University of Oregon Graduate Programs: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Oregon (UO) offers a diverse range of graduate programs designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary for success in their chosen fields. With over 150 graduate degree and certificate programs, UO consistently ranks among the top institutions nationally in various disciplines, including education, landscape architecture, and environmental law. This article provides a detailed overview of graduate studies at the University of Oregon, highlighting key aspects such as program structure, specializations, interdisciplinary opportunities, and career prospects.

Distinctive Features of Graduate Programs at UO

Several unique qualities distinguish the University of Oregon's graduate programs, making them attractive to prospective students:

World-Class Resources: UO provides access to state-of-the-art facilities, research centers, and experienced faculty members who are leaders in their respective fields.
Interdisciplinarity: Many programs encourage students to explore connections between disciplines, fostering a holistic understanding of complex issues.
Individualized Programs of Study: Graduate students have the flexibility to design their own course plans and select faculty mentors from across the university, tailoring their education to their specific interests and goals.
Sense of Community: UO fosters a collaborative and supportive environment where students can build lasting relationships with peers and faculty.
Location: Situated in the state of Oregon, a hub for environmental innovation and policy, UO provides students with opportunities to engage in real-world research and service projects.

Environmental Studies Program

The Environmental Studies Program at the University of Oregon is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach and strong sense of community. The program offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Sciences, Studies, and Policy. Students can blend coursework in various fields such as Sociology, Geography, and Landscape Architecture to support community-based research. The program values student input and continually strives to improve its curriculum and commitment to equity.

Specializations in Environmental Humanities

The graduate specializations in Environmental Humanities offer students ways to enhance their education and future marketability, and to deepen and broaden their understanding of specific bridges between Environmental Studies and related disciplines.

Funding Opportunities

Students admitted to the Environmental Studies master's program are guaranteed two years of funding, usually through teaching assistantships (graduate employee) positions that cover tuition, stipend, and health insurance. Master’s and doctoral students in the department may teach a course, and most doctoral students go on to careers in academia. Master’s program alumni often pursue leadership positions in non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. The Environmental Studies Program enjoys a vibrant sense of community and shared purpose, thanks to its history and cross-campus collaborations. The atmosphere of the graduate program is one of collaboration and mutual support, and the friendships formed among students last long after they have gained their degrees.

School of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM)

The School of Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM) offers immersive, client-based curriculum that immerses students in real-world settings from day one, providing hands-on experience that employers value. Students won’t just study theory-they’ll apply it.

Program Flexibility and Options

The in-person program is designed to be flexible, with accelerated 12-month options for the MPA and MNM. There's also a 4+1 accelerated program for both the MCRP and MNM for current University of Oregon undergraduates. Part-time pathways for graduate programs enable working professionals to complete the MPA and MNM in approximately two years, and the MCRP in about three years.

Experiential Learning and Professional Development

With small cohorts, personalized support, and a curriculum built around experiential learning, students gain practical skills while building their professional network. Graduates consistently achieve near 100% job placement, and the shorter time to completion means a faster, more affordable route to career goals.

Community and Location

Located in Oregon-a living policy laboratory-students learn in a vibrant, welcoming state with unmatched natural beauty. The programs have a great sense of community, beginning in the first year with a retreat in the Cascade Mountains and continuing with small classes and supportive faculty. Students work closely together and are in direct contact with faculty members, government officials, nonprofit professionals, and peers.

Applied Learning and Real-World Problems

The teaching, degree programs, and research are applied to society's real-world problems. Hands-on and community-engaged learning is at the core of the curriculum. Courses focus on concepts and skills, and students explore how to implement them within communities, organizations, and governments. In the classroom, students work on projects for real organizations that give them highly valued professional experience and provide connections for the job market.

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Tailored Professional Development

The individualized approach to professional development gives students the attention they need to leave the program ready to get a job in the field they want to work. Getting your degree at the University of Oregon in PPPM gives you access to a network of alumni across the region, some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world, and a cutting-edge policy environment.

Division of Graduate Studies: Master’s Degree Requirements

Master’s degree candidates must fulfill the requirements of the Division of Graduate Studies, and also complete the additional requirements set by the school or department in which the degree is to be awarded. To earn a master’s degree, students must complete a program of study totaling no fewer than 45 graduate credits. Of the total, at least 24 credits must be in graded courses taken at the UO and passed with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better. At least 9 credits in courses numbered 600-699 must be taken in residence at the University of Oregon. Students working toward a master’s degree with thesis must register for a minimum 9 credits of Thesis (503).

Language Requirements

There is no university-wide language requirement for master’s degrees. Departments and programs have the option of requiring or not requiring one or more languages other than English (LOTE).

Second Master’s Degree

Students who earned the first master’s degree from the University of Oregon may earn a second master’s degree in another field by taking at least 30 graduate credits, of which 24 must be in courses taken for letter grades, after official admission as a master’s degree candidate in the new major at the university. This provision does not apply to a second master’s degree in the Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP). Although the second master’s degree may be permitted with reduced credits, complete records of the student’s graduate-level study must reflect the equivalent of all requirements for completion of the degree as described in the University of Oregon Catalog. Schools and departments may require more than this 30-credit minimum or deny the request.

