In today's world, the intersection of building design, energy efficiency and occupant health has never been more critical. The Healthy and Efficient Buildings Graduate Certificate at Portland State University prepares you for a rewarding career at the forefront of this emerging field, equipping you with the skills to design, analyze and manage buildings that are sustainable and health-promoting.

Led by experienced instructors who are both academic experts and industry practitioners, the program will help you develop new competencies in building science, indoor air quality, energy modeling and sustainable design. This 16-credit program is designed with working professionals in mind, offering flexibility and practical, project-based learning experiences. 

Graduates of this certificate program are in high demand, with many finding employment in top-tier engineering firms, utilities and sustainability-focused organizations across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

The Added Elementary endorsement and graduate certificate is designed for currently licensed teachers (e.g., secondary or elementary specialist teachers) who are looking to teach in an elementary classroom. Create an inclusive environment by learning about the pedagogy and content knowledge needed for elementary teaching while building on your past teaching experience, with PSU’s innovative Added Elementary Endorsement. Through this program, you design, plan, and implement effective, engaging, culturally sustaining instruction for individual students, small groups, and a whole class. Learn how to support each student’s progress and growth in an equitable setting.

Program benefits

• Cultivate positive relationships among members of classroom communities
• Assess elementary students’ academic strengths and needs
• Assess and support the academic language development of all students
• Collaborate with other professionals to support the development of all students, including students with special physical, social, or academic needs
• Develop awareness of the influence of systemic injustices and inequities on educational opportunity and work for social justice and equity in your teaching
• Critically and collaboratively reflect on your teaching practice in ways that help you develop and refine your teaching across your career
• Experience incredible value: Learn from experienced teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and at an accessible price
• Specifically designed for currently licensed teachers (e.g., secondary or specialist teachers) who want to teach in an elementary classroom

Program specifics

• Can be combined with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction by working with an advisor
• Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experience in our unique cohort model
• Translate theory learned in the classroom into experience learned through a practicum

The School Counseling Certificate program is for individuals who have completed a master’s degree in counseling, psychology, or social work, and who want to move into the K-12 school system. This program will prepare you to become a change agent and advocate within the school environment promoting equity for all students to grow personally, socially, academically, and to achieve their lifelong educational and career goals.

Students enrolled in the School Counseling Certificate program must be graduates from an accredited master's program in counseling, psychology, or social work that included a clinical practicum focused on individual and group counseling skills. Certificate eligibility does not include graduate degrees in teaching or education. The program is designed to meet the requirements for the preliminary school counselor license approved by TSPC.

Program benefits

• Fulfills requirements to be licensed as a school counselor in the state of Oregon
• Learn how to develop and implement a Comprehensive School Counseling Program according to the ASCA National Model and Oregon Framework
• Individualized program of study based on your previous education and work experiences and professional goals

Program specifics

• Small student-to-faculty experience
• 1- or 2-year program
• Begin any term, although internships only begin in the fall
• 600-hour school counseling field placement including experience at the elementary and middle/high school level

Oregon schools and school districts face a shortage of teachers from a diversity of backgrounds—a deep failing in our diverse 21st-century society. If you earned your teaching credential outside of the United States, the International Teacher Education Program (ITEP) provides you with a shortened and customized path to earn your Oregon teaching license. Your coursework will be focused on classes particular to working with children in American public schools. In addition, you can put ITEP coursework toward a master’s degree in education.

Program benefits

• 23-35 credits for a teaching license only
• 51-66 credits for an MEd and teaching license
• Allows you to obtain an Oregon teaching license if you are currently licensed outside the United States
• Become a culturally responsive educator for our local public schools
• Be acknowledged and valued for your international professional training and experiences and use them as a career ladder
• Experience incredible value: Learn from experienced teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price

Program specifics

• Gives you the choice of elementary or secondary levels
• Lets you obtain your license in one year
• Individualizes your program of study based on your teaching experience
• Be able to take additional coursework to earn a master’s degree

Chinese language teacher certification is an important focus within the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) and the International Teacher Education Program (ITEP) at Portland State University, located in Portland, Oregon. GTEP offers two Chinese language teacher certification options, one for teaching Chinese in public middle schools and high schools, and another for teaching in public elementary schools, particularly in dual-language (Mandarin and English), classrooms. ITEP is a program variation of GTEP, which offers an individualized program to earn an Oregon teaching license at the secondary level to teach in middle and high schools.

There is a shortage of bilingual teachers in elementary schools across much of the United States, yet our school districts are diverse. Students learn best from teachers who understand their home languages and cultural backgrounds. Our education system progresses only if it offers equitable learning experiences. Each student succeeds only if their teacher meets them where they are.

The Bilingual Teacher Pathway (BTP) Elementary program works to fill this critical need. We recruit and prepare bilingual and bicultural individuals to become licensed teachers. As a graduate of this program, you will be prepared to support students’ linguistic, cultural, and academic growth. Your impact will shape students’ success in navigating a multilingual, multicultural world.

All teacher candidates are placed in schools that have bilingual or dual-language programs and/or have a population of bilingual and emerging bilingual K–12 students. Student teaching placements are made in collaboration with school districts to ensure that candidates are mentored by master teachers. The program historically has been a “grow your own”/career-ladder path for professional advancement for bilingual instructional assistants in schools. It has evolved and continues to improve to meet the needs of the surrounding community and partner school districts.

