Urban & Public Affairs Bachelor's Degree

The Urban & Public Affairs B.S./B.A. degree is an undergraduate interdisciplinary program designed for students interested in customizing their education to fit their individual interests in public affairs, policy, and public service. Through this flexible degree, students develop a broad, versatile skill set that helps them stand out in the job market for their ability to draw connections, see the big picture, and identify effective solutions to challenging public policy problems.

Urban & Public Affairs students choose from classes in the following subjects: Economics, Criminology & Criminal Justice, International & Global Studies, Political Science, Public Health, and Urban Studies & Planning.

Important Information About the Urban & Public Affairs Major Requirements Change: 

The requirements for the Urban and Public Affairs major were updated for Fall 2026.  

For students who began PSU Fall 2026 or after:

The degree requirements shown below apply to you.

For students who began PSU prior to Fall 2026:

Your PSU degree requirements are determined by your “catalog” or Bulletin year.  This is typically Fall term of the year you began at PSU.  Unless you have worked with an Academic Advisor to update your catalog year to Fall 2026, the major requirements shown below will NOT apply to you.  You will need to consult the PSU Bulletin version of your major requirements that matches your current catalog year.  For example, if your current catalog year is Fall 2025, you would look at the 2025-2026 PSU Bulletin to find the Urban and Public Affairs major requirements that apply to you.  Note: Some of the courses listed in previous Bulletins are no longer offered and the program will grant course substitutions as replacements.  To discuss course substitution options, please contact your Academic Advisor or the Urban and Public Affairs program at UPA@pdx.edu.

Major Requirements (For Fall 2026 Catalog)

The Urban and Public Affairs major degree can be completed as either a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science.  In this major, students complete 56 credits.  At least 24 of these 56 credits must be completed at PSU. 

The 56 total credits are distributed across the following three categories: 1. Required courses (24 credits), 2. Elective courses (28 credits), and 3. Professional Skills course (4 credits).

Students must receive a "C-" or better in all courses that count towards the major.

1.)  Choose Six Required Courses (24 credits): Must Include Courses from at Least Two Different Disciplines

Required course options. Choose 6 courses, representing at least 2 of the 6 academic disciplines included on the list (CCJ, PS, USP, PHE, Ec, and Intl). (Note: If you complete more than six on the required course list, any additional courses will count as electives.)

Career Tip! The college faculty highly recommend that you choose to complete a four- or eight-credit internship. This can count as either a Professional Skills course or as elective credit.  An internship is an excellent way to build your resume, learn about career options, meet potential employers, and gain valuable experience.  To learn more about how to complete an internship through the Urban and Public Affairs program, visit the Urban and Public Affairs Internship Advising site.  

Questions and Contacts

The Urban and Public Affairs degree program is housed in the College Dean’s Office and is offered via a partnership between all the departments in the College of Urban and Public Affairs, along with the PSU/OHSU School of Public Health. The Associate Dean of the College of Urban and Public Affairs serves in the Department Chair role for the program. 

For general questions about the degree program, contact UPA@pdx.edu. Academic advising for the program is provided through the Society and Identity Pathway.  Contact your Academic Advisor for questions about whether you should update your catalog year to the most recent requirements or for requests for course substitutions.