data management, analysis, and interpretation. They learn to ask questions, document processes, and communicate clear and persuasive arguments. The program also emphasizes working in diverse environments and building a culturally competent, inclusive and empathetic worldview. The Department partners with several local institutions, including the Oregon Historical Society, to offer internships and specified training opportunities. The Department’s World History concentration allows for the exploration of thematic interests across time and space. 

While designed to be completed in two years, many students attend part-time or take advantage of a growing number of online courses to complete their degree. Many students pursue the MA as a pathway to a Ph.D. program or as a professional credential. Others view the program as an opportunity to develop highly transferable skills that will set them apart in a wide variety of career paths. Finally, the Department includes several students who are pursuing a Master’s degree primarily for personal curiosity and enrichment. The majority are recent college graduates, but we also regularly welcome students who are several years or even a few decades removed from college study.

This multidisciplinary degree program affords students flexibility so they can balance learning with work, family, and other life experiences. The major can be completed fully outside of the traditional classroom, and students are welcome to combine online with in-classroom learning. Students also have a wide variety of choices in selecting elective courses from across the disciplines. Courses transferred from other programs may also be used.

Earn an Interdisciplinary Urban and Public Affairs Degree for a Multidisciplinary Profession

Our flexible Urban and Public Affairs degree combines the convenience of online learning with Portland’s unique, innovative spirit of public engagement. Choose our online bachelor’s degree in Urban and Public Affairs for:

• Extraordinary faculty. You’ll learn from professors who’ve earned high distinction in urban and public affairs and remain active in the profession.
• Flexible Credit Policies. Reduce your distance to graduation by applying previously earned credits from Portland State and/or accredited transfer institutions toward the degree.
• Interdisciplinary Focus. You can satisfy degree requirements with courses from several departments in the College of Urban and Public Affairs and OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, customizing the program to build specialized knowledge that serves your goals.
• Career Opportunities. PSU has an outstanding reputation for training urban and public affairs professionals. Our graduates have an excellent job-placement record with public, nonprofit, and private employers, as well as a strong rate of graduate school admissions.
• High-touch online platform. Our online public and urban affairs courses are at least as interactive as on-campus classes. You’ll build strong relationships with classmates, enjoy one-on-one access to faculty, and participate in lively discussions and collaborative assignments.

PSU offers unique opportunities for students who are interested in pursuing careers in the law:

• Portland Law School Fair: This fair is a pretty big deal and brings in 60 - 70 law schools, it's for the entire Portland metro, a great opportunity for students to connect and ask questions. 
• Explore the Law Program: The Oregon State Bar and Multnomah Bar Association partner with PSU and support this program administered through Student Legal Services. It's a free, year-long program for students to explore and prepare for careers in law. They particularly encourage PSU students from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply for the program.

At the heart of transformative messaging is human connection, the inevitability of conflict, and the necessity of transforming and resolving conflict. PSU's Conflict Resolution program prepares students to transform conflict for the achievement of peace and social justice in both small groups and at the community level.

Through your courses, you'll gain communication and conflict resolution skills that are increasingly needed in today's world: de-escalation, calling-in, empathic listening, and grounded theory.

You'll be taught by faculty who are experts in areas that touch social justice, the politics of language, and the challenges and opportunities of social media and technology.

With the Certificate in Transformative Messaging, you'll build a foundation in nonviolent human interaction that'll help you develop your voice in the world and prepare you for work in community engagement.