Exploring Graduate Programs at Portland State University: A Comprehensive Overview

Portland State University (PSU) offers a diverse range of graduate programs designed to equip students with advanced knowledge, research skills, and practical experience in their chosen fields. This article provides a structured overview of the procedural requirements for master's degrees at PSU and highlights some of the unique program offerings available.

Navigating the Master's Degree Process: Procedural Requirements

The path to earning a master's degree at Portland State University involves several key steps and requirements. Understanding these procedures is crucial for a smooth and successful academic journey.

Initial Steps and Program of Study

Prior to the commencement of the first term, students should schedule a meeting with their faculty advisor, who is assigned by the program director. During this meeting, students should create a preliminary program of study and familiarize themselves with the general regulations and procedures for master's degrees as outlined in the PSU Bulletin.

Credit Considerations: PSU, Transfer, and Pre-Admission

PSU Graduate Courses as an Undergraduate: If graduate courses were completed at PSU as an undergraduate student within an approved bachelor's + master's program, the department is responsible for submitting a DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) exception to the Graduate School. This exception allows the courses to be applied towards the graduate program of study and should be requested soon after admission.
Pre-Admission Credits: If students wish to include pre-admission credits earned at PSU in their program of study, the department must submit a DARS exception to the Graduate School. As with graduate courses taken during undergraduate studies, this request should be made promptly after admission. It's important to note that pre-admission credits cannot exceed one-third of the total degree program.
Transfer Credits: Students seeking to incorporate transfer courses from other regionally accredited institutions must submit the Proposed Transfer Credit form (GO-21M) to the Graduate School for approval. Submitting this form early in the program is highly recommended. Similar to pre-admission credits, transfer credits are limited to a maximum of one-third of the student's degree program.

Conditional Admission

Students admitted with university or departmental conditions must fulfill those requirements. University conditional status is typically removed automatically upon completing the first 9 letter-graded graduate credits after admission, maintaining a GPA of 3.00 or higher. Departmental conditions are removed once the department determines the requirements have been met. It is important to note that university and department conditions are monitored independently and may not be removed simultaneously.

Second Language Requirement (MA/MAT)

For students pursuing a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, fulfilling the second language requirement is mandatory. This requirement must be satisfied before any final examination or the approval of the Appointment of Master's Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation Committee (GO-16 form) or any final graduation paperwork.

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Application for Awarding of Degree

Students must submit the Application for Awarding of Master's Degree, Doctoral Degree, or Graduate Certificate via myPSU no later than the first week of the term in which they intend to graduate. It's essential to review the Graduation Dates and Deadlines for specific dates. After submitting the application, it will be immediately reflected on the student's DARS audit. Following the application submission, students should consult with their advisor and/or department regarding their DARS report and plans for completing final degree requirements.

Continuous Registration Requirement

The University mandates that graduate students involved in activities requiring faculty time or the utilization of University facilities must register every term (excluding summer). This includes students engaged in any phase of research, such as data collection or development, or any aspect of a project, thesis, or dissertation. A minimum of one graduate credit of registration is required in any term (including summer) when students are completing a major milestone for their degree, such as taking a comprehensive or final examination, holding a thesis/dissertation proposal or defense, and in the term of final thesis/dissertation submission and graduation.

Thesis Submission Guidelines

For students whose programs include a thesis:

The student must submit the Appointment of Master's Thesis or Doctoral Dissertation Committee (GO-16 form) approximately two weeks before the end of the term preceding the term of the defense.
The chair of the thesis committee must be a regular, full-time PSU instructional faculty member, tenured or tenure-track, with the rank of assistant professor or higher. Other committee members may include NTTF (Non-Tenure Track Faculty) or adjunct faculty.
Two of the committee members (the chair and one other member) must be from the student’s department. The third member may be from the student’s department or may be PSU faculty from another department or OHSU (Oregon Health & Science University) faculty.
If it is necessary to include an additional committee member from outside PSU with specific expertise not available among PSU faculty, a CV for that proposed member must be submitted with the GO-16 form. This member must be in addition to the required three PSU faculty members.
All committee members must hold master’s degrees. A thesis defense is not valid without a thesis committee approved by the Graduate School.
The thesis defense must occur at least five weeks prior to the end of the term of anticipated graduation, and all committee members must receive a complete copy of the thesis at least two weeks prior to the defense date. For summer term graduation, deadlines apply to the regular eight-week Summer Session.
Students must confirm with their thesis committee chair that all requirements have been met prior to the final defense.
The final thesis must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than three weeks prior to the close of the term of application for graduation. Any required formatting revisions must be completed before graduation.
The adviser is responsible for completing the Recommendation for the Degree form (GO-17M), which is due in the Graduate School after end-of-term grades are posted. In-Progress (IP) grades for required thesis credits are changed via the GO-17M form.

