OpenFieldSouthern Oregon · Ashland, Oregon, United States
Southern Oregon University (SOU) is an acclaimed public liberal arts university located in Ashland, Oregon, in the foothills of the Siskiyou and Cascade mountain ranges. Renowned for its close artistic partnership with the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival, SOU is also celebrated for environmental studies (surrounded by the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument), outdoor adventure leadership, and sustainability initiatives, including being the first Bee Campus USA and committing to 100% renewable energy.
SOU comprises the School of Arts and Communication, the School of Business, Communication, and the Environment, the School of Education, and the School of Social Sciences. It features the Schneider Museum of Art, the Digital Media Center (in partnership with Rogue Valley PBS), modern forensic chemistry labs, and the SOU Sustainability Farm.
Undergraduate admissions evaluate high school GPA (minimum 2.50, average 3.4) and college-preparatory coursework on a test-optional basis. Graduate programs require an accredited bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, personal statement, official transcripts, and program-specific letters of reference.
Nationally recognized cohort-based graduate degree combining environmental ecology, field natural history, community ecological curriculum design, and experiential teaching at the Deer Creek Center.
Immersive program training outdoor expedition leaders, wilderness guides, and experiential educators in mountaineering, swiftwater rescue, avalanche safety, and environmental stewardship.
Elite conservatory-style theatre degree deeply integrated with the neighboring Oregon Shakespeare Festival, providing professional stage acting, classical verse, scenic lighting, and costume design training.
Applied graduate computing degree covering cloud systems architecture, full-stack software development, cybersecurity mitigation, and applied machine learning models.
FEPAC-aligned curriculum preparing students for crime laboratory careers through hands-on GC-MS, FTIR spectroscopy, forensic toxicology, and trace evidence analysis in modern science labs.
Interdisciplinary fellowship investigating post-wildfire forest succession, drought-induced tree mortality, and pollinator network resilience in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument.
President & Strategic Leader
Office of the President
Dr. Bailey is the 31st President of Southern Oregon University, a retired U.S. Air Force officer championing campus solar energy self-sufficiency, student affor...
View researcher profile ↗Director & Professor of Environmental Studies
Division of Business, Communication, and the Environment
Dr. Smith directs interdisciplinary environmental programs at SOU, researching agroecology, community sustainability planning, and campus climate resilience pol...
View researcher profile ↗Professor of Biology & Tree Ring Researcher
Department of Biology
Dr. Roden is a plant ecophysiologist investigating stable isotope dendrochronology, forest canopy water use, and climate change impacts on Pacific Northwest con...
View researcher profile ↗OpenField is an independent research platform not officially affiliated with Southern Oregon University. Information reflects public documentation reviewed on 2026-10-16. Students must verify application deadlines, fee structures, and prerequisite details directly with official university admissions departments before applying.
Updated 2026-10-16 · Editorial policy · Submit corrections