If you are entering your last year at Portland State during the upcoming fall term, there is probably one thing on your mind: graduation. One thing is for certain—you don’t want a small technicality preventing you from graduating, or from whatever you plan to do after. How can you be sure that your last year goes smoothly in your transition from PSU?
General graduation requirements
The classes you will have to/want to take will vary from major to major, but there are some requirements that are set across the board. You must take 180 credits total, with at least 72 credits being upper division.
You must complete University Studies courses, which consist of a yearlong Freshman Inquiry, a Sophomore Inquiry, three cluster courses and a senior Capstone.
Depending on which type of bachelor’s degree you choose, you will also need to complete general education requirements. For a Bachelor of Arts, 12 credits of arts and letters, 12 credits of sciences/social sciences and 4 credits in a foreign language numbered 203 or higher are required to graduate.
DARS Report
Print a Degree Audit Reporting System report. These can be incredibly confusing, but you’ll need to go over one to make sure the classes you are taking this year are the ones that will fulfill your graduation requirement. You definitely don’t want to finish out the year and then find out that you are missing a class or two that is necessary to get your degree.
Once you’ve printed this report, schedule an appointment with your advisor. You can go to the Advising Office in Neuberger Hall, or seek out an individual advisor within your department. They can help you go over the report, see what you are missing and suggest classes that will go toward your graduation requirement. While you may think that after years at PSU, you have the DARS report down, it is still a good idea to run it by an advisor. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Going to graduate school?
Another important thing to think about is your future education plans. Many undergraduate students plan on attending graduate school. Most graduate schools require certain prerequisites to enter their programs.
For example, graduate business schools often require courses in accounting and economics. Psychology majors who pursue graduate degrees will often have to take specific courses relevant to the type of graduate degree they are pursuing, such as child and developmental psychology classes for someone who wants a career as a child psychologist, or organizational/industrial psychology classes for the student who plans to go into a human resources or applied psychology program.
Internships and practicum are also valuable, and sometimes required, components of getting into graduate school. If all you need are some upper division courses, consider a practicum in your chosen career field.
Another important thing to consider is graduate admissions testing. Nearly all graduate schools require test scores from a GMAT, GRE, or some other type of assessment. Spending your senior year studying is not at all a bad idea. These scores are weighed quite heavily in admissions decisions, so the higher your score, the better chance in getting in to a competitive program you have. Kaplan and other centers provide practice testing and other methods to help you succeed in this endeavor.
Career plans
Even if you aren’t planning to attend graduate school, tailoring the classes you take can be important to what you do after school ends. Have you thought about adding a minor to your degree? If you are unsure of exactly what you want to do after you graduate, this can be a great idea.
Perhaps you are a sociology major, but haven’t been able to pinpoint what you plan to do with that degree. Consider a minor, or some classes, in other fields: business, psychology, communications or education. These can help you in two ways: you can learn more about other fields of study and work, and it will also allow you to specialize a bit more, making you more marketable to certain employers.
It is true that most employers do not look over your entire transcript to see which courses you took. However, in an interview, you can indicate an interest and education in whatever fields you chose to pursue.
You might also consider doing practicum or internships in different atmospheres, to further your training. Keep in mind that these credits typically don’t count toward major requirements, but they can satisfy upper-division credits. They are also invaluable experiences that make graduates more attractive to employers. What you might lack in work experience, you can make up for with in-school training.
Paperwork
Ah, glorious paperwork. Be sure to submit your degree application. This is due two terms before your anticipated graduation date. There is a $20.00 fee to submit this application. You will also want to make sure to register for commencement, and order tickets, if you plan to attend the graduation ceremony held for students.
Commencement
If you do plan to attend commencement, be prepared. As mentioned above, be sure to register for the appropriate commencement ceremony. There are two held: one in the spring at the Rose Garden, and the other in the summer in the Park Blocks. Only summer graduates, and students who plan to graduate in the fall, can participate in the summer commencement.
Purchase tickets for commencement. For Spring 2010 commencement, students will receive five free tickets, and be charged $5 each for additional tickets. Even babies need a ticket to enter the Rose Garden, so make sure you have enough for your guests. You can request up to 20 tickets.
Make sure you have your regalia. Cap, gown and tassels are available at the PSU Bookstore for $35. You can also purchase these, and other keepsakes, from Jostens. Jostens has representatives come to PSU, but you can also order online from them at http://college.jostens.com.
It’s a lot to swallow, but if you stay organized and focused, you can graduate informed and with little to worry about. Don’t be afraid to meet with advisors and ask lots of questions. You have studied for many years, paid lots of tuition and fees, and worked hard to get to where you are.
Good luck to the graduating class of 2010!