The following courses must be completed before starting the Special Educator program. The program starts at the beginning of summer term each year. The prerequisite courses must have been completed within seven years prior to beginning the special educator program.
  • PSY 311 Human Growth and Development (4 credits)
  • MTH 211 Foundations of Elementary Math I (4 credits), MTH 212 Foundations of Elementary Math II (4 credits), and MTH 213 Foundations of Elementary Math III (4 credits). All THREE must be taken.
  • ED 420/520 Introduction to Education (4 credits)
  • SPED 418/518 Survey of Exceptional Learners (3 credits)

In the chart below each course is described, times offered at PSU, and important notes about the course are provided:

Prerequisite and times offered at PSU Important notes about this course
PSY 311 Human Growth and Development
(4 credits)
Offered at PSU fall, winter, spring and summer terms 		Development of the individual across the life-span, from conception to death. Surveys the biological bases and social contexts of developmental processes (e.g., cognitive, social, emotional development). Implications of research for education, parenting/family relations, and social policy. Course needs to include human development from birth to age 18 or beyond. An equivalent course can be found at area community colleges.

MTH 211, 212,
& 213
Foundations of Elementary Math
(12 credits @ 4 credits each)

The courses are focused on how to teach math. If you are planning to teach and support academics for students with disabilities, the entire series of MTH 211, 212, and 213 must be taken. Foundations of Elementary Mathematics in order to gain a strong base in teaching math.
ED 420/520 Introduction to Education (4 credits)
Offered at PSU fall, winter, spring and summer terms		 Explores the nature of public education in the social context of the United States. Purpose is to develop critical ways of thinking about schools as social institutions and as a means of cultural transmission and transformation.
Note that this is a 4-credit course and includes a practicum in schools. Also, part of this course is completion of the certificate Discrimination and the Oregon Educator, which is required before completion of the program.
Thus, it’s preferable to take this course at PSU instead of another institution, which may not include the certificate and the practicum.
SPED 418/518 Survey of Exceptional Learners
(3 credits)
Offered at PSU fall, winter, spring, and summer terms

This course provides the foundation for understanding various exceptionalities and how special education is provided to students in schools.

Registering for the prerequisite courses.
It is advisable to begin prerequisite courses as soon as possible. If you plan on taking eight or fewer credits per term at Portland State University and are not currently a student you may register as a Quick Entry non-admitted student. A first-time registrant must submit a Quick Entry Application Form to the Office of Admissions and Records so that a registration file can be created. The application is available on-line or at the Office of Admissions and Records in 105 Neuberger Hall. There is a one-time $10.00 fee for this process. Quick Entry/Non-Admitted students are not eligible to receive financial aid. Please allow 48-72 hours for your registration record to be created. Consult the Schedule of Classes for course offerings and registration information at: http://www.ess.pdx.edu/adm/sched/


Course Substitutions
You may have previously taken a course(s) that can serve as a substitution for a prerequisite. An approved substitute course must have been completed within seven years prior to beginning the special educator program.

If you want a course you have taken reviewed, in order to determine if it can serve as a substitute for a prerequisite, fill out and submit the Special Education Course Substitution form to the department. You must attach to the form the following documentation:

  • The course syllabus (if available)
  • The official course description from the university or college bulletin/catalog.
  • A copy of your transcript showing when you took and course and course grade (an unofficial copy is OK)

A faculty committee will review and respond to your request in writing. You can pick up a copy of the Special Education Course Substitution Form in room 204 of the Graduate School of Education or we can mail it to you.

If you have taken any of the prerequisites at any Oregon state college or university within the past 7 years they should appear on your transcripts and will not require an equivalency waiver. HOWEVER, if you have taken courses at a private college or out-of-state college or university that you feel would be equivalent to the prerequisites you will need to submit an official Course Substitution Form.

Some of these courses are also offered at area community colleges. In the chart below the locations and courses numbers of equivalent courses are shown.

