Oregon State University (OSU) is a public, four-year university in Corvallis, Oregon serving over 23,000 students. A branch, the Cascades campus, is located in Bend. Oregon State University was founded in 1868 as a small college and received university status in 1961. The University now awards bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional degrees. Its Carnegie classification is Doctoral/Research-Extensive.
OSU defines its mission as “to stimulate a lasting attitude of inquiry, openness and social responsibility”. It is one of only six education institutions in the United States with land grant, sea grant, and space grant designations.
Oregon State University
Academics
OSU is composed of eleven academic colleges, the University Honors College, and a graduate school. Colleges include Agricultural Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, Forestry, Health & Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, Pharmacy, Science, and Veterinary Medicine.
Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in over 200 different disciplines. Some of the most popular include agriculture studies, American studies, botany, computer science, environmental engineering, forest engineering, horticulture, liberal studies, merchandising management, nutrition and food management, psychology, range land resources, and wood science and technology. Students must take a number of baccalaureate core courses emphasizing writing, world cultures, the arts and sciences, literature, creative thinking, diversity, and global awareness.
Graduate degrees are awarded in more than 100 programs including a handful of interdisciplinary programs. Other professional degrees that are awarded include the DVM and the Pharm.D.
Research
OSU has a strong research orientation, and offers many opportunities for students at all levels to participate in original research projects. The university is home to the internationally renowned Center for Gene Research and Biotechnology. The University also operates the Hatfield Marine Science Center, in Newport, Oregon, which is associated with a number of federal and state agencies, and the Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory.
Library Resource
The OSU library system boasts nearly 2 million print volumes, over 240 research databases, over 71,000 online academic journals, and over 20,000 downloadable ebooks. The libraries belong to the Orbis/Cascades Alliance, which allows students to easily borrow any of the over 9 million volumes housed in area libraries. The OSU libraries also boast a large special collection of the original papers of scientist Linus Pauling.
Distance Education
OSU offers online degrees, lifelong learning, and K-12 outreach through its distance education arm. It is possible to earn degrees in agriculture, anthropology, economics, environmental sciences, fisheries and wildlife, horticulture, human development and family sciences, liberal studies, natural resources, political science, sociology, and women’s studies entirely online.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Oregon State University.
Oregon State is home to the Linus Pauling Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Institute advocates the study and use of vitamins and plant chemicals in maintaining health and preventing disease. It was established in 1996.
Master Gardening
The Master Gardener Program at OSU was originally founded to develop in-state experts to diagnose problems and diseases in plants throughout Oregon. Today there are thousands of active Master Gardeners with an OSU education who contribute substantially to environmental health and food production throughout the state.
Oregon State University
Admissions
Admissions to OSU are competitive. The average GPA for incoming first-year students is 3.5. Prospective students are expected to have studied 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of social studies, 2 years of science, and 2 years of a foreign language.
Financial Aid
In addition to the usual assortment of state and federal aid options available to any college or university student in the state of Oregon, OSU administrates dozens of their own scholarships. Among others, OSU offers Presidential scholarships, Provost’s scholarships, diversity scholarships, and a unique International Provost Scholarship program.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Oregon State University 3696th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Oregon scholarships and financial aid
The campus is home to over 300 student clubs and organizations, offering something for nearly every personal or professional interest. There is an active residential Greek system on campus, as well as a large network of residence halls and dining facilities.
OSU is notable for its large Team Liberation movement, a student-driven initiative offering human relations workshops to address racism, sexism, heterosexism, classism, ageism, ableism, religious, effective community communication, and leadership development.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Oregon State University?
The athletics department at OSU is known as the Beavers. The Beavers compete on the intervarsity level in NCAA Division I. Men’s competitive sports include baseball, basketball, football, rowing, golf, soccer, and wrestling. Women’s competitive sports include basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, track, and volleyball.
In addition, there are more than 30 intramural sports and many club sports for student enjoyment. The Dixon Recreation Center (DRC) is home to swimming and diving facilities, as well as workout equipment, game courts, and weight rooms. There are 20 exercise machines at the DRC hooked up to the grid, allowing students to produce energy by expending energy!
Oregon State University
Traditions
Orange and black have been recognized as OSU colors since 1892. The current mascot, Benny Beaver, is the fourth mascot of OSU, after the school went through a coyote, a man named “Doc,” and another beaver of a different name. Today Benny graces the football, basketball, and other major athletic competitions.
Local Community
The city of Corvallis is home to approximately 50,000 people, and is notable for having close to as many students as permanent residents. Located in the Willamette Valley, the Corvallis area offers numerous outdoor recreation opportunities, including fishing, hiking, backpacking, skiing, and more.
“Corvallis” is a variation on the French couer vallee, or “heart of the valley,” and this town lives up to its name. Biz Demographics has listed Corvallis as the 7th city in the nation for great places to conduct business. The National Arbor Day Foundation awarded Corvallis the “Top Tree City” award in 2002, and the Orange County Register picked Corvallis as the Pac-10 Conference’s best campus.
Bibliography
About. Oregon State University. Web. 12 June 2011.
Athletics. Oregon State University. Web. 12 June 2011.
Fiske, Edward B. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011. Chicago: Sourcebooks, 2010. Print.
Online Degrees. Oregon State University. Web. 12 June 2011.
Pope, Loren. Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That’s Right for You. New York: Penguin. 2007. Print.
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Corvallis, OR 97331
Surrounding community
Small city (inside urban area, pop. under 100,000)
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Oregon State University, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
11 months agoDiane J Price iluvdasha ((at)) yahoo dot com
I am very disturbed by a posting on WND concerning the Robinson students and their denial of continuing their graduate programs. If the university I graduated from is a part of this activity I find it unacceptable. This needs to be investigated very closely. It should not be a part of the academic program
Class of 69
12 months agoBen Kirkendall benkirk ((at)) prodigy dot net
What engineering disciplines are offered at Oregon State?
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iluvdasha ((at)) yahoo dot com
I am very disturbed by a posting on WND concerning the Robinson students and their denial of continuing their graduate programs. If the university I graduated from is a part of this activity I find it unacceptable. This needs to be investigated very closely. It should not be a part of the academic program Class of 69