Oregon State University has 12 academic colleges, each with its own research programs and agenda. Many OSU researchers also seek out opportunities to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries, making OSU a rich, collaborative research environment for scholars and scientists. Here is a quick overview of each college’s areas of research emphasis with links to the colleges.
Agricultural Sciences
The College of Agricultural Sciences focuses its research on six broad goals: developing sustainable, bio-based products from renewable resources; enhancing ecosystem services; developing a safe, wholesome, high-value and quality food supply; providing enhanced water-resource management, enhancement and sustainability; sustainably producing food, feed, fiber, horticulture, and bioproducts; and improving the economies, social vitality and quality of life of rural communities and individuals.
Business
The College of Business pursues research in the fields of accounting, business information systems, finance, global business analysis, management, marketing, strategy and entrepreneurship, design and human environment.
Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences
The College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences is engaged in a wide range of ocean and atmospheric sciences that are global in scope, ranging from coastal ocean dynamics and their impact on ocean ecosystems, to the study of undersea volcanoes and their link to plate tectonics, to how changes in Earth's continents affected ancient climates.
Education
The College of Education conducts research in STEM education, including free-choice learning, mathematics leadership, student engagement with STEM resources, and other projects.
Engineering
The College of Engineering conducts research in power electronics, wave simulation, nuclear reactor thermal hydraulics, micro-fluidics device fabrication, mixed signal integration, machine learning, materials science and engineering, micro-energy and chemical systems, marine energy, earthquake engineering, robotics, and nuclear engineering.
Forestry
Scientists at the College of Forestry conduct research on a wide range of topics in the disciplines of biology, botany, ecology, engineering, forest management, manufacturing and marketing of wood products, the social sciences, wood chemistry and physiology, and many others.
Honors
In the University Honors College, students work with top university faculty on cutting-edge research, and the honors thesis gives every student the opportunity to make an original contribution to his or her field.
Liberal Arts
In the College of Liberal Arts, research focuses on the intersection of art and science, science and public policy, and humanities and technology, confronting issues such as food insecurity, at-risk youth and empathy in society.
Pharmacy
College of Pharmacy faculty conduct research in medicinal chemistry and natural products, pharmacology, pharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, drug-use management, pharmacoeconomics, cardiovascular drug effects, anti-infectious disease and drug discovery.
Public Health and Human Sciences
The College of Public Health and Human Sciences has four research centers, one focusing on critical global health challenges (Center for Global Health), one focusing on investigating and unleashing the potential of older adults (Center for Healthy Aging Research), one on promoting the development and well-being of children, youth and families (Hallie E. Ford Center for Healthy Children and Families), and one on healthy food and good nutrition (Moore Family Center for Whole Grain Foods, Nutrition and Preventative Health).
Science
College of Science research focuses on solving critical problems, such as promoting wellness and environmental health, helping STEM teachers make advances in the classroom, and working at the cutting edge of materials science.
Veterinary Medicine
College of Veterinary Medicine research focuses on the development of animal models to study human diseases such as diabetes, HIV, and tuberculosis.