Oregon State University

What is the history of Oregon State University?

Oregon State University traces its roots to Corvallis College and became Oregon's land-grant college in 1868. That designation gave the institution a public mission centered on practical education, particularly agriculture and the mechanical arts.

Its later names reflected a widening academic scope: Oregon Agricultural College, Oregon State Agricultural College, Oregon State College and, since 1961, Oregon State University. Today, that history is visible in programs spanning agriculture, engineering and forestry as well as the arts, business, health and ocean sciences. OSU's work also extends beyond Corvallis through research facilities, statewide outreach, online education and its OSU-Cascades campus in Bend.

What are the faculties and departments at Oregon State University?

Oregon State is a broad public research university rather than a school focused on one professional field. Its academic organization includes the colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Forestry, Health, Liberal Arts, Pharmacy, Science, Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, and Veterinary Medicine. It also has an Honors College and a Graduate School.

Students can pursue undergraduate majors such as computer science, mechanical engineering, biology, psychology, business administration, forestry and marine studies. Graduate and professional options include pharmacy and veterinary medicine. Departments and degree availability vary by campus and delivery format: a program offered in Corvallis is not necessarily offered at OSU-Cascades or through Ecampus.

Prospective students comparing majors should examine the current catalog for required courses, admission to the major where applicable, and whether specialized courses require in-person attendance. The university's reported student-to-faculty ratio is 18 to 1, but class sizes can differ considerably between introductory lectures, laboratories and advanced courses.

What is the location of Oregon State University?

Oregon State University's main campus is in Corvallis, a college town in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Corvallis offers a setting distinct from a large metropolitan campus; students can reach downtown businesses and community activities from the university area, while trips farther afield generally require more planning.

OSU also operates OSU-Cascades in Bend, along with research and outreach locations elsewhere in the state. Applicants should check which campus actually offers their intended program and services. Corvallis is served by local and regional transportation, but students considering off-campus housing should compare transit routes with their class and work schedules. Eugene Airport is a regional air-travel option; airport access is not the same as having an airport in Corvallis.

What is the mission and vision of Oregon State University?

Oregon State describes its mission in terms of teaching, research and public service as Oregon's land-grant university. Its stated priorities connect education and discovery with the needs of communities in Oregon and beyond.

That public-service orientation helps explain the university's extension work and its emphasis on fields such as agriculture, natural resources, engineering, health and marine science. OSU is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated college. Its mission is a statement of purpose; students evaluating a specific program should also consider its curriculum, costs and outcomes.