Portland State University
AC-4: Graduate Program

The Masters in Environmental Management (MEM) degree teaches students how to analyze and manage natural environments for human benefit and ecosystem health. The Environmental Science and Management MEM course curriculum is similar to that of the Master of Science (MS) degree. The primary difference in the two degrees is that MEM students must complete a project instead of a thesis

LSE prepares graduates for professional careers in sustainability education through the rigorous study of educational leadership and sustainability pedagogy that addresses the importance of ecological systems, bio-cultural diversity, social and economic justice, and multicultural perspectives.

The Master of Urban Studies (MUS) program is a 52-credit graduate program that gives students skills to study and interpret urban phenomena from a variety of viewpoints, also suitable for employment by public agencies, private firms, and non-profit organizations. Since the core curriculum of the MUS program mirrors that of the Urban Studies Ph.D. program, MUS students can make a relatively easy transition into the doctoral program, if they apply and are accepted. In any case, the MUS program is academically focused on researching the urban environment.

Students in this program delve into such things as problems associated with growing social and economic inequalities between different places and population groups within the metropolitan region; environmental problems related to the prevailing pattern of urbanization; and the lack of effective institutions of regional governance.

Earth, Environment, & Society Doctoral degree
https://www.pdx.edu/liberal-arts-sciences/environment

Master of Business Administration
https://www.pdx.edu/academics/programs/graduate/business-administration

Master in Real Estate Development
https://www.pdx.edu/academics/programs/graduate/real-estate-development-certificate

Ph.D. in Urban Studies
https://www.pdx.edu/urban-studies-planning/doctoral-degrees

Master in Sociology
https://www.pdx.edu/sociology/mams-and-phd-sociology

Doctoral Program in Sociology
https://www.pdx.edu/sociology/mams-and-phd-sociology

Students will gain an understanding of the major theories and concepts related to the key dimensions of sustainability, and conduct in-depth studies of sustainable development strategies and techniques used in the public and private sectors.

The energy industry is an important cornerstone of the regional economy, and a number of PSU master’s degree graduates are active in the industry. For a number of years, several PSU departments have offered graduate courses focusing on energy issues and techniques for energy analysis. The Graduate Certificate in Energy Policy and Management brings these classes together in a program designed to create a foundation of knowledge about the energy industry. The program allows flexible graduate coursework combinations so that students can customize their studies to match their goals and interests.

Faculty in five PSU graduate programs worked closely with the regional energy industry to design a graduate certificate that will meet a wide range of intellectual, community, employee, and industry needs. The programs collaborating to offer this certificate are:

Public Administration
Urban Studies and Planning
Economics
Engineering and Technology Management
Systems Science

The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Food Systems at Portland State University offers students the opportunity to explore the complex issues and relationships between food, people, and society. The program draws on the expertise of faculty from departments across the University, providing an interdisciplinary understanding of the issues, perspectives, strategies, and solutions involved in creating sustainable food systems. It connects a range of academic areas related to food systems, including public administration, community health, urban and regional planning, business, and education.

The certificate program provides students with a foundation of knowledge and practical experience to help them confront the pressing challenges currently facing sustainable food systems. These challenges include environmental degradation, corporate consolidation, and social injustices. Students will learn about new responses to these issues, such as sustainable agriculture, re-development of indigenous food systems, community land trusts, worker co-ops, farm labor organizing movements, and calls for a new Farm Bill.