Overview

The Liberal Studies programme at Portland State University provides students with the unique opportunity to design a bespoke academic journey tailored to their specific intellectual interests. This undergraduate degree empowers learners to take charge of their education by integrating diverse coursework from across the university's various departments.

Why Liberal Studies at Portland State University?

Portland State University offers the most flexible course selection available, allowing students to combine modules from the sciences, social sciences, and humanities. This interdisciplinary approach ensures that students can sharpen universally valued skills such as oral presentation, teamwork, and research while making steady progress toward their degree.

A distinctive feature of this programme is that it is the only major at the institution that does not require the completion of the standard university studies core curriculum. Students work closely with academic advisors to create a personalised plan that aligns with their specific career goals, ensuring an academically rigorous yet adaptable experience.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 34599 per year
National fee: USD 34599 per year
Local fee: USD 12999 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is designed to be interdisciplinary, allowing students to build expertise across multiple subject areas. Modules may include:

Communication
Writing
Oral Presentation
Teamwork
Research
Critical Thinking
Social and Environmental Responsibility
Media Fluency
Creative Problem Solving

Careers with Liberal Studies

Graduates with a degree in Liberal Studies from Portland State University possess adaptable skills that are highly marketable across various sectors, including business, government, and non-profit organisations. The programme develops core competencies in analysis and community engagement that are essential for modern professional environments.

Alumni often pursue diverse roles such as project managers, programme coordinators, and news reporters. The broad knowledge base also serves as an excellent foundation for those intending to enter professional graduate programmes to become lawyers, physicians, teachers, or financial service representatives. Many graduates also find success as writers, editors, and social service specialists.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Applied Linguistics

Architecture

Arts and Letters

Black Studies

Communication

Conflict Resolution

Dance

English

Film

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-07-22 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-07-05 00:00:00
Starting 2026-09-30 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-01 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-08-01 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-01-06 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-05 00:00:00
Starting 2027-03-31 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-03-05 00:00:00

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

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IELTS

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Credits

180 SCH

Delivered

On Campus, Blended, Online

Campus Location

Portland, United States

Disciplines

Sociology Liberal Arts Linguistics View 1420 other Bachelors in Liberal Arts in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.5

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

110

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

You must have a cumulative (overall) grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 when converted to the U.S. 4.0 grading scale.
Meet the English Language Proficiency Requirement. You may be admitted to Portland State University and an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) pathway if you do not meet PSU's English Language Proficiency Requirement. Learn more about PSU’s English language programs.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Out-of-State

34599 USD / year

≈ 34599 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

12999 USD / year

≈ 12999 USD / year

Living costs

Portland

United States

1271 - 2262 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Liberal Studies.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Portland

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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