Admissions | Special Education (Undergraduate)

Required application materials

Along with your responses in the application form, all candidates for the Special Education program are required to submit responses to the following:

• Transcripts: From your most recent term of attendance. These should demonstrate that you meet or will meet the admissions requirements by the time you begin the program.
• Résumé: Your resume should summarize work, volunteer, and life experiences relevant to your program. Here are some examples to help you get started: (Template 1) and (Template 2).
• Responses to four supplemental questions: To better understand who you are and your readiness for upper-division coursework in Special Education, you must respond to the four prompts below. Your responses will be reviewed for content and clear writing, including grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Consider adding examples to make your point. Your submission conveys essential information about yourself, why you want to study Special Education at Portland State University, and your readiness for the program. An appropriate response length is 300–400 words for each prompt.
  • Our ideal student demonstrates the following dispositions: 1) professionalism, 2) flexibility, 3) ethical behavior, 4) self-reflection, 5) cultural awareness and responsiveness, and 6) high expectations and responsibility for student learning. Please provide examples of your experience with youth that demonstrate how you meet these dispositional requirements.
  • Describe how this program fits your educational and long-term career goals and the difference you intend to make in your field. Explain how your college education will help you achieve these. As needed, convey additional information explaining your previous academic performance and readiness for the program.
  • 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, and what did you learn from the experience?
  • What background, experiences, skills, or beliefs do you bring to support the inclusion of infants, children, or youth with elevated service needs (e.g., low-incidence disabilities, multiple disabilities) and their families and teachers.
• References: Submit contact information for two references. Portland State University will contact your references and provide them with instructions for submitting recommendation forms. Recommendation forms must be received by PSU by  April 30th, 2026 at 11:59 PM. Do not list your family or friends as references.