Reading Specialist Endorsement Program

If you are interested in taking ReadOregon courses, please first submit an easy online application at: www.readoregon.org/application.html.

Students interested in enrolling in the Reading Specialist Program - distance-delivered (a graduate-level, 24-credit program) must be admitted through one of five universities as their "home" institution.

Portland State University information is below. The other four institutions are:

Eastern Oregon University
Oregon State University
Southern Oregon University
Western Oregon University

Students are able to take any of the approved reading and literacy courses from any of the collaborating universities. Upon successful program completion, students are recommended by their home institution to receive the Reading Specialist endorsement from TSPC. Students are responsible for transferring credits received at other insititutions to their home institution.

PSU — Home Institution:

All students interested in earning the 24-credit Reading Specialist Endorsement must be formally admitted to the University and the Graduate School of Education prior to the practicum. For PSU ReadOregon transfer credit guidlines, please see general info.

Please do not submit incomplete packets.

Applicants must submit two separate application packets:

• #1 to the Portland State University, Office of Admissions
  — see exact address below
• #2 to the Graduate School of Education, Department of Curriculum & Instruction — see exact address below

PACKET #1 PSU Admissions Office
Submit to: PSU Admissions Office (104 Neuberger Hall)
Mailing Address - PO Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207-0751

• Application for Graduate Admission Form,
  Enter the following codes in the boxes at the top of the form:
  Major = EDCI; Endorsement Area = CREADE
• One set of official transcripts from ALL institutions you have attended, except PSU, in sealed original envelopes from the institutions. Have these transcripts sent to you directly for you to submit with your application form.
• $50 application fee
• Please request to be admitted to PSU for the term that you will be taking a PSU class. Students must take a class during their term of admission for their admission to become “official.” If you do not take a class during your term of admission, you must complete a form from PSU Admissions to update your term of admission.

If you are a graduate of PSU's GTEP or already admitted to a graduate-level program at Portland State University, you do not need to re-submit official transcripts to the Office of Admissions, and the $50 fee is waived. If you are currently enrolled in a graduate program (MA/MS, Ed.D) at Portland State, please do not submit an application packet to the Office of Admissions. Please submit a completed GO-19 Form (For a PDF go to www.gsr.pdx.edu/forms/go-19m.pdf) with your application packet to the Graduate School of Education.

Note: If you are considering pursuing a MS/MA at PSU Graduate School of Education, there is a limit of 15 transfer credits, including Portland State University credits taken before formal admission to the master's program. You may want to consider officially applying for the endorsement and masters at the same time. Please visit www.pdx.edu/ci/ci_masters.html for complete information on the MA/MS in curriculum and instruction.

• Non-PSU ReadOregon courses are considered transfer credits in the MA/MS program.
• Master’s degrees must be completed within seven years. This seven year period begins with the earliest course being counted towards the master’s degree and ends with the quarter in which the student applies for graduation, i.e. if a student completes all courses in seven years but does not apply for graduation by the end of the seven year period, additional courses may need to be taken. Students completing the program must also take a class during their term of graduation.

PACKET #2 Graduate School of Education
Submit to: PSU Graduate School of Education, CEED, Attention: Valerie Katagiri, SOE 204 ED,
PO Box 751, Portland, Oregon 97207-0751

• Copy of the PSU Application for Graduate Admissions
• Curriculum and Instruction Department Application Form
  
• One set of official transcripts from all institutions you have attended other than PSU (including undergraduate/graduate coursework in children's or young adult literature and pre-service reading/language arts methods courses or equivalent)
• Three letters of reference from individuals who can describe your experience with students or your potential as a reading instructor
• Copy of teaching license
• Copy of resumé
• Practicum Sign-up Form
  Note: Completion of a minimum of 12 credits in the four required thematic areas (see Practicum Sign-up Form) is required before taking The Practicum.

Literacy Education Course of Study

Students pursuing the Literacy Education Course of Study—graduate-level 12-credit program— may apply to Portland State University as a postbaccalaureate student or take up to eight credits per term without formal admission to the Graduate School of Education or Office of Admissions at PSU.

A certificate of completion in literacy education is granted to the student once 12 credits from literacy education courses are completed. See Program Completion.