Oregon State University

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From the College

Exceptional students, an outstanding faculty, and a challenging curriculum combine to make Oregon State University (OSU) a nationally and internationally recognized comprehensive university.

OSU has earned the Carnegie Foundation’s “Very High Research Activity” designation for commitment to education and research. Widely recognized research programs add to the quality of teaching by bringing new knowledge into the classroom and by encouraging undergraduate students to work with faculty members on research projects in many fields. As a member of the non-tiered Oregon University System, OSU is the premier research university in the state of Oregon. In fact, OSU’s economic impact to the state of Oregon exceeds $1.5 billion.

The University’s 20,320 students come from all fifty states and more than eighty-nine countries around the world to pursue a wide choice of undergraduate programs that prepare them for careers and leadership positions in science, engineering and computer-related fields, natural resources, government, teaching and social service, pharmacy, and other professions. Employers from across the nation recognize the value of an OSU degree, and more of them recruit at Oregon State University each year than at any other university in the state.

OSU is committed to offering students the resources they need to be successful in their education. In addition to utilizing Blackboard™ as an electronic tool to assist students with class materials, interactive topic conversations, and resources, OSU continues to innovate by systematically adding wireless networks to classrooms, libraries, and common areas on campus. Students also have access to one of the largest open-source software labs in the world, where new shareware is developed, housed, and distributed.

Students also benefit from more than 300 cocurricular activities on campus. These include student government, student media, theater and music, intramural and club sports, and numerous social, academic, cultural, and professional clubs and organizations. In addition, Dixon Recreation Center offers opportunities for swimming and diving, weight training, aerobic exercise, and the largest collegiate rock-climbing center in the Northwest. Two campus child-care facilities offer educationally oriented day-care programs for children of students and faculty and staff members.

OSU offers a wide range of housing and dining options, including special-program residence halls, cooperative houses, student family housing, and fraternity and sorority housing. Many apartments and houses are available within biking or walking distance of OSU for students who choose to live off campus. There are twenty-eight restaurants on campus.

Graduate degrees are offered through the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Business, Engineering, Forestry, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Science. Graduate and professional degrees are also offered through the Colleges of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences, Pharmacy, and Veterinary Medicine, and through the School of Education.

The OSU main campus is in Corvallis, which is consistently ranked as one of the safest university communities on the West Coast. Farmers Insurance named Corvallis the “Most Secure” city in the U.S. for 2007 and 2008. With about 55,000 residents, Corvallis offers a friendly, university-oriented atmosphere. In fact, students rated OSU as the fifth-friendliest campus in the United States, according to CampusDirt.com. Forbes magazine also rated Corvallis as one of the top 5 smartest cities. Miles of bike lanes and free city bus service make it easy for students to get around town. Within a couple hours of Corvallis are the Oregon Coast; the Cascade Mountains, with skiing, hiking, camping, and snowboarding; and Portland, Oregon’s largest city. The OSU Cascades Campus in Bend, Oregon, represents a unique educational partnership involving four distinguished institutions, creating an innovative and collaborative university to serve the needs of central Oregon.

Oregon State is a comprehensive university, with more than 200 academic programs. Undergraduate degrees are offered through the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Forestry, Health and Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, and Science.

Students in any undergraduate major can strengthen their transcripts by earning an Honors Degree or an International Degree. Almost 600 top students are enrolled in the University Honors College, which offers a small-college atmosphere within the larger University. The University also offers twenty-eight preprofessional programs that prepare students for graduate programs and careers in fields such as health sciences, law, and education.

All undergraduate students at Oregon State complete the Baccalaureate Core, which helps develop skills and knowledge in writing, critical thinking, cultural diversity, the arts, science, literature, lifelong fitness, and global awareness, ensuring that as graduates they will be well prepared for life as well as a career.

Many students take advantage of OSU’s first-year experience program, called U-Engage, which offers opportunities for new students to interact with faculty members and other students throughout the year, thus easing the transition to college life. The year begins with a five-day “Connect” orientation that features Convocation (the official kickoff to the school year), small-group meetings between faculty members and students, a barbecue, outdoor movies, open houses, and more.

Undergraduate research is an important component of many academic programs, and more than 2,000 OSU undergraduates participate with faculty members and graduate students on research projects each year. One example is the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Summer Research Program, which funds undergraduate researchers to the tune of $1.9 million.

OSU has more majors, minors, and special programs than any other college in Oregon and offers a University Exploratory Studies Program for students who want to try various options before choosing a major field. Oregon State uses the quarter system for its academic year. Most majors require between 180 and 192 credit hours for a bachelor’s degree. There are no impacted majors at Oregon State University.

