Portland State University
AC-3: Undergraduate Program

The first of its kind in the nation, our undergraduate program in Community Development prepares students for careers as leaders and change agents in addressing myriad social challenges. The Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning offers both a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Community Development. In these multi-disciplinary, social science programs, students have the ability to customize their focus of study, drawing from the multitude of academic disciplines and departments within PSU’s College of Urban and Public Affairs. In addition to coursework, these hands-on undergraduate degrees incorporate significant field research, in which students work with agencies and organizations throughout the Portland metropolitan area. Community Development is a process in which people act together to promote the social, economic, political, and physical well being of their community.

Environmental Science at PSU is the study of the interactions between society and the physical, chemical, ecological and biological processes that structure and maintain ecosystems. The Environmental Science and Management program (formerly known as Environmental Science and Resources) offers two undergraduate tracks: Environmental Science and Environmental Studies. The Environmental Studies track focuses on resource management and policy with study in the natural sciences, social sciences, geography, and environmental policy. The Environmental Studies track is recommended for students who are interested in pursuing careers involving working in agencies or organizations that address problems in the environment.

The Bachelor of Science - Environmental Engineering (BSENVE) program provides training for engineers to preserve the natural environment – an especially important part of our culture in Portland and in the state of Oregon. Oregon prides itself on its environmental commitments and efforts toward living sustainably. This degree focuses on the fundamentals of environmental and water resources engineering with recommended tracks in geo-environmental, surface water hydrology and remote sensing, surface and groundwater water quality, groundwater hydrology, or air quality. Many of the required courses in the program are interdisciplinary drawing from the Departments of Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, Environmental Science and Management, Physics, Geology and Biology.

The goal of the Minor in Sustainability is to offer Portland State undergraduate students an understanding of the multidisciplinary concepts and practices integral to sustainable living. The Minor has two primary components. The first is to educate the students in a balanced and rigorous manner about the various concepts, theories and methods related to sustainability. The second is to have the students work with a community partner on a project applying sustainability concepts and measures.

Interest in sustainability and urban development has steadily grown in recent years among students. Our urban region has attracted considerable national and international attention and been a center of activity and innovation in addressing the challenges of incorporating the principles of sustainability into its planning and professional practice. The minor in Sustainable Urban Development offers students the opportunity to focus their education on this important and growing field. The minor in Sustainable Urban Development will provide students with an opportunity to further their understanding in the important issues and challenges in making cities sustainable while providing a foundation for advancing their academic and professional interests in the numerous opportunities emerging in the field of planning and urban development. The School of Urban Studies and Planning is working with other academic units, including Environmental Sciences, Architecture, Geography, Economics and Civil Engineering to provide expanded curricular offerings in topics concerning sustainable urban development. This is the only undergraduate program offered in the Oregon University System with a specific focus on sustainable cities.