Portland State University educates prospective K-12 teachers in the Graduate School of Education, through the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) and the Special Educator Program (SPED). Both GTEP and SPED are split into separate tracks to emphasize either elementary (K-5) or secondary (middle/high school) education, and both result in a master's degree (Master of Education or Master of Special Education) and an initial teaching license.
Undergraduates at Portland State University may prepare for competitive admissions by consulting with appropriate advisors, by achieving high academic standards in the recommended and required courses for specialization, and in courses in liberal arts, and by documenting the successful experience with children in public schools. Passing scores on teacher exams mandated by the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) are also required for entry into the GTEP.
Early childhood and elementary education: Students who want to be elementary teachers choose from a wide range of majors to complete their undergraduate degrees. Pre-Education advisers have traditionally recommended interdisciplinary majors – such as Arts and Letters, Social Science, General Science, and Liberal studies – because they can include multiple subjects that are highly relevant to the elementary curriculum. However, specific disciplinary majors can also be fitting for the goal of progressing into GTEP. Such disciplines include (but are not limited to) English or History (especially those wishing to teach at the upper elementary level), Psychology, and Child and Family Studies. Prospective elementary teachers should consult with a Pre-Education Advisor.
Secondary (middle/high school) education: Prospective middle and high school teachers may receive general introductory pre-professional advising with a Pre-Education Advisor; however, subsequent advising for pre-secondary education should be with the academic adviser for the secondary education content area in which they wish to teach. These specialized advisors are familiar with all GTEP admission requirements for their respective content areas, and the Graduate School of Education relies on their recommendations to determine whether an applicant has sufficient understanding of the subject matter they wish to teach.
Academic majors and their respective secondary endorsements are as follows: biology (biology and general science); physical education (physical education); history, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, political science, geography, and economics (social studies); health (health); mathematics (mathematics); English (English language arts); art (art); world languages and literatures (foreign language); music (music); chemistry (chemistry); physics (physics); business and economics (business); drama (drama); speech (speech).
Special education: All prospective special educators, whether they wish to teach special education at the elementary or secondary level, should consult with a pre-education advisor. Students who are interested in teaching special education at the secondary level as well as teaching a specific subject in their middle or high school should also meet with the content area advisor for that subject (see above).
Pre-Teacher Education is a pre-professional track (not a major or certificate), common majors for pre-teacher education students include Science, Biology, Chemistry, Special Education, History, Art Practice, and Mathematics.
Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education at Portland State University
The Pre-Teacher Education at Portland State University is a Certificate program designed for students who want to build the knowledge and skills required for careers in this field. Delivered on campus at the university's main campus in Aberdeen, United States of America, the program is taught in English and takes 1 year to complete. Students study in a Full Time environment while preparing for future professional opportunities. The next intake starts on September 26, 2027.
About Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education
Disciplines
Requirements and Admission Criteria for Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education at Portland State University
Entry Requirements
General Secondary Education Certificate/Exam (Tawjihi), Overall average greater than 80%
English Requirements
- PTEMin 53
- IELTSMin 6
- TOEFLMin 71
Career Opportunities after Completing Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education
Students who complete the Pre-Teacher Education track go on to earn their Oregon Preliminary Teaching License. Many complete the Special Education bachelor's degree program at PSU which includes an endorsement in Special Education. We also offer several other programs in education:
- Elementary Education Minor
- Elementary Education Science Minor
- Mathematics for Middle School Teachers Minor
- Secondary Education Minor
- Special Education Major and Minor
Tuition and Fee Information for Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education at Portland State University
How to Apply for Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education at Portland State University
Submit Your Application and $60 Application Fee
Go to Portland State University's online application system and select Create Account. If you have already started an application, or created one for a past term, select Log In.
Submit Academic Records
You are required to submit complete academic records. We accept high school transcripts, grades and other relevant academic records along with your graduation certificate, diploma or exam results or certificates. If you have taken any college or university classes, submit transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. You can submit unofficial transcripts from non-U.S. institutions for review of your application and to receive an admission decision. Official transcripts are required for enrollment, see our official records policy for details.
Electronic Submission: Transcripts may be submitted via Parchment or sent directly from a school official to [email protected].
In Person Submission: You can bring these directly to our office upon arrival to Portland State.
Mail Submission: Submit official transcripts in their original sealed envelopes from all schools attended and mail them to PSU at the address below.
Portland State University
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
PO Box 751
Portland OR 97207-0751
Submit Evidence of English Language Proficiency
Request official test results to be sent directly to Portland State University by ETS (TOEFL), PTE, or IELTS. Students who meet the academic requirements for admission to PSU, but have not yet met English proficiency requirements, will be admitted to PSU and placed into one of our ESL programs. Review PSU’s English Language Proficiency Requirements for more details.
- TOEFL Code: 4610, department code 00
- SAT Code: 4610
Check Your Application Status
If you have submitted an application to Portland State University, you can log in to PSU's application portal to review the status of your application. You will be notified via email for each document you submit and your admission decision.
If you are not receiving email communications from Portland State University, be sure to check your @pdx.edu email account. Once you set up your student account all communications will be sent to that email address. If you are not receiving information from us in any email inboxes, please contact us at [email protected].
United States of America, Aberdeen