College of Education

Content Area Requirements

We have two ways you can meet content area requirements:

  1. Complete a degree in an approved subject area
  2. Pass the NES or Praxis Content area test.

Whether or not you use a content area test to demonstrate proficiency for admission, you MUST complete the test by June 15th. This is a licensure requirement.

Things to keep in mind as you make your plans:

  1. If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements, we encourage you to meet with our admissions advisor Laura Sequeira to discuss next steps.
  2. You may need or want to take coursework to finish a degree or prepare for the content area test. For many areas, we also work closely with faculty across PSU who are content area experts and are available to meet with you to discuss your next steps. If you are interested in a more in-depth content-area conversation, you are welcome to reach out to the content area specialist listed in the table below. This is not a required step, and Laura can advise you on classes to take to meet the admissions requirements.
    1. If you know what classes you want to get started with, please find the PSU course schedule and the course projection guide.
  3. As a TSPC licensure requirement, either the NES test or Praxis test (when available) is required.
    1. If you are using the NES test to demonstrate content area knowledge, a passing score is due when you submit your application.
    2. If you are not using the NES test to demonstrate content area knowledge, your score report is due by June 15th. Please review the guidelines for your content area below to determine the correct NES or Praxis test to take and if you can use it to demonstrate content area proficiency.

Select your content area from the list below to learn how to demonstrate proficiency, which tests are required for licensure, who to contact with questions, and what relevant courses are available at PSU.

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Biology, Biochemistry, Bioengineering, Life Science, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Zoology, or Genetics

Tests required: NES (Biology) or Praxis (Biology)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Dr. Erin Shortlidge | eshort@pdx.edu

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or Quantum Mechanics

Tests required: NES (Chemistry) or Praxis (Chemistry)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Jack Barbera | jbarbera@pdx.edu

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Geology, Environmental Science, Earth Science, Astronomy

Tests required: NES (General Science) or Praxis (General Science)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Dr. John Bershaw | bershaw@pdx.edu

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Physics, Astrophysics, Meteorology Science, Atmospheric Physics, or Aerospace Engineering

Tests required: NES (Physics) or Praxis (Physics)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Ralf Widenhorn | ralfw@pdx.edu | 503-725-3898

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • English Literature

Tests required: NES (English Language Arts) or Praxis (English Language Arts)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Laura Sequeira | askcoe@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • American, British, or World Literature
    • Eng 107 Introduction to World Literature
    • Eng 201 Introduction to Shakespeare
    • Eng 204 Survey of British Literature I
    • Eng 205 Survey of British Literature II
    • Eng 253 Survey of American Literature I
    • Eng 254 Survey of American Literature II
    • Eng 344U Victorian Literature
    • Eng 345U Modern British Literature
    • Eng 351U African American Literature I
    • Eng 352U African American Literature II
    • Eng 353U African American Literature III
    • Eng 360U American Literature and Culture I
    • Eng 363U American Literature and Culture II
    • Eng 369U Asian American Literature
    • Eng 460 Advanced Topics in American Literature to 1800
    • Eng 461 Topics: American Literature 1800–1900
    • Eng 464 Advanced Topics in American Literature: 20th Century
    • Eng 467 Advanced Topics in American Literature and Culture
    • Eng 469 Advanced Topics in Asian American Literature and Culture
    • Eng 475 Advanced Topics in Victorian Literature
    • Eng 480 Advanced Topics in Twentieth-Century British Literature
    • ChLa 302U Survey of Chicano/Latino Literature
    • ChLa 414 Chicano/Latino Literature
    • NAS 309U Indigenous Nations Literature
    • BSt 221 Introduction to African American Literature
    • BSt 351U African American Literature I
    • BSt 352U African American Literature II
    • BSt 420 Caribbean Literature
  • Critical/Cultural Studies
    • Eng 304 Critical Theory of Cinema
    • Eng 494 Topics in Critical Theory and Methods
    • Eng 372U Topics in Literature, Gender, and Sexuality
    • Eng 373U Topics in Literature, Race, and Ethnicity
    • Eng 317U Greek Mythology
    • Eng 319U Northern European Mythology
    • Eng 314 The Epic
    • Eng 306U Topics in Literature and Popular Culture
    • Eng 327 Culture, Imperialism, and Globalization
    • Eng 498 Ecology, Criticism, and Culture
  • Composition/Rhetoric
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
    • Eng 414 Composition Theory
    • Eng 413 Teaching and Tutoring Writing
    • Eng 490 Advanced Topics in Rhetoric

