Pre-Public Health

Public health professionals work to protect entire population groups from experiencing unnecessary, preventable injury or illness, and to help create the conditions that support life-long good health for everyone. They do so through a number of pathways: by detecting, measuring, and monitoring sources of risk and benefit to populations; developing and implementing policies that protect people from harm and that support healthful communities; exploring how the physical, natural, and "built" environments can support or harm the public's health, and identifying strategies to address risks; identifying and addressing the social, economic, and individual influences on behavior in populations; and by organizing health agencies and health care systems that can optimally adapt and respond to the changing needs of populations -- among others.

A public health degree has never been more valuable than it is today. Graduates at all levels enter high-demand fields with opportunities to work in communities around the world. For example, some Public Health professionals work in research and discovery, and others in local, national, or international public agencies. Some work in communities in health-focused, not-for-profit, advocacy, and/or direct-service organizations, while others work to promote the public's health in service environments with other primary missions such as schools, public service agencies, and corrections. Some will focus their work on specific health conditions or risks, while others will focus on the broader health of specific populations, and yet others will focus on applying specific sets of tools and techniques to a variety of challenges.

In the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, degrees are offered in flexible formats (online or in-person), as well as dual master's degree programs in social work, medicine, and urban and regional planning.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Applied Health and Fitness
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Studies with 4 concentration areas in Community Health Education, Health Sciences, School Health, and Aging Services
• Undergraduate certificate in Human Lactation, and Graduate certificates in Biostatistics and Public Health
• Masters of Public Health (MPH) degrees in Biostatistics, Environmental Systems & Human Health, Epidemiology, Health Management & Policy, Health Promotion, Primary Health Care & Health Disparities (online)
• Masters Degrees in Biostatistics, and Health Studies
• Dual Masters Degrees in Health Management & Policy & Social Work (MPH/MSW), Health Promotion & Social Work (MPH/MSW), Health Promotion & Urban Planning (MPH/MURP), and Epidemiology & Medicine (MD/MPH)
• Doctoral degrees (Ph.D.) in Community Health, Epidemiology, and Health Systems & Policy

Submit Your Application and $60 Application Fee

Go to Portland State University's online application system and select Create Account. If you have already started an application, or created one for a past term, select Log In.

Submit Academic Records

You are required to submit complete academic records. We accept high school transcripts, grades and other relevant academic records along with your graduation certificate, diploma or exam results or certificates. If you have taken any college or university classes, submit transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. You can submit unofficial transcripts from non-U.S. institutions for review of your application and to receive an admission decision. Official transcripts are required for enrollment, see our official records policy for details.

Electronic Submission: Transcripts may be submitted via Parchment or sent directly from a school official to [email protected].

In Person Submission: You can bring these directly to our office upon arrival to Portland State.

Mail Submission: Submit official transcripts in their original sealed envelopes from all schools attended and mail them to PSU at the address below.

Portland State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751

Submit Evidence of English Language Proficiency

Request official test results to be sent directly to Portland State University by ETS (TOEFL), PTE, or IELTS. Students who meet the academic requirements for admission to PSU, but have not yet met English proficiency requirements, will be admitted to PSU and placed into one of our ESL programs. Review PSU’s English Language Proficiency Requirements for more details.

• TOEFL Code: 4610, department code 00
• SAT Code: 4610

Check Your Application Status

If you have submitted an application to Portland State University, you can log in to PSU's application portal to review the status of your application. You will be notified via email for each document you submit and your admission decision.

If you are not receiving email communications from Portland State University, be sure to check your @pdx.edu email account. Once you set up your student account all communications will be sent to that email address. If you are not receiving information from us in any email inboxes, please contact us at [email protected].