Undergraduate Pathways into OSU
Undergraduate Pathway Programs
The Undergraduate Pathway programs are for students who want to study for an undergraduate degree in the U.S., but might have slightly lower GPAs or English language skills, or who desire additional academic and language support in order to succeed during their first year at a U.S. university. INTO Oregon State University’s Undergraduate Pathway programs combine intensive language study, academic skills development and academic coursework in a carefully constructed program designed to move students successfully through the first year of a four-year degree program. Undergraduate Pathway programs are available in:
· Business
· Engineering
· Science or Natural Resources
· General
Entry to a second year of your degree
Upon successful completion of the Undergraduate Pathway programs, students progress to a second year of study in an undergraduate degree program. Business and engineering students enter a second year of the pre-business and pre-engineering programs. At the end of the second year of study, qualified students in these programs may compete for admission to the upper division of business and engineering undergraduate degree programs. Science students enter the second year of the science major of their choice, and General students are prepared for the second year in a variety of majors.
Seamless Integration with Degree Programs
Core academic courses
The academic courses included in the first year Undergraduate Pathway programs are carefully chosen to integrate undergraduate core courses in math, science, writing and other academic subjects required for graduation from Oregon State University with intensive English instruction and academic skills development. Upon successful completion of this first year of studies, Pathway students will be on schedule to join other OSU students in the second year of a university degree program.
Academic English and Academic Skills Development
As a critical part of the program, intensive English instruction and academic skills development take up approximately one-third of a student's coursework. The English language component focuses on preparing Pathway students for university-level reading, writing, listening, and speaking. In addition, academic skills are stressed as students work in groups, present ideas, manage their time, conduct research, take lecture notes, organize the content of essays and understand how to evaluate their own work.
Bridged University Courses
An essential component of the Pathway programs is the language support furnished by the Bridge courses. Most terms, each Pathway includes one Bridge course that parallels an OSU academic course and provides language help, note-taking assistance, vocabulary support, study-group formation, and exam preparation.
Key Features
Program structure
Taught over three terms, the Business Pathway commences in either Fall or Winter. The General Pathway, which is also three terms, commences in Fall, Winter or Spring. Engineering and Science or Natural Resources Pathway programs commence in Fall only and are taught over four terms and include an optional fourth term.
Assured progression
Successful completion of your Undergraduate Pathway program assures you a place in the second year of that undergraduate degree program. Business and engineering students progress to the second year of the pre-business and pre-engineering curriculum. At the end of a second year, all pre-business and pre-engineering students may compete for admission to the upper division of the business and engineering undergraduate degree programs. They will also qualify to apply to other universities if they choose to do so.
Further advantages
· Admittance to all university facilities, events, and amenities
· Quality-assured university program at a leading U.S. institution
· Full access to the OSU campus
· Guaranteed admission to the second year of an OSU undergraduate program subject to successful completion
· Highest levels of personal care and support
Program Assessment
The final grade for each course is determined based on the student's performance on coursework and examinations. Successful students will receive grades (A, B, C or D) for each of their courses. Assessment is both formal and informal and the purpose of the assessment process is not simply to pass or fail students but to help them understand how to improve, building on success.
Examinations and coursework might include essays, reports, field notebooks, academic writing, practical and laboratory activities, group and individual projects, problem solving exercises, portfolios, academic research, oral presentations, quizzes, class tests, mid-term exams and final exams.
Minimum progression requirements to undergraduate year 2
· 2.25 cumulative GPA in the Pathway program
· No Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory (S/U) graded courses in OSU academic coursework
· A grade of C- or better on most courses in the Pathway program
· Engineering students must have a grade of C or better in all engineering, math, chemistry, public speaking, and English composition courses
· All students must have a grade of C or better in COMM 111, WR 121 and MTH
Progression from pre-business and pre-engineering into business and engineering upper division degree programs (third year) currently requires a minimum of 2.5 GPA in all OSU academic work over years 1 and 2. All OSU students must meet these criteria and must apply for admission to the third year of study in the College of Business and the College of Engineering. Entry to the third year of study is competitive with a limited number of places available in each program.
Most U.S. students find it difficult to complete all requirements for an undergraduate degree in Engineering in just four years of study by attending only three terms per year. Engineering students in particular are encouraged to enroll in summer courses to stay on track to graduate in four years. The Science or Natural Resources and Engineering Pathway programs begin in September and end in June. This allows students the option of taking further courses in the Summer term in order to strengthen their progress to a second year of academic study. Students are recommended to take two courses, about 8 credits, but may take up to 15 credits if they wish. All Summer credits incur additional tuition costs.