EQUIVALENT COURSES AT OREGON UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES

PSU Course
PCC Course
UO Course
WOU Course
OSU Course
PSY 311 PSY 215 PSY 375 PSY 311 PSY 350
Math 211 Math 211 Math 211 Math 211

Math 211

Highly Recommended Courses

The following courses are highly recommended as preparation for the Special Educator program.
  • SPED 199/410: Careers in Special Education (1 credit)
  • SPED 410/519: Principles of Special Education (3 credits)
  • SPED 199/460: Outdoor Education/Recreation with Individuals with Disabilities, or, UNST 421: Senior Capstone: Learning From and About Persons with Significant Disabilities (6 credits)
  • CI 432 - Computer Applications for the Classroom (3 credits)

     

In the chart below each course is described and important notes about the course are provided:

Highly recommended courses and times offered at PSU Important notes about this course
SPED 199/410: Careers in Special Education (1 credit)
Offered at PSU fall and spring terms 		This one credit course is designed for students who want to know more about being a special education teacher. There are many different career opportunities in this field that most people are not aware of. Special educators work in a wide variety of programs, work with children from birth to age 21 and others work as specialized consultants. In this class, students have an opportunity to learn about the range of career opportunities and also explore specific career interests.
SPED 410/519: Principles of Special Education (3 credits)
Offered at PSU winter, spring and summer terms		 Introduction to special education law and process, professional ethics, and the impact of educational reform on students with disabilities.
This is a required course in the graduate special educator program. If taken as an undergraduate, student will not have to pay graduate tuition for this class.
SPED 199/460: Outdoor Education/ Recreation with Individuals with Disabilities,
or,
UNST 421: Senior Capstone: Learning From and About Persons with Significant Disabilities (6 credits)
Offered at PSU 4 times during summer term in 2-week blocks		 Students in these two courses spend two weeks as a counselor at a summer camp for individuals with disabilities at Mt. Hood and are guided through the experience by special education teachers.
Students must apply to the camp program before they can register for this course. Call (503) 725-3380 for information. Acceptance is on a first-come first-served basis, so apply early.
This is an excellent way to gain greater understanding first hand of the strengths and challenges of individuals with significant disabilities such as autism, physical and medical conditions, and cognitive disabilities. You will also have an opportunity to meet many special educators from the Metro area who comprise the camp staff.
CI 432/532 - Computer Applications for the Classroom. (3 credits)
Offered at PSU fall and spring terms		 This course is designed for preservice or inservice teachers who wish to become comfortable with the use of the computer to enhance classroom teaching and learning. Topics include an introduction to computers and technology in education; review and curriculum integration of courseware; use of word processing; designing and using computer-based databases in the classroom; computer literacy; and graphics software for the classroom.

Entrance Exams

Applicants are required to take and pass either the CBEST or PPST (unless they hold a current Oregon teaching license). The test should be taken early enough to receive the results by February; this usually requires tests to be taken by November or December.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to register for the exam and make sure the scores are provided to the Department. Registration materials are available in the Graduate School of Education in room 204. Portland State University Testing Services has additional test information at 503-725-4428.
If the CBEST exam is taken please be aware that you will need to provide a photocopy of the test results you receive even if you request scores to be sent to Portland State University. The testing agency sends a list of scores to the university but no information to our department. We must have a copy of your scores in order to process your application.

Study materials for the entrance exams are available at the Portland State University Bookstore and from the testing organizations themselves. The Department of Continuing Education offers a test preparation course titled “Learning Plus Basic Skills for Educators.” Applicants who do not pass the PPST or the CBEST after the first attempt have the option to complete portions of the Learning Plus series instead of taking the CBEST exam. Applicants may take the computer-based courses in any of the three areas (reading, writing, and/or math) earning a “B” or better and submit the transcript with their application. Information regarding this course is available from Continuing Education at 503-725-4670.

Test
Required Scores
Pre-Professional Skills Test
(PPST) from PRAXIS, Inc. 		175 Math
174 Reading
171 Writing
California Basic Skills Test
(CBEST)

123; No less than 37 on any area (reading, math, & writing)