Portland State University

What is the history of Portland State University?

Portland State University began in 1946 as the Vanport Extension Center, created to serve returning World War II veterans and other students seeking college courses. Its origins help explain the university's continuing emphasis on access for students whose paths through higher education are not necessarily traditional.

The center initially operated in Vanport, a wartime housing community north of Portland. After the 1948 Vanport flood destroyed that community, the institution relocated and continued teaching. It became Portland State College in 1955 and Portland State University in 1969. Today, PSU is a public research university with its main campus in downtown Portland.

What are the faculties and departments at Portland State University?

Portland State University offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, social work, public affairs and health. Its academic units include the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, College of the Arts, School of Business, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Education, School of Social Work, and College of Urban and Public Affairs.

The OHSU-PSU School of Public Health is a collaboration with Oregon Health & Science University; applicants should check which institution administers a particular degree. Representative PSU fields include computer science, civil engineering, accounting, biology, graphic design, social work and urban studies. Degree requirements and admission standards can differ substantially by program, especially at the graduate level.

PSU's University Studies general education program includes coursework intended to connect disciplines and, for many undergraduates, a senior capstone involving work with a community partner. Transfer students should check how prior coursework applies to these requirements rather than assuming that accepted credits fulfill every part of a degree.

What is the location of Portland State University?

Portland State University's main campus is in downtown Portland, Oregon, near the South Park Blocks. It is an urban campus rather than a separate residential college town, so classrooms, student services, transit stops and city workplaces are closely connected.

TriMet buses and MAX light rail, along with the Portland Streetcar, serve the area. That matters for students deciding whether to commute or keep a car: parking may be available, but permits, traffic and travel time can affect the practical cost of attending. Portland International Airport is the region's main commercial airport. Students considering internships or off-campus work can also assess opportunities throughout the metropolitan area, while accounting for commute times.

What is the mission and vision of Portland State University?

Portland State University describes its public mission in terms of access, teaching, research and engagement with its urban community. Its longstanding motto, "Let Knowledge Serve the City," expresses an institutional aim to apply academic work to public and community needs; it is a statement of purpose, not a measure of every student's experience.

That approach appears in features such as community-based capstone projects and programs in urban affairs, public health and social work. PSU is a public university without a religious affiliation. Prospective students interested in its community-engagement model should examine the requirements of their intended major, because participation and projects vary by program.