Program benefits

• Graduate with a Master of Education degree—or a Liberal Studies bachelor's degree!—and a Preliminary Teaching Licensure to teach in elementary schools, and either a Dual Language Specialization or an ESOL endorsement
• Learn how to work with linguistically and culturally diverse learners and their families
• Understand education through a social justice and equity lens
• Learn how to establish culturally responsive relationships and implement culturally responsive pedagogy and practices
• Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experiences in our unique cohort model
• Experience incredible value: Learn from experienced teachers—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price
• Teach Grant eligible!

Program Specifics

• Enjoy a flexible schedule of evening classes for working individuals
• Optional paid internship during the second year of the program depending on your employment status
• Field Experience (student teaching) often leads to employment.
• Complete the program with a bachelor's or master's degree, earning a Preliminary Teaching License with multiple subjects and ESOL endorsements, and an option to add a Dual-Language Specialization 

If you'd like to teach in middle or high school, please visit Bilingual Teacher Pathway (Secondary)!

A quality education is something every student deserves. Portland State University’s College of Education is responding to the need for more licensed special education teachers by offering a 35-credit special education endorsement program that is designed for Oregon teachers with general education licenses. If you are an elementary or secondary teacher, you can add this Special Education Added Endorsement (AddSPED) endorsement to your license. Gain tools to adapt and teach subject areas to students with disabilities, and learn effective instructional techniques from experienced PSU faculty and seasoned community professionals who will guide and mentor you.

AddSPED helps you bring inclusion to your own classroom to create a space where all students can learn. Responsive teaching is needed to maintain equity in education. Expand your opportunities to teach students ages 3–21 who have a range of support needs by blending evidence-based research with creative classroom practices. You'll understand the importance of responsive and effective teaching; creating and sustaining meaningful community partnerships; and developing and disseminating research to advance educational theory, practices, and implementation. Stand up for all students, meet their challenges with real progress, and provide equity in education.

Program benefits

• Gain valuable hands-on experience through collaborative clinical practica
• Understand the importance of equity and inclusion for all students
• Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experience in our unique cohort model
• Experience incredible value: Learn from well-respected faculty engaged in a wide variety of applied research projects—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price

Program specifics

• Part-time over six terms
• Enjoy the flexibility of a fully online program with synchronous meeting times to build community and learn through collaboration, discussion, and community
• Includes clinical field experiences (practica) that are taken along with complementary coursework, to provide opportunities to apply instructional methods to practice
• Does not require a full-time student teaching experience, allowing candidates to maintain full- time employment throughout the program
• Allows you to add on a master’s degree at the completion of your endorsement program with the addition of a nine-credit research core
• Focus on six areas: scaffolding instruction, collaboration and teaming, individualization, data- based decision-making, inclusion and diversity, and leadership and advocacy

Twenty-first-century schools are diverse and inclusive communities. Students with special needs receive support for their educational and career goals just like their peers. As a special education teacher, your students will present a range of support needs and you will work with their other teachers, counselors, and families to create their Individualized Education Plans. Special education teachers develop unique insights into their students' needs, supporting their growth and learning through creative practices. This means that special education teachers often have the most diverse teaching jobs.

Our special education licensure program will teach you the fundamentals of a comprehensive special education program, how to implement that in your classroom, and provide you with the practice to develop and hone your skills through field experiences. As a special education teacher, you will understand the importance of responsive and effective teaching; creating and sustaining meaningful community partnerships; and developing and disseminating research to advance educational theory, practices, and implementation. You will use these skills and knowledge to stand up for all students, meet their challenges with real progress, and provide equity in education.

Program benefits

• Learn in an experiential learning environment through discussion, practice, and clinical field experiences
• Learn to advocate for the importance of equity and inclusion for all students
• Benefit from your peers’ knowledge and experience in our unique cohort model
• Experience incredible value: Learn from seasoned teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price
• Benefit from partnerships with local school districts and community agencies; these collaborations support preservice teacher candidates and recent graduates

Program specifics

• Two-year program of study (64 credits) leads to a Preliminary Teaching License. You can choose to complete master's degree requirements at the same time or after program completion to earn a master's degree in special education.
• Gain valuable hands-on experience through three collaborative field experiences and full-time student teaching
• Culminate your studies with a student teaching experience in which you will assume the wide range of roles and responsibilities of the special education teacher
• Focus on six areas: scaffolding instruction, collaboration and teaming, individualization, data-based decision-making, inclusion and diversity, and leadership and advocacy

PSU’s Human Services bachelor’s degree gives you the knowledge and technical skills to deliver care in a range of settings, including schools, hospitals, behavioral health agencies, health clinics, disability centers, nursing homes and addictions and residential treatment facilities. Through our flexible program (many of the courses for your degree can be complete fully online), you’ll learn how to enhance the well-being of the individuals, families and communities you support.

The Criminal Behavior and Justice Undergraduate Certificate prepares students to understand the causes of criminal behavior. This certificate is worthwhile for students who are interested in exploring the complex nature of crime and factors that contribute to criminal behavior in general, and within specific populations and contexts. The certificate can be valuable for students considering a job in social work or community outreach positions, where they would work with individuals involved and affected by crime. Working with community organizations or non-profits to educate the public on crime prevention and justice issues is another avenue that students might consider upon graduation.

Students will delve into questions such as “Who defines crime and criminal behavior?” and “Why do people commit crimes?” And consider how society responds to crime, and most importantly, how it can do so more effectively. Specifically, students explore how criminal justice agencies (e.g., police, courts) can use evidence-based practices to produce equitable and effective outcomes.