Program: Special Education M.Ed./M.S. - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Apr 06, 2025

2009-2011 Graduate Catalog

Admission Requirements

In addition to meeting the admission requirements of the Graduate College, as outlined in the front of this catalog, applicants must also meet the requirements established by the Department of Special Education. They are:

A minimum grade point average of 2.75 for all undergraduate work or a 3.00 grade point average for the last two years of undergraduate work. Admission to a master’s degree program in special education requires that students with a GPA of less than 2.75 be admitted to the graduate program with provisional status; and
A letter of application/intent that includes the names and contact information of 3 professional or academic references.

Applications are processed when all credentials required by both the Graduate College and the Department of Special Education have been received by the Graduate Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator evaluates the applicant’s credentials and recommends either 1) admission to full, contingency, or provisional graduate standing (depending on the strength of the applicant’s academic credentials); or 2) denial. Those who wish to begin studies but who miss the application deadline may enroll as a non-degree graduate student. However, since there is no guarantee that courses taken as a non-degree student will count toward a degree, and since a maximum of 15 hours taken prior to admission to the program may be used to meet degree requirements, candidates are urged to seek advisement prior to registering for any course(s).

Advisor Assignment and Program of Studies

The Graduate College will mail official written notification of acceptance. In addition, a letter will be mailed from the Department of Special Education identifying the advisor. Students are responsible for contacting their advisors.

Degree Requirements

All graduate students are held responsible for the requirements and academic policies established by the Graduate College and outlined in catalog. In addition, the Special Education Department has established requirements for each of its degree offerings. While these requirements may be obtained from an academic advisor, they are briefly outlined here.

All master’s degree programs require a minimum of 36 semester hours of approved studies and an overall minimum GPA of 3.00 in all courses counted toward the degree. A thesis and its defense are the culminating activity for the M.S. A comprehensive examination is the culminating activity for the M.Ed.

Master’s degrees must be completed within a six-year period and continuous enrollment must be maintained throughout the six years, unless a formal request for a leave of absence is approved by the department and Graduate College.

Degree Requirements: Master of Education

The M.Ed. degree requires at least 36-semester credit hours. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours with the ESP or ECE prefix, and complete:
EPY 702 - Research Methods . In addition, students must complete and pass a comprehensive examination. The comprehensive examination is taken during the student’s last semester of coursework or in the semester immediately following completion of coursework listed on the student’s Program of Studies. If students opt to take the comprehensive exam the semester after completion of the coursework listed on their Program of Studies, they must enroll in ESP 766 or another graduate course. Per Graduate College Guidelines, students must be enrolled in coursework the semester they graduate.

Students must apply to take comprehensive examinations. Specific application deadlines are available in the Department of Special Education.

Degree Requirements: Master of Science

The M.S. degree requires at least 36-semester credit hours, including EPY 702. Students must complete a minimum of 18 credit hours with the ESP prefix. In addition, students must complete and defend a thesis.

Program Options: M.S. and M.Ed.

M.Ed. and M.S. programs can be designed to meet the needs of persons who hold a baccalaureate degree and wish to earn a master’s degree in special education or early childhood education, with or without licensure. Students are expected to develop a plan of study that is most relevant to their educational purposes;
ESP 722 - Multicultural Perspectives in Special Education and
EPY 702 - Research Methods are required by the department for all plans of study. Students seeking a license to teach should be aware that certification or endorsement requirements might limit their choices. A number of specific focus areas are available and can lead to the following Nevada Department of Education endorsements: Autism, Early Childhood, Early Childhood Special Education, Emotionally disturbed, Generalist-Mild Disabilities, Gifted and Talented, Learning Disabilities, Mental Retardation, Teaching English as a Second Language; or other professional areas, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis.

Previous course work included in submitted graduate plans of study must have a grade of B or better. Only two subsequent grades of less than B- (one with an ESP or ECE prefix and one with any other prefix) will be permitted in a submitted plan of study. Under no circumstances will a Grade Point Average (GPA) of less than 3.00 be allowed on a finished plan of study. Failure to meet these standards will result in suspension from the degree program.

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