Essentials Course - Credits

Here are the steps to take if you want to receive these credits:

1. Participate in either the online or face-to-face Essentials Course offered in your area.
2. Register for the course credit online.
3. You will receive an email that confirms your registration and provides information about establishing your PSU login account (OAM)
4. You will also receive an email from the instructor that invites you to the course wiki. All assignments and due dates are detailed on that site.
5. Complete all coursework within six months of registration.

Credit Information

Portland State University credit is graduate level (810) and approved through the Curriculum and Instruction Department of the Graduate School of Education. (The 810 level can be applied to a graduate program of study as an elective credit; approval from an adviser is always suggested). For a more thorough explanation of the 800 graduate-level course, please refer to the PSU faculty handbook.

• One quarter graduate hour is equal to 10 contact hours of class time. A 5-credit course would be 50 contact hours.
• The credit fee is $55 per credit or $275 for a 5-credit course (quarter-hour credits).
• For teachers who need to convert our quarter credits to semester, here is an easy formula:

  Quarter	Semester
  5 quarter credits	3 semester credits

Students are billed for tuition payment. Please be sure to enter complete mailing information on the registration form.

The grading is a letter grade (A-F).

Note: Many districts require a letter grade for pay increases and promotions, and universities require a letter grade to apply as transfer credit.

Credit Requirements

• Complete the Essentials Course either online or face-to-face in your area
  
• Complete the credit assignments for PSU
  1. Workshop reflection assignment (1 page maximum)
  2. Unit plan submission assignment
  3. Web-based learning assignment (1 page maximum)
     • Option 1: for those who are unable to teach their unit prior to the end of the quarter
     • Option 2: for those who are able to teach part of their unit prior to the end of the quarter

Detailed instructions for completing and submitting these assignments will be emailed to students after they have registered for the course.