火爆社区

Portland State University encourages its students to think bigger and bolder during the course of their studies. PSU offers 200 varied degree programs in art and design, public policy, education, technology, and writing, among other tracks, and the opportunities to learn extend well beyond the campus walls. Portland State adheres to its motto to 鈥渓et knowledge serve the city,鈥� with a unique four-year university studies program that allows participants the chance to self-guide their educational journey by honing in on a real-world issue and tackling it through a multidisciplinary approach that combines historical knowledge, science applications, and research. The program has helped foster PSU鈥檚 reputation as a university that 鈥渉as a strong focus on civic engagement and sustainability鈥� as well as 鈥渁 green-minded urban school鈥� that鈥檚 鈥渢raining students to be good community members.鈥� Another advantage of a PSU education is that 鈥渃lasses are usually pretty small,鈥� which 鈥減romotes lots of in-class discussion.鈥� Students also mention that 鈥淢ost professors are engaging and truly want to challenge you and help you succeed.鈥� Another student concurs, saying that professors 鈥渞eally care about the student鈥檚 success, and they really help broaden our scope of learning and thinking critically.鈥�

It is difficult to define the typical PSU student because there are so many of us from so many different backgrounds, one student remarks. That is because there is a large number of nontraditional undergraduates at PSU. Students tend to be 鈥渆ither typical college-age... or people in their thirties and forties with kids and a full-time job trying to juggle everything.鈥� Regardless of the differences in background and age, students describe themselves as 鈥渆nvironmentally aware, hip,鈥� and 鈥渧ery liberal.鈥� Most Vikings are also 鈥渋nvested in their education and are friendly,鈥� and before long, 鈥渆veryone finds a niche pretty quickly.鈥� As one student elaborates, 鈥淚t鈥檚 easy to find people you get along with, but it鈥檚 also easy to find people who are completely different from you, which makes school a lot more interesting.鈥�

The campus is extraordinarily beautiful and ideally located, so say students at PSU. While the majority of students live off campus, the school encourages a feeling of community and inclusivity. Students note that 鈥渢here are a lot of things to do on campus鈥� and 鈥淧SU has tons of programs/clubs/groups that help make you feel more involved with your school,鈥� including an Anime and Manga Club, Las Mujeres PSU, and a Self-Care Sanctuary, among a plethora of other options. The Portland State Vikings athletics program is also robust, with football, basketball, golf, tennis, and track and field being just some of the team sports offered. Students report that the school is supportive of its 鈥渞eally diverse鈥� student body with various resources such as the Native American Student and Community Center and the Queer Resource Center. Students proudly share that 鈥渢here are lots of activist and awareness-raising events going on all the time, and lots of students are involved in volunteering (on and off campus).鈥� Its Portland location is another huge draw of PSU, with 鈥減ublic transportation [that] is outstanding,鈥� making it easy to explore the city. Not only does 鈥渢he downtown area [have] plenty of microbrew pubs, nightlife, eateries, and theaters,鈥� but the outdoor recreation options in Oregon are numerous: 鈥淭here鈥檚 skiing, hiking, camping, [and] fishing.鈥� Plus, 鈥測ou can go to the beach or to the mountain in about two hours, and...there are great parks throughout the city.鈥