College of Education

Secondary Dual Educator Program

Admissions

Content area approval requirement

Content area prerequisite courses are determined by the academic advisor for the specific subject. You will need to meet with the advisor to determine which courses, if any, are required for your specific subject area. The advisor will indicate which classes are required on the Department Recommendation Form and submit to the GTEP department.

Each academic department at Portland State has an advisor who can review your transcript(s) and determine if you have the necessary coursework to qualify to teach in your academic content area. Use the Secondary Advisers for Departmental Recommendation list to contact the appropriate advisor and schedule an advising appointment. Plan to bring copies of all transcripts to the meeting and an academic departmental recommendation form. If you have met the necessary requirements for a content area, the advisor signs the form to qualify you for this program.

Test requirements

All teachers in Oregon must pass content knowledge tests before they can be licensed to teach. Documentation indicating passing scores for the following tests is required for admission into this program.

Test Requirements for Program Admission:

Students applying to the COE’s SDEP Program must take and pass the ORELA/NES test required for their chosen general education endorsement area:

Art
Biology
Chemistry
Chinese
Foundational Language Arts
Foundational Math
Foundational Science
Foundational Social Studies
French
German
 		 Health
Integrated Science
Language Arts
Math
Music
PE
Physics
Social Studies
Spanish
Russian
 

The exception to this requirement is for the endorsement in Special Education. The test for Special Education may be taken during or at the completion of the program, but must be taken prior to recommendation for licensure. Content will be taught during the program.

Please visit the ORELA website to register for the appropriate test(s)​​​​.

Test Requirements for Licensure:

  • Civil Rights & Ethics Course
    This course must be completed before a student’s first field placement.
  • ORELA/NES Special Education Test
    Required; to be taken in the last term of the program, approximately in March/April. The ORELA/NES test for Special Education may be taken during or close to the completion of the program, and must be taken prior to recommendation for licensure. Content will be taught during the program.

Admissions instructions

  1. Check the application deadline for your program.
  2. Make sure you have everything ready from the Application Checklist.
  3. Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
  4. Select "Start New Application" and then "Graduate Application." Do not select "Non-degree". You will not be able to upload the necessary documents with the non-degree application, and your application will not be considered.
  5. For the college, select "College of Education"
  6. For the program of study, select "Special Education: Secondary Dual Educator Program SDEP, MEd"

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 cancelled and you will need to reapply to the next cohort.

Questions about the application process?

If you have questions about the application process, contact askcoe@pdx.edu.
Learn about available scholarships and financial aid.

Application checklist

  • Program-specific application
  • Unofficial transcripts are accepted by the College of Education for the program application. You only need to submit transcripts from institutions that you earned a degree from and where any graduate coursework was taken. Additional unofficial transcripts may be sent in if it significantly improves your application GPA. If admitted, you must send in official transcripts from each degree-granting school and any graduate school. More information on submitting official transcripts can be found on the Graduate Admissions page.
    • Acceptable unofficial transcripts are:
      • Web-based transcripts downloaded from an institution: institution and student name must be visible on transcripts
      • Photocopies of official transcripts: these must include the front and back of all pages, including transcript key
    • Previous applicants:
      • If you’ve previously submitted official transcripts to PSU, you are still required to upload unofficial transcripts to complete your application.
  • After you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to:
    • The Graduate School
      Portland State University
      PO Box 751
      Portland, OR 97207 - 0751
      Electronic official transcripts should be sent to graddocs@pdx.edu
  • Two recommendation forms (forms are provided within application)
  • Documentation of passing scores on required tests
  • Academic Department Recommendation form

Retention of Student Documents

All application documents submitted to PSU become the property of the University and may not be copied or returned to a student. Transcripts from other institutions cannot be copied. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please email askcoe@pdx.edu.

It is a University requirement that students register and pay for at least one credit in the term they are admitted. Failure to do so will result in automatic cancellation of your admission. If you need to change the term for which you intend to begin classes after you have submitted your application, please contact your department at askcoe@pdx.edu to discuss your options.

SDEP Admissions