College of Education

Admissions | Postsecondary Adult & Continuing Education

The Postsecondary, Adult and Continuing Education (PACE) program  is committed to attracting, enrolling, and retaining a diverse student body with a commitment to social justice and equity advocacy, and the desire to foster life-long learning within inclusive, interdependent communities in a variety of higher education and adult learning settings.

Admissions Timeline
Program StartFallWinterSpringSummer
Application DeadlineAugust 15November 15February 15May 15
Final Application Materials Due*September 5December 6March 8June 5

Additional Timeline Information:

*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.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, once all materials have arrived and the application is complete. Once complete, your application will be reviewed by staff and faculty. We make every effort to communicate admissions decisions within 4 weeks of application completion.

Admissions requirements

  • Possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
  • Have a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or the equivalent (on the U.S. 4.0 scale).
  • Applicants who have earned 9 or more letter-graded graduate credits must have a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0 or the equivalent; this graduate GPA supersedes the undergraduate GPA.

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
  • Official Transcripts: After you are admitted, you must submit official transcripts to the Graduate School
  • English Language Proficiency: Automatically assessed in your application materials. Learn more about your options for proving proficiency.
  • Résumé.
  • Statement of Purpose: Please answer the following questions in no more than 500 words each. We recommend you provide examples when appropriate. Your answers should reflect how your background, beliefs, and experiences have prepared you for this program.
    • Question 1. This program seeks students who demonstrate a commitment to social justice and equity, uphold professional and ethical standards, and engage in lifelong learning and reflective practice. Please share examples from your experience in education-related settings that illustrate how you embody these dispositions.
    • Question 2. Reflecting on the PACE mission statement, guiding principles, and values (listed below), describe what you hope to contribute to the program and how your personal and professional goals align with its commitments.
      • PACE Mission Statement
        • To develop adult educators who are able to anticipate and respond to the changing developmental issues of diverse adult learners, organizations and communities.
      • PACE Guiding Principles and Values
        • PACE is guided by a specific set of principles and values that are incorporated into course content and interactions:
          • A commitment to social justice and equity.
          • The empowerment of change agents and agency.
          • The integration of theory, research, assessment and practice
          • The promotion of sound educational, social, economic, cultural and environmental leadership and decision-making.
          • The development of reflective practitioners.
          • The fostering of lifelong learning with inclusive, interdependent communities.
          • The utilization of appropriate and contemporary resources and technology.
  • References: 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.

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.
  • Two Recommendations: If possible, at least one of these should come from someone who has seen your work within an education-related setting. Your references will submit a questionnaire that you send them via the application portal.
  • Résumé and Statement of Purpose: We review these materials to ensure the program is appropriate for your background, beliefs, and goals.

Ready to apply?

  1. Review PSU Graduate School 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 "Educational Leadership and Policy: PACE Specialization, MS"
  7. Select the term you plan to start the program

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.

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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. Optional: Subscribe to the PACE Google Group to receive reminders about upcoming course offerings, important deadlines and internship/job opportunities.
  2. All students must submit their official transcripts to the Graduate School after admission.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.
  5. If you’re unable to begin in your term of admission, you may request a deferral for up to 4 terms (one year) by emailing askcoe@pdx.edu. This request must be made before the start of the program.