Non-Thesis Final Oral Examinations

In the case of non-thesis final oral examinations, including final project presentations, the committee must consist of at least two members from the student's department, including the student's adviser. At the discretion of the department, a faculty member from another department may be added; that member would be selected by the adviser, the department chair, or the departmental graduate committee chair, according to department policy. For MAT and MST students, one member of the committee is required to be added from the College of Education or a faculty member with pedagogical expertise in the student’s discipline.

Final Examinations and Grade Requirements

Students must schedule and pass any required final master's examinations before the end of the term. Any Incomplete or In-Progress grade in any course applied toward degree requirements, excluding thesis, must be resolved before graduation. All outstanding grades for courses used in the degree program (except 503 Thesis credits) must be submitted by the instructor directly to the Office of the Registrar. Furthermore, all Missing (M) grades in graduate courses that could potentially be letter graded must be resolved before graduation, even if the courses are not applied to the student’s degree program.

Coursework Time Limit

All coursework applied toward a master's degree must be completed within seven years prior to the awarding of the degree. For example, a course taken in the fall term of 2014 will be beyond the seven-year limitation at the close of fall 2021.

Degree Conferral

The Graduate School verifies that all requirements for the degree have been met and officially awards the degree.

Featured Graduate Programs at PSU

PSU offers a wide array of graduate programs tailored to meet diverse academic and professional goals. Here are some notable examples:

Psychology (Combined Master's and Doctoral Program)

PSU's combined master's and doctoral program in psychology prepares students to apply scientific principles to address complex social problems and drive social change. The curriculum allows students to complete a master's degree as part of their doctoral journey, focusing on applied research and collaboration with community partners. Faculty expertise is clustered in five concentrations: applied developmental psychology, applied social psychology, community psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and applied quantitative psychology. The program emphasizes community-engaged research with opportunities to translate theory into practical solutions and effective social policy.

Applied Linguistics (Master's Programs in Education)

PSU offers specialized pathways within its Master's in Education program for bilingual and bicultural individuals seeking to become licensed teachers:

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Bilingual Teacher Pathway (Elementary): This pathway focuses on integrating language into all levels of elementary education, valuing students' language and culture as assets in the learning process.
Bilingual Teacher Pathway (Middle/High School): This program prepares bilingual and bicultural individuals to become licensed middle or high school teachers.

Master's in Counseling

Through this program, you’ll become a relationship and family counselor with the research and practical background to work with a diversity of marriage, partnership, relationship, and family compositions. School counselors work to maximize student success, promoting access and equity for all students.

Master's in Education for Experienced Teachers

This program is designed for teachers and other education professionals who want to pursue advanced studies in teacher leadership, educational theories and research, and curriculum design.

Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTED)

To become a middle or high school teacher, complete a bachelor’s degree in your subject area specialization. If you earned your teaching credential outside of the United States, this program provides you with an abbreviated and customized path to earn an Oregon Teaching License.

Leadership for Sustainability Education

Gain skills in sustainability education and collaborative, emergent leadership. This program is for licensed teachers who have worked in a school for at least three years. Feel confident making strong decisions when it matters most, and to move cutting-edge educational practices forward.

Special Education

If you already have a bachelor’s degree, this program enables you to earn a Special Educator Teaching License. PSU’s program equips you to serve students from birth to 21 years old with visual impairments.

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