PSU teacher education student working with a class

Graduate Program Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP)


Degree Details

  • Masters (M)
    Total Credits
    66
    Start Term
    Summer
    Delivery Method
    On campus
    Flexible

Learn more about our academic program delivery methods



Graduate Teacher Education Program Master's Degree Overview

Great teachers start at PSU.

The master’s degree in education prepares you to be a part of a new wave of progressive K-12 teachers. As America’s schools become more racially and ethnically diverse, serving students with different cultures, languages, and abilities, our teachers need to adapt. The College of Education will equip you to teach in an inclusive and equitable environment, utilizing the latest technology to help you succeed. You will be a teacher who helps each student succeed on their unique terms.

To become a secondary teacher, you will need to earn a bachelor's degree and complete coursework in the content area you hope to teach. This track prepares you to teach 6th through 12th grade and can be completed over one or two years. The program requires 66 total credit hours including academic work and student teaching. Students will specialize in a specific subject area, learning teaching methodology directly related to the content.

Program CoordinatorAdmissions Advisor
Torrey Kulow
askcoe@pdx.edu
503-725-4619
Laura Sequeira
askcoe@pdx.edu
503-725-4025*
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Through the GTEP program you will:

  • Earn your master’s degree and Oregon teaching license in one year (perfect for those who can go to school full-time) or two years (works great for those with other work commitments).
  • Design, plan, and implement lesson plans that encourage creativity, build community, and make a real impact on your students’ goals and future careers.
  • Challenge yourself to help create sustainable equity and inclusion in education.
  • Learn from experienced secondary school teachers who have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees—and do so in convenient locations and at an accessible price.

How to Become a Teacher in Oregon

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.
  2. Choose a subject and grade level (Secondary).
  3. Complete a teacher preparation program. The program must qualify for a TSPC Oregon Preliminary Teaching License.
  4. Complete your student teaching requirements through the GTEP program.
  5. Apply for your license through the state, complete your background check, and pass testing requirements.

Add an Endorsement or Specialization

An endorsement helps teachers focus in an educational area, and can be added for any grade level or teaching subject. You can add one of the following endorsements to your program:

  • Reading
  • English for Speakers of other languages (ESOL)
  • Special Education Endorsement
  • Teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL)
  • Mathematics Instructional Leader Specialization

Accreditation

The Graduate Teacher Education Program is  accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

Graduate Teacher Education Program Master's Degree: Why PSU?

At Portland State University, our cohort model means that you will develop a close community of peers who will be an important part of your professional network for years to come. By taking all of your coursework as a group, your cohort will develop strong connections that can serve as sources of friendship, learning, and professional opportunities for years to come.

Your GTEP courses will be taught by scholar-practitioners: experienced teachers who also have scholarly expertise and advanced degrees in their fields. That means that you will learn practical tools and strategies based on sound research and theory.

Our reputation as a high-quality teacher preparation program has helped us build an extensive network of partnerships with schools and school districts in the Portland metro area. PSU teacher candidates are sought after by principals both for student teaching field placements and for hiring.

PSU holds a strong commitment to equity and social justice. Our deep welcome and inclusive environment of all nurtures fearless confidence in students to themselves interrupt oppression and injustice and see quality, culturally sustaining, education as an important avenue toward a just society. We strive to embody these principles in our practices and continually seek to improve our efforts to work for equity. Your program at PSU will encourage you to frame your career in terms of working for justice and opportunity for all people.

What can I do with a Master's degree in the Graduate Teacher Education Program?

When you successfully complete the GTEP, you will be prepared to promote the academic, career, personal, and social development of students and will be eligible for a position as a secondary classroom teacher. Others move into specialist and administrative roles. GTEP has built an extensive network of partnerships with schools and school districts in the Portland metro area. As a result, our graduates often find jobs within Portland Public Schools. PSU teacher candidates are sought after by principals both for student teaching field placements and for hiring.