Students who are interested in a K-12 teaching career need to meet several academic as well as extra-curricular requirements on their way to reaching the teaching profession. Oregon teachers are required to hold a state-issued teaching license, and at PSU this is achieved through completion of an official teacher preparation licensure program in our College of Education (COE).
The purpose of the Pre-Teacher Education (Pre-Ed) Program is to prepare current undergraduate students for applying to their specific COE teaching program of interest, and to incorporate as much of that preparation as possible into fulfillment of bachelor's degree requirements. This page is intended as a guide for Pre-Ed students to navigate this pre-professional program and get the most out of their time as PSU undergrads.
It is a common misconception for Pre-Ed students at PSU to think they are majoring in education, but the Pre-Ed Program is not actually a major -- it is a pre-professional program, meant to ensure that students are making progress towards graduation with a bachelor's degree in a major of their choice, and that they are doing so in ways that also fulfill all the admission requirements for their specific COE teaching program of interest. Pre-Ed students can technically choose from a wide variety of majors, but depending on which Pre-Ed track a student pursues, some majors are definitely more fitting than others for incorporating pre-requisite courses. Review these options below and follow the links for suggested majors that tend to be highly compatible with each track.
The Pre-Ed Program is composed of three "tracks" to distinguish between students who are primarily interested in teaching Elementary, Secondary, or Special Education. Each Pre-Ed track is associated with a different type of GSE teaching program, and determining which track is right for you involves answering a few important questions about your own interests and preferences:
Are you primarily interested in special education? SPED teachers work in collaboration with lead instructors and teaching assistants to develop individualized lesson plans for students with a wide range of special needs. Pre-Special Ed students have many options for major, but most often pursue interdisciplinary majors that combine multiple relevant subjects. If you are mainly or solely interested in becoming a special educator (whether at the elementary, middle, or high school level), click here to explore the Pre-Special Ed track.
Are you primarily interested in teaching at the elementary level (grades K-5)? Elementary teachers provide lead instruction in multiple subjects to their classes, so they need to know a little bit of everything rather than being experts in a particular subject. Pre-Elementary Ed students have many options for major, but most often pursue interdisciplinary majors that combine multiple relevant subjects. Click here to explore the Pre-Elementary Ed track.
Are you primarily interested in teaching at the secondary level (middle school or high school)? Secondary teachers provide lead instruction in a specific subject, so Pre-Secondary Ed students are generally advised to major in the subject they wish to teach. Click here to explore the Pre-Secondary Ed track.
All Pre-Ed students should meet with the following types of advisors to ensure their academic and professional goals are realistic and attainable:
It is highly recommended to attend a COE Information Session for the specific teaching program(s) you are interested in possibly attending. If you do not see your program of interest listed on their schedule, or if you cannot attend during the scheduled times, or if your area of interest does not seem to fit into any of the Pre-Ed tracks described here, you should email COE Advising at askcoe@pdx.edu to set up a one-on-one appointment.
All Pre-Elementary ed and Pre-Special Ed students are assigned to advisors in the Society and Identity Pathway.
Pre-Secondary Ed students should email and/or meet with the Secondary Ed advisor for the subject they wish to teach, to ensure they get all the content required for COE. Secondary Ed content requirements and advisor information is listed here, and further details are available on the Pre-Secondary Ed page.
If your major is outside the Society and Identity Pathway, you will have a second advisor for your major requirements. Your major advisor will help you create an academic plan that fulfills all graduation requirements as well as incorporating pre-requisites for your COE program. It is primarily your responsibility to know what pre-requisite courses you need by reviewing this web site, meeting with COE Admissions Advising, and communicating with your secondary ed content area advisor (if applicable).
Click here for a complete list of PSU majors and their respective advising locations. If after reviewing this site you are still unsure of what you would like to major in, you are encouraged to seek out exploratory advising in the Advising Pathway that most closely matches your interests, and to attend a COE Information Session and/or schedule an appointment with COE advising (askcoe@pdx.edu) at your earliest opportunity.