Undergraduate Studies in Housing Studies

The housing industry is a dynamic, competitive, interrelated business offering many exciting careers. A degree in Housing Studies from Oregon State University opens the door to a wide variety of positions. You might choose employment with a builder or manufactured housing company as a residential designer or project manager, or work in the remodeling business as a kitchen and bath designer or project manager. You might choose to work in a financial institution as a loan processor or underwriter. You might work with a government or non-profit organization to provide housing for people with low income or special needs. You could analyze the energy efficiency of homes. Or, you might become a space planner, housing manager, or drafts person. The Housing Studies program is endorsed by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). That means that after you work in the kitchen and/or bath industry for three years, you will be eligible to take exams to become a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) and/or a Certified Bathroom Designer (CBD).

Major Requirements

• traditional hand drafting and CAD drafting
• single-family and multi-family housing design
• house construction and materials
• environmental building systems
• housing needs of children, the elderly, and the handicapped
• historical, psychological, and sociological aspects of housing and design
• housing finance and management
• public policies in housing

This major has a wireless laptop requirement.

For specific course requisites within the major, see the OSU General Catalog.

Job Opportunities

Demand for OSU Housing Studies graduates is expected to grow as the population increases. There is increasing demand that housing professionals have a broad knowledge base of the entire housing industry. Your success will draw on all of your skills, abilities, and professional knowledge.

Field Experience

The Housing Studies Field Experience is a cooperative program among the Department of Design and Human Environment, firms engaged in residential design and remodeling or housing services, and qualified junior and senior students who are preparing for careers in housing studies. It combines the study of principles of residential design and housing services with on-the-job experience.

There are two phases to the program. Prior to field experience participation, students study product development and principles of housing. Students submit applications during spring term (one year prior to field experience summer). Students then participate in orientation courses (DHE 400) both fall and winter term to prepare for their work experience.

This is followed by the "Field Experience" (DHE 410), employment off campus during Summer Term. Internship sites are determined by mutual agreement of a company, the university supervisor, and the student. A variety of tasks assigned by the company provides the student with training and management experience.

During the employment period, supervision is directed by personnel in the employing firm. Contact between the student and university supervisor is maintained by weekly written reports and during the employment period. Seminars to discuss on-the-job experience in relationship to principles of housing are conducted in those cities where sufficient numbers of students are employed. Written assignments for which the student gathers information about the organization and operation of the employing firm are completed during the work period.

Evaluation of student performance is done by the supervising personnel in the firm and by the university supervisor. This is discussed with the student as an aid in career development. A total of 12 credits are earned during the summer term of participation and "Field Experience" (DHE 410) is graded on an A-F basis.

The program is elective and qualified* juniors and seniors majoring in Housing Studies are eligible to apply for admission to the program. The application process begins during spring term of the year preceding participation. An application can be obtained from the department office located in MLM 224 or from the DHE Internship Coordinator.

To be accepted a student must:

1. Have attained junior or senior standing and acceptance into the Professional Housing Studies Program.
2. Have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 (student below a 2.5 at the time of application can be accepted provisionally subject to attainment of the 2.5 by the term of participation).
3. Have earned at least a C grade for DHE 399: Studio I.
4. Indicate long-range career plans and some understanding of the requirements for a career in housing.
5. Show evidence of ability to assume leadership and responsibility and make mature decisions in coursework, previous jobs, and/or extra-curricular activities.
6. Indicate willingness to carry out all on-the-job assignments in a professional manner and to use individual initiative during the on-the-job experience.
7. Show ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form.
8. Show evidence of ability and desire to represent the University and the Housing Studies Field Experience Program at a professional level.

Examples of Recent Internship Sites:

• Corvallis Kitchen and Bath, Corvallis, OR
• Corvallis Neighborhood Housing, Corvallis, OR
• David Horning Designs, Corvallis, OR
• Green Building Services, Portland, O
• IKEA, Portland, OR
• Lanz Cabinets, Eugene, OR
• LRS Architects, Portland, OR
• Myhre Group Architects, Portland, OR

Where Graduates Are Now