The Academic Success Center helps OSU students deal with problems and develop the skills they need in college and beyond. The Center for Writing and Learning, the Math Learning Center, and departmental resource centers assist students in preparing for assignments in specific areas, while the African American, Hispanic American, Asian American, and Native American education offices, along with the Educational Opportunities Program, help mentor students throughout their college careers. University Counseling and Psychological Services offers learning resource materials and professional assistance to help students deal with problems, both in and out of the classroom. Career Services assists students in locating internships and in finding jobs when they graduate.

Through the International Degree, study-abroad, and international internship programs, OSU students can study, work, or conduct research almost anywhere in the world. Programs, which range from a term to a full year, are offered in Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Tunisia, and Vietnam.

OSU also participates in the National Student Exchange Program, allowing students to spend up to a year at one of more than 160 colleges and universities in the U.S. and its possessions, while paying in-state tuition and fees.

OSU’s Valley Library is a state-of-the-art facility that offers modern electronic services, including a wireless computer network, and unique special collections as well as traditional library services to students and the community. The OSU library is the first academic library to be named “Library of the Year” by Library Journal (1999). Library holdings include more than 2.5 million books, periodicals, and government documents on paper or microform. A reciprocal agreement makes more than 5 million additional volumes in the Oregon University System available to OSU students and faculty members. OSU’s special collections include the papers and memorabilia of Linus Pauling, the only winner of two unshared Nobel Prizes, and the Atomic Energy Collection. The Valley Library is an official depository for U.S. government and state of Oregon publications.

Students at OSU have access to more than 2,200 computers at labs around the campus, including some that are available 24 hours per day. In addition, all rooms in campus residence facilities are wired for high-speed access to the Internet, and wireless networks are located across the campus. Special research facilities include OSU’s Mark O. Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Nanoscience and Microtechnologies Institute (ONAMI), Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology, Forest Research Laboratory, Radiation Center, and Hinsdale Wave Research Lab.

In-state undergraduate tuition and fees were approximately $6123 for the 2008–09 academic year, while nonresident charges were about $18,864. The average cost for a residence hall double room and meal plan was approximately $8208.

OSU offers the full range of scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans from federal, state, and University sources, investing more than $130 million in student aid annually. Some form of financial assistance is received by 70 percent of the students at OSU. To qualify, students must have applied for admission and must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), listing OSU as one of their top six choices (Title IV code: 003210). Some students help meet educational expenses with one of the many part-time jobs available on or near the campus. For financial aid information, interested students should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, 218 Kerr Administration Building, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 (phone: 541-737-2241, Web site: http://oregonstate.edu/admin/finaid/).

Through the University Scholars Program, OSU offers a variety of scholarships and additional scholarship search assistance for new students who have strong academic records. University scholarships range from $500 to $6000 annually for up to four years. Oregon State University was first on the awards list of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission with 451 scholarship students receiving a total of $1,696,455. In addition, many OSU colleges offer scholarships to new students, and the OSU Foundation has a number of University-wide scholarships.

Undergraduate education is a priority at OSU, and nationally prominent scholars and scientists regularly teach undergraduate courses at all levels. Students receive individual attention and the chance to know their professors both in and out of the classroom. Faculty members consistently receive awards for teaching and research, and many of them are nationally and internationally renowned. For example, Jane Lubchenco, marine biology professor, was chosen by President Obama to lead the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The more than $206 million in external research funds received annually by OSU faculty members exceeds that of all other Oregon public universities combined.

The Associated Students of Oregon State University (ASOSU) plays a major role in making policy and regulating activities for students and in governing the University through student participation on more than fifty University-wide committees. In recent years, ASOSU has become more involved with local, state, and national issues that affect the welfare of students.

A minimum 3.0 high school GPA (on a 4.0 scale) qualifies students for freshman admission to OSU when all subject requirements are met. Applicants for undergraduate admission are required to complete an “Insight Resume,” a written assessment designed to evaluate students’ noncognitive attributes. These attributes include self-concept, realistic self-appraisal, handling the system, ability to set long-range goals, leadership, connections with a strong support person, community engagement, and nontraditional learning. High school subject requirements are 4 years of English, 3 years each of mathematics and social studies, and 2 years each of science and of the same foreign language. Students who do not meet the subject requirements may be considered for admission by earning a total score of at least 1410 on three SAT Subject Tests or by successfully completing course work to make up specific deficiencies. The alternatives must be completed by the time of high school graduation.

Transfer admission requires successful completion of at least 36 graded, transferable credits (24 semester credits) from accredited U.S. institutions, with a minimum GPA of 2.25. Grades of C- or better are required in college-level writing and mathematics. Students with less than 36 transferable credits are considered for admission on the basis of their high school records.

Applicants are required to complete OSU’s online application, which can be found at the Web site. An OSU Viewbook, with information on specific academic programs, housing, financial aid, scholarships, and activities, is sent to students upon request.

Prospective students are encouraged to visit OSU to determine in person whether the University meets their needs. A visit, including a campus tour and an opportunity to talk to faculty members in the student’s area of interest, can be arranged by calling the Office of Admissions.

To request more information, students should contact: