Transferring In / Out

Transferring into UNST

Welcome to University Studies, and a distinctive transfer experience. As a PSU student, you will find connected learning experiences that lay the groundwork for lifelong learning. University Studies brings relevance and meaning to your general education.

As a transfer student, you are placed in the University Studies program according to the number of transfer credits completed at the time of your admission as a formally admitted student.

Once registered for courses at PSU as a formally admitted student, additional credits completed at another institution will not change this placement. Note that Quick Entry admission is not formal admission, so courses completed at PSU as a Quick Entry student are considered transfer credits for University Studies placement.

Your placement in the University Studies program will be reflected on your Transfer Evaluation and/or your DARS report. See the table below. As the table indicates, if you transfer with 90 or more credits, you will choose 3 classes from Upper-Division Cluster of your choice and a Senior Capstone. Cluster courses can fulfill requirements towards BA/BS or can apply towards a minor or a second major.

Please Note: The Upper Division Cluster requirement is a PSU requirement. There are no equivalent courses offered at other institutions. Your three cluster courses must be chosen from the list of approved courses and may not come from your major department.

2022-23 Requirement Changes

The requirement that students take the SINQ that matches their Upper Division Cluster is “recommended” but is no longer required. Students using this catalog do not need to choose a Cluster from the same theme as any of their SINQ courses.

The required number of Sophomore Inquiry courses (SINQs) is reduced to two instead of three. Students will also need to fulfill their RESR requirements. For students transferring in their University Studies requirements will be as follows:

Previous Requirements 

*You must begin with the indicated course(s) and complete the remainder of the UNST program.

**Transfer Transition courses are no longer offered.  However, if you have completed a Transfer Transition course in the past it may be used to complete a Sophomore Inquiry requirement for students who were required to complete it as a third-term first-year (30-44 credits transferred).

1. If you are participating in a co-admission program, your placement may need to be adjusted. For more information, please contact: askdars@pdx.edu
2. If you have general questions about University Studies placement for co-admitted students, please contact:coadmit@pdx.edu

Transferring Out of UNST

I’m transferring to another institution, how do my FRINQ and SINQ credits transfer?

This is a great question! Students all over the world often have an opportunity to transfer in and out of colleges or universities during their academic careers. There are a myriad of reasons why students choose to transfer, but all colleges and universities require general education requirements to be met. Because these requirements vary at each college and university, students must meet with advisers at each institution they have attended and are planning to attend in order to develop a successful path to graduation.

University Studies courses are comparable to and connect with the general education requirements at Oregon institutions and others nationwide. Academic advisors are always available to assist students in resolving transfer issues. If you have any difficulty transferring UNST courses to another institution, contact the University Studies office for assistance. If you need to request a PSU transcript to be sent to another institution, please contact the Transcripts office.

Transferability of First Year Inquiry (FRINQ) and Senior Inquiry (SRINQ) credits

First Year Inquiry and Senior Inquiry High School or Oregon Inquiry credit transfers as follows:

Completion of 1 term only: 5 credits General Elective 
Completion of 2 terms only: 10 credits General Elective 

Completion of the full 3-term sequence of FRINQ and SRINQ, or the full 2-term condensed FRINQ sequence (15 credits total) transfer as follows:

• 4 credits Writing (WR 121)
• 4 credits Social Science
• 4 credits Arts and Letters
• 3 credits Science literacy

Sophomore Inquiry and Cluster Courses
Sophomore Inquiry and Cluster courses transfer as regular departmental or elective coursework.

• 4 credits lower division writing: applies to PSU lower division writing requirement

Oregon Transfer Contacts

Oregon State University Transfer Articulation Coordinator: Judy Dahlem (judy.dahlem@oregonstate.edu) 541-737-2249

Western Oregon University Admissions Counselor: Greg Davis (davisg@wou.edu) 503-838-9777

(Note: Judy and Greg can ONLY answer questions about transferring Portland State's University Studies credits into their local school. They cannot answer any questions about Portland State registration, transferring into PSU, or other questions about our program or our school. Please contact Advising and Career Services for these kinds of questions.)