UNIVERSITY HONORS COLLEGE PORTL AND S TATE UNI V ERS I T Y
Urban Ecologist and Honors professor Dr. Starry integrates Honors students into her green roof research.
DON'T FOLLOW. LEAD.
ONLY IN HONORS
pdx.edu/university-honors-college
To the lifelong achievers and the late bloomers. To the quiet creators and the movers and shakers. To all those ready to take the lead instead of following the crowd. It’s time to rise up, join together, and use your ingenuity for good. We are the Portland State University Honors College, home to exceptional students like you at Oregon’s most affordable, diverse, and innovative public research university. Discover an academically fulfilling curriculum through the lens of our culturally rich, ever-evolving city. And start a conversation with the future.
As an Honors student at PSU, you have all the benefits of a small liberal arts college embedded in Oregon’s only urban public research university. Our unique focus on the city of Portland opens unmatched opportunities for research, creativity, and academic exploration. You can work closely with world-class researchers, study abroad with Honors faculty in London or Borneo, and intern with top employers. It all culminates in your senior year, when you not only research, create, and write, but also publish your Honors thesis. We welcome students from all academic majors and diverse ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, including many transfer students.
A TIGHT-KNIT COMMUNITY
In the Portland State University Honors College, you can dig deep into the urban issues that matter most, join a tight-knit community of highly motivated students, and experience an exceptional education unlike any other. 700+ enrolled Honors students 69% Oregon residents 30% transfer students 24% first generation college students 34% diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds 3.82 average high school GPA
CURRICULUM
Our rigorous curriculum has built-in academic support and extraordinary undergraduate research opportunities. Honors College courses fulfill PSU’s general education requirements and do not add additional coursework.
FIRST YEAR THE GLOBAL CIT Y
SECOND YEAR URBAN DISCOURSES
Lay the Groundwork
Explore New Perspectives
15 Credits: HON 101, 102 and 103
12 Credits: HON 201, 202 and 203
Lay the Groundwork: Form tight bonds with your peers in a small, year-long course, focused on developing advanced writing skills through intensive study of the urban environment. All freshmen begin with these courses, including those with college credit earned prior to high school graduation.
Learn how to tackle questions in the social sciences, natural sciences and humanities by investigating how researchers approach problems in their fields.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS HONORS LAURELS SCHOLARSHIP Honors College applications are evaluated holistically. While a student's academic profile (such as GPA) is considered, decisions are based more on writing skill and critical thinking, as demonstrated in responses to the Honors College essay prompts.
AWA R D Up to $3,000 per year ELIGIBILIT Y Students who apply to PSU and the Honors College by December 1 are automatically considered.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, complete the PSU application and Honors College supplemental essay questions. Portland State University and the Honors College accept applications for each term on a rolling admissions basis. Apply by December 1 to be automatically considered for the Honors Laurels Scholarship.
HONORS HOUSING
Honors students can live together in Stephen Epler Hall. Honors classrooms and the Honors Commons (a student lounge reserved for Honors students) are on the ground floor of Epler Hall.
THIRD YEAR THEORY & PRACTICE
FOURTH YEAR HONORS THESIS
Personalize Your Path
Showcase Your Skills
12 Credits: HON 407 & 404 or 401
8 Credits: HON 403
After one required seminar, students may choose to complete their remaining credits through additional seminars, internships, research opportunities or study abroad.
Apply your cultivated expertise to an indepth thesis project of your own design. Work alongside a faculty mentor in your major and publish your work in Portland State's online database for academic, scholarly, scientific and creative work.
TRANSFERS 0-89 college credits: Begin with 3 second year coursework; all three courses are required. 0+ credits: Begin with third year 9 coursework, including HON 399. Transfer Bridge Course (HON 399): This required course is designed to introduce transfers to the Honors writing and research tools and connects them with a cohort.
TOP 5 COLLEGE LOCATION IN THE U.S. —Niche
APPLY
pdx.edu/honors honorsadmission@pdx.edu
VISIT
pdx.edu/visit campusvisits@pdx.edu