Admissions | Bilingual Teacher Pathway (Secondary)

The Bilingual Teacher Pathway program is built on the premise that bilingualism and biliteracy are valuable assets in today’s culturally and linguistically diverse society and educational system. Our mission is to prepare aspiring bilingual teachers through a culturally responsive teacher education program that promotes equity, social justice, and advocacy for marginalized students and their families.

Admissions Timeline
Application Opens	September
Priority Application Deadline*	January 15
Final Application Deadline	April 15
Final Application Materials Due**	April 29
Final NES Content Area Test Deadline***	August 15
Program Start****	Fall

Additional Timeline Information:

*If you submit by our priority deadline, you will have access to our scholarship application, which is due by February 1st.

**Recommendations can sometimes take longer to arrive. You can submit your application before these have arrived. This deadline is to allow a short grace period for your recommendations to arrive, if necessary.

***Some content areas require a completed NES test at the time of application. Please refer to the Content Area Requirements for more information.

****Please note that you must have already completed ALL content area requirements prior to starting the program.

After submission, your application will be reviewed by staff and faculty. We make every effort to communicate admissions decisions by June 15.

Admissions requirements

Be bilingual and bicultural
Have a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.75
Aspire to be a bilingual/bicultural teacher
Demonstrate knowledge to teach in desired content area

Demonstrate your content area knowledge

Required Application Materials

Below is the list of the materials and information you will need to provide as part of your online application. We recommend preparing these materials in advance of submitting your application.

Unofficial Transcripts from your bachelor’s degree-granting institution and from any institution at which you have earned graduate-level credit
English Language Proficiency: Automatically assessed in your application materials. Learn more about your options for proving proficiency.
Content area requirement form: Completed as a part of your application. You must start an application in order to access this form.
Résumé outlining your work and volunteer experience with youth in an educational setting.
Statement of Purpose: Please answer the following questions. Your total answer should be no more than 750 words. We recommend you provide examples when appropriate. Your answers should reflect how your background, beliefs, and experiences have prepared you for this program.
- Our ideal student is bilingual and bicultural, open to learning, responsible (i.e., they take ownership over their learning), caring, student-centered, collaborative, and curious about–and committed to–equity, and sees bilingualism as an asset; please provide examples of your experience with youth that demonstrate how you meet these dispositional requirements.
- Please reflect on your experience as a bilingual and bicultural individual; how have your experiences contributed to the way you see the world and why do you want to become a teacher?
Recommendations: We require two letters of recommendation.

Admissions Review Process

We review your application for the following:

Academic Requirements: Via your transcripts, we assess whether you meet the university’s minimum admissions requirements.
Content Area Expertise: As a secondary teacher, your knowledge of and interest in your subject are vital to your success working with youth. We evaluate your content area knowledge via your content area requirement form. Please note that you must have already completed ALL content area requirements prior to starting the program.
Résumé: We use your résumé to evaluate your relevant work and/or volunteer experiences working with youth in educational and community-based settings and how these experiences align with your goals of becoming a teacher.
Statement of Purpose: Your statement of purpose will be evaluated based on its content, your responses to the prompt questions, and your writing style and proficiency.
Two Recommendations: If possible, at least one of these should come from someone who has seen you work with youth. Your references will submit a questionnaire that you send them via the application portal.

Ready to apply?

Review the PSU Graduate School’s minimum admissions requirements.
Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
Select "Start New Application"
Then select "Graduate Application"
For the college, select "College of Education"
For the program of study, select: "Bilingual Teacher Pathway BTP - Secondary, MEd”
Select fall term

Questions? Contact Tatiana!

Post-Admissions

You will be notified of your admission decision to the program via an email and formal digital letter from the Graduate School. After admission, you will be assigned a faculty advisor and staff student success advisor, both of whom will support you through your program. The college provides an online orientation module to help you take your next steps to begin your program. You will also be invited to a live orientation session to ensure that you’re fully prepared to begin.

A few additional things to keep in mind:

All students must submit their official transcripts to the Graduate School after admission.
If you’re still completing a bachelor’s degree, you must apply for your degree, and it must be awarded by the term before you begin your graduate program. (Ex: if the program begins summer, the degree must be awarded by the end of spring term).
You must register for coursework in the term that you are admitted in order to validate admission to the program. If you do not, your admission status will be canceled.
If you’re unable to begin in your term of admission, you may request a deferral by emailing askcoe@pdx.edu for one year, to begin the next fall term. This request must be made before the start of the program.