About the program
If you desire to work with all children, those with and without learning challenges, the Inclusive Elementary Educator Program (IEEP) is designed for you. You will learn how to promote equity and social justice in classrooms and school settings.
Immerse yourself in PSU’s full-time two-year graduate-level IEEP to earn a master's degree and licensure in both general and special education as follows:
- Master of Science in special education or Master of Education
- The Oregon Preliminary Teaching License with authorizations in:
- Special Education K-age 21
- General Education (multiple subjects) K-8
The IEEP's core mission is the development of exemplary educators. Exemplary teachers are effective with all students. The central beliefs of the IEEP are that: students with disabilities should be educated alongside their nondisabled peers; classroom teachers bear central responsibility for the education of all students in their classrooms; the role of special educators is to provide resources and support for classroom teachers and their students in the classroom as much as possible; general and special educators serve students best when teaming and collaborating; and inclusive education, when properly practiced, leads to the development of exemplary educators, as well as the effective education of all students.
These beliefs rest on a foundation of research-based best practices.
PSU’s College of Education has eight guiding principles. Three of them are particularly relevant to the IEEP:
- To create and sustain educational environments that serve all students and address diverse needs
- To encourage and model exemplary programs
- To develop programs to promote social justice, especially for groups that have been historically disenfranchised
These three principles are the foundation upon which the IEEP rests.
Our graduates
Graduates are highly sought after by local school districts and agencies. Over 85% of the teacher candidates who complete this highly specialized program are employed prior to graduation as:
- Classroom teachers in general and/or special educating settings
- Inclusion specialists in school and community-based programs
- Program developers or specialists in agencies seeking to expand accessibility of programs
Why PSU?
Located in downtown Portland, PSU’s urban campus is part of the greater community, and its teachers have wide-stretching connections within the community. Leveraging these benefits, you will be placed in schools and mentored by both general and special education teachers every term of the program. Cohorts are actively involved in community service, including tutoring, after-school programs, and family math nights.