College of Education

Admissions | Special Education

Our Special Education Master’s program is designed for professionals wishing to add to their knowledge and understanding of the field of special education and specializations within the field. This program does not prepare students to become teachers. If you are interested in becoming a teacher, please review our licensure program. Our ideal student is committed to advocating for fairness and respect, demonstrates ethical and professional behavior, and is committed to learning.

Admissions Timeline
Program StartSummerFallWinterSpring
Final Application DeadlineMay 15August 15November 15February 15
Final Application Materials Due*June 1September 1December 1March 1

Additional Timeline Information:

*Letters of recommendation 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 2–3 weeks. 

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 outlining your work and volunteer experience with youth in an educational setting and any relevant experience related to the field of special education.
  • Statement of Purpose: Please complete a statement of purpose that answers 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. 
    • Our ideal student is committed to advocating for fairness and respect, demonstrates ethical and professional behavior, and is committed to learning; please provide examples of your experience with youth or in other professional settings that demonstrate how you meet these dispositional requirements. To learn more, please review the COE vision, conceptual framework, and dispositions. 
    • What background, experiences, and skills would you bring to support culturally sustaining practices when working with underrepresented populations in schools or community-based settings? What previous actions or future actions would you take? Consider how personal culture and beliefs impact practice.
    • 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?
  • 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: Your résumé is used to learn about your background and preparation for the program as well as whether your career goals align with the program outcome. 
  • Statement of purpose: This piece of writing further assesses your preparation for this master’s degree. We are especially interested in learning about specific examples of experiences that demonstrate your commitment to fairness and respect, your practice of ethical professional behavior, and your commitment to learning.  
  • 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.

Ready to apply?

  1. Review the PSU Graduate School’s 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 "Special Education, Master's Only (non-licensure)"
  7. Select the term you plan to start the program
Questions? Contact Laura! about this content

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. All students must submit their official transcripts to the Graduate School after admission.
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. 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.