Elementary teachers (Kindergarten through 5th grade) in Oregon must hold a K-12 teaching license with a multi-subject teaching endorsement. This credential is earned in PSU's College of Education (COE) through the Graduate Teacher Education Program (GTEP) for Elementary educators. This program is currently only offered at the graduate (master's) level.
The GTEP Elementary program only has 4 classes required for admission. This means that Pre-Elementary Ed students have a lot of flexibility, and can choose almost any major they want. However, some majors make more sense when it comes to learning the subjects elementary teachers will teach, and about the needs of children, youth, and families. The following tend to be most common among students who graduate from PSU with their bachelor's and are admitted to GTEP Elementary, but that doesn't mean they are the best!
Social Science (Interdisciplinary Major)
Arts & Letters (Interdisciplinary Major)
Liberal Studies (Interdisciplinary Major)
Click here for a complete list of PSU majors and their respective advising locations.
Elementary track of the Graduate Teacher Education Program
1 year full-time or 2 years part-time to complete
Earn a Master's in Education
K-12 teaching license with multi-subject endorsement.
Although the license technically covers grades K-12, the multi-subject teaching endorsement is typically only used in elementary (K-5) teaching.
Program follows a cohort model starting every summer term.
Admission Requirements (must be completed by the end of spring term prior to program starting summer term):
Bachelor's degree awarded
GPA of 3.0 or higher (undergraduate cumulative or graduate-level)
Grades of B- or better in all pre-requisite courses:
MTH 211, MTH 212, and MTH 213 (Foundations of Elementary Math I, II, & III)
LIB 428 (Children's Literature)
Passing scores on required National Evaluation Series (NES) test.
All applicants should have ample experience working with children, preferably in public school settings.
Letters of recommendation, preferably from professional educators who have direct experience with you in their own classrooms (see previous bullet point)
A personal statement reflecting on your prior experiences and future ambitions in the field of education