Application Deadline | Apply Now Instructions | Admission Standards & Requirements | Transcript Requirements
Are you interested in becoming a K-12 teacher? The UO College of Education offers Elementary and Mid/High school teaching licensure to step into the classroom and actively impact the lives & learning of youth! And it is ranked among the top education grad schools by U.S. News & World Report.
Join us at one of our information sessions for prospective students to learn more about the UOTeach program, our application process, prerequisites, and teacher education scholarship opportunities. These sessions are open to anyone interested.
Have questions about our programs?
Prospective students can ask questions and schedule a Zoom meeting. We are here to help you get your admissions questions answered, find out about UOTeach MEd or CTED MS program options, and learn more about teacher licensure in Oregon. Choose an option to schedule a one-on-one Zoom video call.
UOTeach prepares teacher leaders to have a lasting impact on the learning and lives of youth. We have an open-door policy, welcoming applicants with demonstrated academic distinction, the disposition and passion for learning and working with youth, and a commitment to supporting equitable educational learning communities.
UOTeach is committed to helping reshape the classroom experience for all students through increasing the numbers of educator candidates from underrepresented groups, including bilingual bicultural candidates, people with disabilities, and first-generation college students.
As a state-approved program, UOTeach adheres to Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSCP), University of Oregon, and College of Education standards.
Admissions is competitive but we look holistically at each candidate. Applicants are scored on the criteria listed below. Higher scores lead to a higher likelihood of acceptance to the program.
When applying, it is best to understand the program you are applying and explain any areas that might not meet these expectations.
Application Deadline
Annually, the application opens on September 20 and closes January 15. All applications are for the June/summer program start.
Following the deadline, UOTeach will conduct a thorough application file review.
Applicants are informed of the admission decision by March 1 and given until April 10 to commit to the program.
Application Instructions
Apply now by completing the online Division of Graduate Studies Admission Application. Select Curriculum and Teaching-UOTeach as your department within the College of Education.
In the application, please select the following:
- Major: Curriculum and Teaching–UOTeach
- Degree Type: Master’s of Education
- Term: Summer 2024
- Departmental Application: Specify endorsement type
- Federal Programs: Sapsik‘ʷałá Education Program for eligible Native American/Native Alaskan candidates; National Science Foundation Noyce Scholarship program for Science and Math majors pursuing K–12 science teaching careers.
Nonrefundable Application Fee: $70 (Domestic Students)/$90 (International Students), paid by credit card or eCheck. You will need to pay the application fee before you are able to submit the application.
Application Fee Waiver: The Graduate School provides need- and diversity-based fee waivers to several different applicant groups including:
- Participants in undergraduate research programs for minority students (including McNair Scholars)
- Participants in service-based organizations
- Active members, reservists, or veterans of the US armed services
- Sapsik‘ʷałá Education Program eligible applicants
- STEM Core pre-admitted National Science Foundation Noyce funded scholars
Admissions Standards and Requirements
Grade Point Average (GPA)
A cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above is preferred.
While we understand that students can have an occasional bad term, we also need to be assured that college work can be completed consistently. Applicants with GPA below a 3.0 are given space to explain.
Work with Youth
It is important that applicants are able to demonstrate aptitude, experience, and interest in working with school-age youth. Experiences can be volunteer or paid. Applicants are asked to document the organizations they have worked with, their supervisors contact information, the type of work they did, and length of their experience (total hours).
Statement of Purpose
Our academic and professional mission is to educate anti-oppressive and culturally sustaining elementary and secondary school teachers to have a lasting impact on the learning and lives of youth.
As such, we believe in the following ideals:
- Excellence in teaching requires teachers to have extensive academic subject area preparation.
- Excellence in teaching requires in-depth knowledge of the social, cultural, and political context of learning, teaching, and schooling.
- Excellence in teaching requires teachers to have an equity framework for curriculum and instruction, and be prepared for their role in creating welcoming, inclusive, and safe schools and learning communities in order to develop critical thinking skills of students.
- Excellence in teaching requires teachers amplify the critical connections between the sociocultural context of students’ lives and the relevant subject matter.
Your statement of purpose should tell us about you.
In a concise, 500-word essay provide us with a brief understanding of who you are and how your philosophy of education is related to the mission of UOTeach.
Your statement of purpose must be written by you alone and represent your original work. The selection committee will carefully consider both the content and the writing in their assessment of your candidacy.
Your essay should include:
- A statement of the skills, knowledge, or abilities you bring with you and how you believe you will inspire student learning and/or contribute to the field of education.
- Significant aspects of your background, personal qualities, experiences and/or convictions, particularly as they enhance your potential to work with diverse student learning communities.
- How you plan to use the graduate program to advance your career objectives.
Three Professional References
When requesting people to serve as your references, please contact them early on in the process so they have time to respond and let them know that you will be applying simultaneously to the UOTeach program and graduate school scholarships.
You will need to provide the contact information of THREE professional references, at least one reference should be able to speak to your experience working with youth. It is important that references (employers or others) can attest to your personal character, leadership skills, and respond to questions related to their experience working with you.
Recommenders will receive an automated email prompt directing them to an online system for evaluating you on several different components, as well as the option to upload a letter on your behalf.
It’s somewhat common for the emails to be sent to the spam/junk folder and even more common for the request to be overlooked in the recipient's inbox. Once you submit the reference, it is best practices to contact your references to confirm they received the request. The Slate dashboard also allows you to re-send reference form links. Slate will email you confirmations and log the status of each of your references.
References must complete the form prior to the January deadline.
Character Declaration
Upon admission to the program, candidates must complete the Good Moral Character questionnaire. Candidates must include a declaration of possessing strong moral character, a commitment to the profession, a vow not to harm children, and commit to educational excellence.
Admitted pre-service candidates will complete this same questionnaire in the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) criminal background clearance process during summer orientation.
Candidates unable to obtain state clearance approval will have their admission revoked prior to the start of field placement.
For more information, see the State standard for competent and ethical performance of Oregon Educators (Division 20, OAR 584-020-0000.
Transcript Requirements
University of Oregon student/alumni applicants are required to upload a UO transcript, and any other relevant university transcripts, into the UOTeach graduate application. Transcripts for upload can be request through an active Duckweb account or the Office of the Registrar.
Non-University of Oregon applicants transcripts, are required to upload transcripts from relevant universities/colleges AND have an official transcript from each sent to the University of Oregon Office of the Registrar.
At minimum, transcripts must show your FULL NAME, institutional name, and the title of your major; final degreed transcripts must include the date the degree was conferred.
A. Graduate Application Transcript
- Please upload one pdf for each of your transcripts into the application.
- If you have course work from a community college that is listed on your degree transcript, you are not required to upload that at this time.
- Make sure it is reader friendly, for our review team.
B. University Office of Registrar Transcript
Non-University of Oregon applicants must contact each degree institution to request an OFFICIAL DEGREE transcript be sent to the Office of the Registrar, 5257 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403. Electronic transcripts can be sent by a secured provider (e.g., University, National Student Clearinghouse, Parchment, or Scrip Safe) directly to registrar@uoregon.edu.