Admissions | Early Intervention Special Education

The Early Intervention Special Education program is committed to attracting, enrolling and retaining candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusive education and a genuine passion for supporting young children with diverse needs and their families. Our applicants exhibit strong academic preparation, meaningful work and life experiences, and a clear understanding of both the challenges and the rewards involved in early intervention special education

Admissions Timeline
Application Opens	August 1
Priority Application Deadline*	January 15
Final Application Deadline	April 15
Final Application Materials Due**	April 29
Prerequisite Deadline	First spring term in the program
Program Start	Summer

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 within three to four weeks.

Applications are reviewed as they are received and will close once the cohort is full.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisites courses or course equivalents are required for candidates seeking an EISE initial license and are not required for endorsement-only applicants. Prerequisite courses must be completed before the spring term of the first program year and have been completed within seven years prior to beginning the program.

PSY 460: Child Development

Both courses are typically offered every term at PSU. Check the current schedule for availability.

The following course, while not required, is highly recommended as preparation for the Special Educator program:

PSY 459/559 Infant Development (3 credits)

Tests

Special Education: Early Childhood / Early Intervention Test 5692: Taken as part of program completion; passing score required.

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 that includes advocacy, volunteer and personal experience with individuals with disabilities or working with people with disabilities
Statement of Purpose. Please answer the following questions in no more than 250 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: Our Ideal student is:
  - deeply interested in child development, including developmental disabilities;
  - committed to inclusion and actively works to create accessible, inclusive learning environments;
  - keen to understand the rules and regulations around early intervention and early childhood special education eligibility and services;
  - has a good foundation from which to build their skills in communication, problem-solving skills, and persistence;
  - values interdependence and shared problem-solving with other adults;
  - demonstrates genuine care, warmth, and patience when working with others;
  - intentionally considers and respects different values, cultural practices, beliefs, and priorities;
  - is flexible and adapts to unexpected changes calmly and creatively;
  - seeks feedback and opportunities for professional growth;
  - acts ethically by maintaining confidentiality and respect, and upholding professional ethical standards and recommended practices.
- Please provide examples of your early childhood care, education, and related experiences demonstrating how you meet these dispositional requirements.
- Question 2: Why are you applying to this program? Describe how this program fits your educational and long-term career goals, how this program aligns with these goals, and the difference you intend to make in your field.
- Question 3: Graduate school requires significant time and energy. Reflect on a time when you faced a significant challenge or setback. How did you manage your emotions, time, and resources to overcome the obstacle, what did you learn from the experience, and how will you use this experience to propel your success in the program?
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.

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.
Experience working with young children: We look for applicants with at least one year of professional or volunteer experience working with children ages 0–3 and their families in one or more of the following sectors:
- Early care and education
- Early intervention and early childhood special education
- Inclusive early childhood education
- Health, Mental Health, or Nutrition
- Family Supports
Résumé: We use your résumé to evaluate your relevant work and/or volunteer experiences in educational setting(s) and how these experiences align with your goals in pursuing this program.
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. Please choose individuals who know you well professionally or academically (e.g., supervisors, professors, mentors, coworkers). Recommenders should be able to speak to your ability to work with young children with diverse needs, collaborate effectively with their families, and demonstrate professionalism in educational settings.

Ready to apply?

Review PSU Graduate School 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 from:
"Added Early Intervention Special Education Endorsement, Graduate Certificate"
"Early Intervention Special Education, MS and License"
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? 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 up to 4 terms (one year). This request must be made before the start of the program.