College of Education

Admissions | Bilingual Teacher Pathway

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. We look for applicants who believe in this premise and who desire to work with students to build their bilingualism. Successful students in our program are curious, student-centered, and committed to equity and inclusion in their classrooms.

Admissions Timeline
Application OpensSeptember
Priority Application Deadline*January 15
Final Application DeadlineApril 15
Final Application Materials Due**April 29
Prerequisite DeadlineBy the start of the program
Program StartFall

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.

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 eligible for admission to Portland State University
  • Be bilingual and bicultural
  • Have a minimum of 90 credits or a bachelor’s degree by the beginning of the program
  • Aspire to be a bilingual/bicultural elementary school teacher
  • Cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least.: 
    • 2.75 for graduate applicants 
    • 2.5 for undergraduate applicants

Prerequisite coursework

  • Math 211, 212, and 213
  • LIB 428

Prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better to qualify.

Tests

Undergraduate Required Application Materials

Education:

  • Admitted PSU student. If you are transferring to PSU, apply to the university here
  • 90 transferable credits or an AA degree by program start date. ***Please note that BTP is approximately 70 credits, so you may need to complete additional PSU degree requirements. It is strongly recommended that you meet with Elizabeth Benner, PSU Undergraduate advisor, to ensure a timely completion of your degree.
  • Complete required prerequisite courses (Math 211 and 212, 213; LIB 428) with a C or better. ***If you cannot complete all of the prerequisite courses, you may be able to fit them into your schedule during the program

Materials:

  • Application to the program submitted via tk20. 
  • Résumé which includes your relevant work 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: Submit contact information for at least two references via the form in the application. At least one of these letters should be from someone who has worked with you or seen you work with youth in a school setting. If you are currently employed in a school, your direct supervisor or the school principal should complete one of your recommendation forms

Undergraduate Admissions Review Process

We review your application for the following:

  • Academic Requirements: Via your transcripts, we assess whether you meet the BTP program requirements:
    • 90 transferable credits or an AA degree by program start date in the fall 
    • Minimum GPA of 2.5 
    • Completed prerequisites
  • Experience working with youth in educational settings: Demonstrate your understanding of the K-12 education system, principles of curriculum development, curriculum planning and implementation, and assessment.
  • 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 an elementary 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.
  • Prerequisites: Priority admission will be granted to applicants who have completed all or some of the prerequisites at the time of their application and can demonstrate a clear plan to finish them before the program begins.
  • Two Recommendations: Your recommenders should be able to speak to your ability to work effectively with youth, as well as your overall professionalism in educational settings.

Ready to apply?

  1. Go to Tk20 and click the Admissions link
  2. At the bottom of the Admissions pulldown menu. Click on the link to create your account and  follow the instructions.
  3. Use the username and password that you created to login and click on Create New Application.
  4. Use the “Please Select” drop-down menu to choose the correct application
  5. Click the Next button, which will take you to the introductory page
  6. Click the Next button again to get to the application form. If the form has multiple pages you will click Next at the bottom of each page.
  7. Complete the application and click the Create button when you are done.  If you need to exit the application before you are finished, click the Save button, then Close.  You will then be able to log back in and complete your application later.

Be sure to keep your Tk20 username and password. If you forget either, send a message to help-coe-tech@pdx.edu and we will recover them for you.

Questions? Contact Tatiana! about this content

Graduate 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.
  • 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: Submit contact information for at least two references via the application. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms. At least one of these letters should be from someone who has worked with you or seen you work with youth in a school setting. If you are currently employed in a school, your direct supervisor or the school principal should complete one of your recommendation forms

Graduate 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.
  • 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 an elementary 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. 
  • Prerequisites: Priority admission will be granted to applicants who have completed all or some of the prerequisites at the time of their application and can demonstrate a clear plan to finish them before the program begins.
  • Recommendations: Your recommenders should be able to speak to your ability to work effectively with youth, as well as your overall professionalism in educational settings.

Ready to apply?

  1. Review the PSU Graduate School’s minimum admissions requirements.
  2. Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
  3. Select "Start New Application"
  4. Then select "Graduate Application"
  5. For the college, select "College of Education"
  6. For the program of study, select: "Bilingual Teacher Pathway BTP - Elementary, MEd”
  7. Select the term you plan to start the program
Questions? Contact Tatiana! about this content

To validate your admission you must take a course during the term in which you have requested to be admitted. Should you not take a course in that term, your application will be canceled and you will need to reapply.

Questions?

PSU University transfer admissions:
Find your transfer advisor

PSU undergraduate academic advisor:
Elizabeth Benner, Society and Identity Pathway Advisor
ebenner@pdx.edu or schedule an appointment with Elizabeth

BTP information and application support:
Tatiana Nochevnaya, Admissions advisor
askcoe@pdx.edu or schedule an appointment with Tatiana

Undergraduate Post-Admissions

You will be notified of your admission decision to the program via an email from the College of Education. 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. If you are a new PSU student,  you will need to also pay attention to the official PSU orientation and enrollment confirmation requirements.

A few additional things to keep in mind:

  1. We recommend connecting directly with your academic advisor after you have been admitted to the Bilingual Teacher Pathway Program so that you can ensure you have a degree-completion plan.
  2. If you’re unable to begin the Bilingual Teacher Pathway Program 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.

Graduate 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:

  1. All students must submit their official transcripts to the Graduate School after admission.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.