Program Highlights

• Innovative full time 10 month program that prepares individuals for careers as licensed early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school teachers.
• Partnered with approximately 100 local schools and 18 school systems in the area, where teacher candidates successfully serve diverse learning communities in unique partnerships, residencies, internships, and student teaching.
• Instructed by professors who continue to maintain their teaching credentials, each having followed a pathway from the P-12 classroom to the highest level of scholarship and teaching.
• Includes opportunities to attend professional seminars, participate in mock interviews with principals and school district leaders, and join an alumni network of teachers.
• A reputation of excellence with an employment advantage for graduates.
• One of the lowest tuition packages in the metropolitan area 
• Curriculum meets the licensing requirements of TSPC
  • Licensure eligibility for states outside Oregon have not been determined.
  • Graduates of the School of Education (SOE) programs routinely seek to work in states other than Oregon. SOE staff work with students and alumni to determine each state's process to successfully transfer licensure and credentials in order to successfully secure work in K-12 schools.
  • Please contact the Graduate School with questions about teacher licensure requirements in your home state.
• This program is eligible for Federal Financial Aid. 

For additional program specific information, visit the School of Education.

Graduate School Application 

Admission Requirements

• Statement of Goals
• Current Resume 
• Two MAT Recommendation Letters
  • One letter from a supervisor in a professional/academic capacity and one letter that exhibits evidence of experience with children/youth.
  • The online application will provide the opportunity to enter contact information for your references and an email will be sent to the reference directly, prompting them to upload either a Word or PDF letter.
  • Alternatively, letters may either be emailed as a signed attachment to gradschl@up.edu or sent via mail to ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,Portland, Oregon 97203, directly by the reference.
• Official Transcripts (from all previously attended academic institutions)
• Must be submitted directly from the institution 
  • Electronically to gradschl@up.edu
  • By mail to ATTN: Graduate School, 5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,Portland, Oregon 97203
  • A bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university recognized by the University of Portland
    • International Applicants: All foreign degrees will be evaluated by International Student Services prior to an admissions decision  
  • International Applicants: Transcripts from foreign universities must follow the above guideline as well as be in English or be accompanied by an English translation certified as authentic. 
• Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (on a 4.0 scale)
• Attended a K-12 school for at least one year in the United States or volunteered at least 30 hours in a K-12 classroom in the United States.
• Official Test Scores 
  • International Applicants: an official score from either the TOEFL (minimum score of 88) or IELTS (minimum score of 7.0) exam is required 

Application Timeline

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning September 15. 

February 15 

• Priority application deadline; applications will continue to be reviewed through May 15, space permitting. 
• Departmental scholarship application deadline

May 1

• Deadline to accept admission and confirm attendance.
• Deadline to submit non-refundable $500 program deposit. The deposit is applied to the first semester’s tuition.

June 1

• Deadline to complete required TSPC Fingerprinting and Background Clearance. 
• Deadline to register for and complete required ORELA licensure exam prior to starting the program. 
  • Multi-Subject (Elementary): ORELA Elementary Education Subtests I and II
  • Single-Subject (Secondary): ORELA Subject Area Test

Program Contact

pilotsteach@up.edu | 503.943.7135

International Applicants

Please note the additional application requirements listed above in the "Admission Requirements" section

For additional information, visit International Student Services