Planning Your Degree

First-year undergraduate students

What courses do you need to earn an Oregon State University degree?

All OSU degree-seeking undergraduate students must complete the Core Education requirements, which is 42 to 48 credits, alongside their major requirements. Core Education prepares students to be adaptive, proactive members of society who are ready to take on any challenge, solve any problem, advance in their chosen career and help build a better world.

• For students starting in Summer 2025 and after, there are a variety of options available for completing the Core Education requirements online. Many Core Education courses are also prerequisites for future upper division courses.
  
  
• For students admitted to OSU for Spring 2025 and prior, the Baccalaureate Core (bacc core) is the initial series of 51 credits required for OSU degrees. The bacc core foundation is being replaced by Core Education requirements in Summer 2025. There are a variety of options available for completing the bacc core requirements online.

The curriculum guides on each of our undergraduate degree pages lists required coursework, prerequisites and suggestions for how to plan your degree program.

Transfer students

How will your previous coursework transfer to OSU?

Read our information for transfer students. These tools and sites will help you discover how your previous coursework will transfer, and what courses remain to complete your Oregon State degree online. 

OSU is on a quarter-term system. When transferring in coursework from semester system multiply the number of credits by 1.5 to see how many quarter credits will be transferred (3 semester hours x 1.5 = 4.5 quarter credit hours).  If you are planning to transfer OSU credits out to a semester system multiply the number of quarter credits by .67 to find out how many credits will transfer (4 quarter credit hours x .67 = 2.68 semester hours).  This is a rough estimate and each university may be slightly different. Be sure to check with the university you are transferring to ensure that they will accept the credits.

Graduate students

Information on Oregon State University's graduate programs and admissions procedures is provided by the OSU Graduate School. You can also explore the graduate degree and certificate programs that OSU Ecampus delivers online.

Ready to apply?

Once you feel you have gathered all the necessary information and have all required application materials, you can apply to Oregon State. Learn more about the application and admissions process.

If you have questions, please contact Ecampus Enrollment Services at 800-667-1465 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday-Friday, or email ecampus@oregonstate.edu.