PSU University Studies

At Portland State University, our interdisciplinary core curriculum is called University Studies (UNST) and it spans all four years of the student experience. In UNST, students discuss big ideas, ask tough questions, and examine assumptions. We expect students to be active participants in their learning. As a result, we combine hands-on, student-centered learning with content from a wide variety of academic disciplines. We also study students' experience in order to support their learning and success. These practices help students thrive, and the UNST curriculum enriches the learning that occurs in other classes and activities at Portland State. UNST also equips students with the core skills and perspectives to be successful throughout life. These transferable skills include an ability to communicate effectively, to think creatively and critically, to be curious about the diversity of the human experience, and to wrestle with understandings of ethics and social responsibility. These are the Four Goals of the University Studies curriculum, and employers report that they desire graduates with mastery in these areas. For more info about University Studies, please visit: www.pdx.edu/unst

For info on employer attitudes toward liberal education, please see: http://www.aacu.org/leap/public_opinion_research.cfm