Admissions | Graduate Teacher Education Program

The Graduate Teacher Education Program is committed to attracting, enrolling, and retaining a diverse student body that mirrors our K-12 student population. We prepare teachers who can meet the needs of all of their students, are experts in their content areas, and utilize new technologies to innovate in their classrooms.

Admissions Timeline
Application Opens	September 1
*Priority Application Deadline	January 15
Final Application Deadline	March 1
Information Night	TBD
Mandatory Orientation	TBD
**Final NES Content Area Test Deadline	June 15, 2025
Program Start	June 23, 2025

*If you submit by our priority deadline, you will have the following benefits:

Access to our scholarship application, which is due by February 1st
Priority for admission to the 1-year program

**Some content areas require a completed NES test at the time of application, please refer to the Content Area Requirements for more information

Applications are reviewed after each deadline. Applicants should expect to hear from the department within 4 - 6 weeks after the deadline with an admissions decision via email from mwal@pdx.edu.

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.
Content area requirement form: Complete the content area requirement form and upload it in the "program-specific questions" section of your GTEP application.
Résumé outlining your work and volunteer experience with youth in an educational setting
Statement of Purpose: Please complete a statement of purpose that answers the following prompt: Please describe what you hope to accomplish as a teacher and why. In your essay, draw on what you have learned from your specific experiences working with children or in other contexts. [500-750 words]. We evaluate your statement of purpose to gain a stronger sense of your interest in the profession and how your experiences have prepared you to become a teacher.
References: Submit contact information for at least three 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.
Content Area Expertise: As a secondary teacher, your knowledge and love of your subject are vital to your success working with youth. We evaluate your content area knowledge via your content area requirement form. Your love of subject is assessed through your statement of purpose.
Experience with children and/or youth: Experience working directly with youth before you begin our program ensures that we feel confident about your future success as a teacher. We use your résumé to assess for this experience. Please note that if you do not have experience with youth in an educational setting, you can only be admitted to the two-year program.
Three References: 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.

Questions? Please connect with Laura Sequeira.

Admissions Instructions

Create an account or sign into the Portland State University Admissions Application system.
Select "Start New Application"
Then select "Graduate Application"
For the college, select "College of Education"
For the program of study, select: "Graduate Teacher Education Program GTEP - Secondary, MEd"
Select the term you plan to start the program
1. Please note that GTEP only admits for a summer start each year.