Admission Requirements
The field of education is currently experiencing significant demand for new teachers. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of applications being submitted to the School of Education teacher preparation programs. To submit a highly competitive application, you are encouraged to apply as early as you possibly can.
The school will make decisions based on a holistic review of the following items:
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- A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited institution;
- A review of the applicant’s transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, with a minimum of 3.0 cumulative GPA;
- Score reports on the West-B;
- Resume documenting previous experience;
- Analytical ability as demonstrated in the Application Essay;
- Quality of professional recommendations, including one speaking to your work with young people;
- Faculty/staff assessment of an admission interview;
- (If admitted) score reports on the West-E/NES.
Areas of Endorsement
Applicants also need to identify at least one endorsement – which is the subject area they plan on teaching. To earn an endorsement at PLU, students must have taken background coursework in the subject and pass the required content test(s) for that endorsement.
A complete list of endorsements offered at PLU along with the required coursework for each endorsement is listed on the School of Education website. If a candidate has a major in the subject area they are interested in teaching, they are waived from individual coursework requirements.
Content tests are either the WEST-E (Washington Educator Skills Test – Endorsement) or the NES (National Evaluation Series). Both tests are listed on the WEST website (www.west.nesinc.com). Candidates seeking endorsement in a World Designated Language are also required to complete the ACTFL oral and written exams. While not a requirement to start the program, candidates must have one completed endorsement (coursework + test) by the end of the first summer of the program in order to continue with the program. Candidates are required to take their NES/WEST-E by June 1st.
Things to Note:
Special Education and English Language Learners must be paired with another endorsement – for example, history, or elementary education. Further, for those applicants who choose to pursue an endorsement in Special Education or English Language Learners, there is no worksheet, as the required coursework is offered the first summer of the program. Candidates are not guaranteed a spot in the summer programs so early application is strongly encouraged. These courses are at an additional cost to the candidate.
The science endorsement allows candidates to teach any science subject in grades 5-12 but must be paired with a designated science: biology, chemistry, earth & space science, or physics.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to earn more than one endorsement, as this will increase their options in where to teach. Questions about what endorsements work well together should be directed to the School of Education.
International student language proficiency requirements:
- Non-Certification Program: Minimum TOEFL-iBT score of 88 or minimum IELTS score of 6.5.
- All other programs: Minimum TOEFL-iBT score of 80 or minimum IELTS score of 6.5.