Accelerated Master’s Programs (AMP)

The Division of Graduate Studies offers exceptional undergraduate students in selected majors the opportunity to earn both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in as few as 5 years. Each AMP sets its own admission criteria and internal admissions processes. Typically, AMP students may take up to 24 graduate credits while classified as undergraduates, some of which may be used toward both bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements. However, AMP requirements and credit limits vary from program to program. Students who have been accepted to an accelerated master’s program must complete all of their bachelor’s degree requirements and graduate within 12 months of the first day of the quarter in which they begin taking graduate courses as part of the accelerated program.

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Course Level Restrictions

400-level courses will not be allowed to count toward minimum master’s degree requirements, even by petition and even if the associated 500-level course would have been accepted toward master’s degree requirements. In the case of a student who has already taken a 400-level course and the corresponding 500-level course is required for the master’s degree, the student may be required to take the 500-level course.

Time Limitations

Students must complete all work for the master’s degree within seven years, including transferred credits, thesis or terminal project, and all examinations. For a master’s degree, the Division of Graduate Studies requires that a minimum of 30 credits (applicable to degree requirements) be taken at the University of Oregon during at least two terms of study. A second University of Oregon master’s degree also requires a minimum of 30 credits and at least two terms of study at the University of Oregon.

Continuous Enrollment

Students enrolled in a graduate degree program must attend the university continuously, except for summers, until all the program’s requirements have been completed, unless academic leave has been approved.

Transfer Credits

Course work taken for letter grades (B or better) and P/N courses, if accompanied by the instructor's statement that the passing grade was equal to a B or better, is eligible for consideration. If approved, these courses can be used to satisfy relevant university master's degree requirements. A maximum of 15 graduate credits* earned at the University of Oregon while classified as a graduate postbaccalaureate student, a non-admitted non-degree seeking graduate student, or a student earning a graduate certificate may later be counted toward the master’s degree, pending school or department endorsement and Division of Graduate Studies approval. This is within the overall 15-credit maximum for transfer. Grades earned must be A+, A, A-, B+, B, or P.

Examinations and Thesis

The student’s major school or department may require qualifying, comprehensive, or final examinations or any combination of these. In some fields, master’s degree candidates must submit a thesis; in others the thesis is optional. The advisory committee, appointed by the department, determines the work to be completed in light of the student’s academic background and objectives. The number of committee members is determined by the department.

Minimum Requirements

The outline lists minimum Division of Graduate Studies requirements for master’s degrees. Specific departmental requirements must also be met before the student is awarded an advanced degree. Certain programs are exempt from the 24 graded credit requirement.

Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP)

The Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP) is the university’s most flexible interdisciplinary program leading to MA and MS degrees. The program is designed for students with specific, well-articulated goals that cannot be reached through established departmental programs. Although flexibility is allowed in program design, the program must be composed of existing graduate courses from two or three approved master’s degree programs. Admission is selective. Acceptance into the program is based on background qualifications, the statement of purpose, and the appropriateness and availability of courses and advisors at the university.

Program Structure

The Interdisciplinary Studies Program (ISP) requires a total of at least 45 graduate credits; a minimum of 12 graduate credits in each of two focal departments; a minimum of 12 graduate credits from any department(s); and 9 graduate credits for an integrated terminal project or thesis determined by the student and advisors during the course of study. A maximum of 12 credits may be used from practicum, field studies, research, and reading and conference courses.

Approval Process

Approval must be obtained in writing from each of the two or three advisors, indicating their willingness to serve and their approval of the Tentative Program of Study. One of the advisors must be designated as chair. Prior to being offered admission, approval is also required from the department head or director of graduate studies from each department included in the applicant's program of study. Subsequent changes in the program must be approved by both the advisor in the area involved and the ISP director.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

Integration of Disciplinary Knowledge: Develop the ability to synthesize knowledge and methods from multiple disciplines to create new knowledge and research questions and address complex problems.
Critical Thinking: Enhance critical thinking skills necessary for comprehending, analyzing and evaluating information, theories, and methodologies across different disciplines.
Communication: Improve oral and written communication skills to effectively consider and convey complex ideas to diverse audiences in a clear and coherent manner.
Research Methods: Acquire proficiency in interdisciplinary research methodologies, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation, in order to conduct rigorous interdisciplinary research projects.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Foster skills to dialogue and work collaboratively with individuals from different disciplines and communities.
Creative Problem-Solving: Cultivate innovative and creative thinking skills to generate novel, interdisciplinary solutions to complex problems.
Self-Reflection and Intellectual Growth: Encourage self-reflection and personal growth as an interdisciplinary scholar and cultural being living within multiple social contexts, recognizing strengths and areas for improvement, and engaging in continuous intellectual development.

UO School of Law

According to U.S. News & World Report ranking, the University of Oregon School of Law is the only law school in the Pacific Northwest to boast three nationally top-ranked specialty programs: we’re #1 in legal writing, #7 in environmental law, and #11 in dispute resolution.

Graduate Student Support

The University of Oregon supports its graduate students; 84% of doctoral students are funded with Graduate Employee appointments.

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