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Mathematics
  • Engineering: Mechanical or Civil
  • Computer Science

Tests required: NES (Middle Grades Mathematics or Mathematics) or Praxis (Foundational Math)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Steven Boyce | sboyce@pdx.edu | 503-725-4833 or Joanna Bartlo | jbartlo@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Patterns, algebra, and functions
    • Mth 213 Foundations Of Elementary Mathematics III
    • Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra
    • Mth 343 Applied Linear Algebra
    • Mth 344 Introduction to Group Theory
    • Mth 345 Introduction to Ring Theory
    • Mth 441 Introduction to Abstract Algebra I
    • Mth 484 Topics in Algebra for Mathematics Teachers
  • Mathematical processes/number sense
    • Mth 211 Foundations Of Elementary Mathematics I
    • Mth 346 Number Theory
    • Mth 486 History of Mathematics
  • Measurement and geometry
    • Mth 213 Foundations Of Elementary Mathematics III
    • Mth 338 Modern College Geometry
    • Mth 484 Algebra-Geometry Connections for Teachers
  • Trigonometry and calculus
    • Mth 112Z Precalculus: Trigonometry
    • Mth 251 Calculus I
    • Mth 252 Calculus II
    • Mth 253 Calculus III
    • Mth 254 Calculus IV
    • Mth 255 Calculus V
  • Statistics/probability/ discrete mathematics
    • Mth 356 Discrete Mathematics
    • Stat 451 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I
    • Stat 452 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II
    • Mth 481 Topics in Probability for Mathematics Teachers
    • Mth 482 Topics in Statistics for Mathematics Teachers
    • Mth 488 Topics in Computing for Mathematics Teachers
    • Mth 490 Math for Social Justice

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Mathematics
  • Engineering: Mechanical or Civil
  • Computer Science

Tests required: NES (Mathematics) or Praxis (Mathematics)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Steven Boyce | sboyce@pdx.edu | 503-725-4833 or Joanna Bartlo | jbartlo@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Patterns, algebra, and functions
    • Mth 261 Introduction to Linear Algebra
    • Mth 344 Introduction to Group Theory
    • Mth 345 Introduction to Ring Theory
    • Mth 343 Applied Linear Algebra
    • Mth 441 Introduction to Abstract Algebra I
  • Mathematical processes/number sense
    • Mth 346 Number Theory
  • Measurement and geometry
    • Mth 338 Modern College Geometry
  • Trigonometry and calculus
    • Mth 253 Calculus III
    • Mth 254 Calculus IV
    • Mth 255 Calculus V
  • Statistics/probability/ discrete mathematics
    • Mth 356 Discrete Mathematics
    • Stat 451 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I
    • Stat 452 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists II

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Music Education

Tests required: NES (Music) or Praxis (Music: Content Knowledge)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Mari Schay | mschay@pdx.edu | 971-222-8477

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • US history
  • World history
  • Geography
  • Economics
  • Political Science

Tests required: NES (Social Science) or Praxis (Social Studies)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Gayle Thieman | thiemag@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • US History
    • Hst 201 History of the United States
    • Hst 202 History of the United States
    • Hst 203 History of the United States
    • BSt 203 African American History I - Slavery to the Harlem Renaissance
    • BSt 204 African American History II - From the Depression Era to Civil Rights
    • ChLa 325 Chicano/a History, 1492-1900
    • ChLa 326U Chicano/a History, 1900-Present
    • ChLa 471 Chicanx Labor History in the USA
    • Hst 344U Culture, Religion, Politics: Jews and Judaism in America Since World War Two
    • Hst 345U Colonial America, 1607-1756
    • Hst 346U The American Revolution, 1756-1800
    • Hst 347U Antebellum America, 1800-1850
    • Hst 348U Slavery, the American Civil War, and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
    • Hst 349U United States Indian Policy
  • World History
    • Hst 104 Introduction to World History
    • Hst 105 Introduction to World History
    • Hst 106 Introduction to World History
  • Geography
    • Geog 210 Physical Geography
    • Geog 230 Environment and Society: Global Perspectives
  • Economics
    • Ec 201 Principles of Microeconomics
    • Ec 202 Principles of Macroeconomics
  • Political Science
    • PS 101 United States Government
    • PS 102 United States Politics
    • PS 203 Introduction to State and Local Politics
    • PS 204 Comparative Politics
    • PS 205 International Politics
    • PS 352U Introduction to European Politics
    • PS 353U Introduction to Latin American Politics
    • PS 354U Introduction to Asian Politics
    • PS 355U Introduction to African Politics
    • PS 361U Introduction to the Politics of the Middle East
    • PS 362U Arab-Israeli Conflic

