Types of High School Credit
Dual Credit: Courses are taught in Portland Metro Area high schools by high school teachers. Students earn both high school and college credit for these courses. Students pay a fee for these courses.
Sponsored Dual Credit: Courses are created through an embedded partnership between high schools and Portland State, where courses are co-taught by high school teachers and Portland State faculty. Students earn both high school and college credit. Some school districts cover the cost of these courses while others charge the student directly.
Direct Credit: Courses are taught either on the PSU campus or online. Students earn Portland State credit (but may work with their high school directly to request high school credit). Students pay a fee for these courses.
Programs
Visit individual program pages for more information.
Description: The Challenge Program provides the opportunity for high school students to take a wide variety of PSU courses in their high schools, earning both high school and college credit.
Type: Dual Credit
Location: Participating Oregon High Schools
Fee: $220 per 4-credit or 5-credit course (need-based financial assistance available)
Description: Senior Inquiry brings PSU’s University Studies and its award-winning nationally-recognized interdisciplinary pedagogy to area high schools. The curriculum for Senior Inquiry is essentially PSU’s Freshman Inquiry program adapted for the high school context. A primary mission of Senior Inquiry is to create bridging experiences that prepare students, particularly first-generation college students, for University success.
Type: Sponsored Dual Credit
Location: In Portland Metro Area High Schools; currently Jefferson (PPS), Liberty (Hillsboro), Leodis V. McDaniel (PPS), Reynolds (Reynolds), Roosevelt (PPS), Westview (Beaverton)
Fee: Varies by school district (no charge to students in Reynolds and Portland Public, fees charged in Hillsboro and Beaverton school districts).
Description: The Oregon Inquiry Pilot Project builds on the success of Portland State University’s Senior Inquiry dual-credit program at Portland-area high schools. Oregon Inquiry is a remote/hybrid integrated liberal arts curriculum that takes place mostly online with a community of students across the state, supplemented with in-person instruction through field trips to Portland State University and downtown Portland.
Type: Direct Credit
Location: Online
Fee: Paid by the school district
Description: Develop critical thinking and academic writing skills in a discussion-based, interactive format. Students will work on a major project with a Portland State University faculty member. Topics will include political philosophy, applied ethics (environmental ethics, animal ethics), philosophy of science, philosophy of art, indigenous philosophy, and the history of philosophy.
Type: Direct Credit
Location: Offered Online (synchronously via Zoom) w/ in-person field trip
Fee: $220 per 4-credit course (need-based financial assistance available)
Description: Engaging learning opportunities for high school students in the 11th and 12th grades, with a focus on philosophy, religion, politics, and literature. Through study of the humanities, we seek to foster thoughtful civic discourse and constructive debate.
Type: Direct Credit
Location: PSU Campus
Fee: $75 per 1-credit course (need-based financial assistance available)