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Chinese (Mandarin)
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is Chinese (Mandarin)

Tests required: NES (Chinese - Mandarin) or Praxis (Chinese (Mandarin): World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Hst 423 Topics in Chinese Social History
    • Hst 424 Topics in Chinese Thought and Religion
    • Hst 425 Modern Chin

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • French
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is French)

Tests required: NES (French) or Praxis (French: World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
    • Fr 325 French Phonetics and Phonology
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Hst 359U Early Modern France
    • Hst 360U The French Revolution and Napoleon
    • Hst 361U Modern France & the World since 1815
    • Fr 341U Literature and Culture of the Middle Ages and Renaissance
    • Fr 342U Literature and Culture of the Seventeenth- and Eighteenth-Centuries
    • Fr 343U Literature and Culture 19th and 20th
    • Fr 344 Literature and Cultures of the Francophone World

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • German
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is German

Tests required: NES (German) or Praxis (German: World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to  supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
    • Ger 325 German Phonetics and Phonology
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Ger 330 Topics in Culture and Civilization
    • Hst 458 Modern Germany

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Japanese
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is Japanese

Tests required: Praxis (Japanese: World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu or Suwako Watanabe | suwako@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to  supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
    • Jpn 325 Japanese Phonetics and Phonology
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Jpn 477 Teaching Japanese As a Foreign Language
    • Jpn 478 Teaching Japanese As a Foreign Language
    • Hst 420 Topics in Early Modern Japanese History
    • Hst 421 Topics in Modern Japanese History
    • Hst 422 Topics in Postwar Japanese History, 1945-present

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Russian
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is Russian

Tests required: NES (Russian) or Praxis (Russian: World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
    • Rus 325 Russian Phonetics and Phonology
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Rus 330U Russian Culture and Civilization
    • Hst 478 Topics in Russian Cultural-Intellectual History

Proficiency: Demonstrate your proficiency in this content area for admission by either completing a degree (bachelor’s, post-baccalaureate, master’s, or doctorate) or passing the required test. Accepted majors include:

  • Spanish
  • Any content area degree earned in a country where the language of instruction is Spanish

Tests required: NES (Spanish) or Praxis (Spanish: World Language)

Test due date: at time of application or June 15th

Content Area Specialist: Bernd Ferner | fernerb@pdx.edu or Eva Nunez | enunez@pdx.edu

Relevant PSU courses available to supplement preparation, if needed:

  • Phonetics
    • Ling 415 Linguistic Phonetics
    • Fr 325 French Phonetics and Phonology
    • Ger 325 German Phonetics and Phonology
    • Jpn 325 Japanese Phonetics and Phonology
    • Rus 325 Russian Phonetics and Phonology
    • Span 325 Spanish Phonetics and Phonology
  • General linguistics
    • Ling 390 Introduction to Linguistics
  • Applied linguistics
    • Ling 391 Introduction to Applied Linguistics
  • Culture and civilization
    • Span 312 Introduction to Teaching Spanish
    • Span 330 Peninsular Culture and Civilization
    • Span 331 Latin American Culture and Civilization
    • Span 341 Pre-Modern Cultural and Literary Foundations
    • Span 342 Early Modern and Colonial Cultural and Literary Expression
    • Span 343 Cultural and Literary Expressions of Independence
    • Span 344 Modern Cultural and Literary Expressions
    • Span 345 Present-Day Cultural and Literary Expression
    • ChLa 305 Latinx Youth Cultures
    • ChLa 325 Chicano/a History, 1492-1900
    • ChLa 326U Chicano/a History, 1900-Present
    • ChLa 330U Latino Popular Culture
    • ChLa 331U Barrio Culture: Art and Literature