Plan Description
The Department holds as its central mission the preparation and development of educators at all levels. The department ensures that its professional education programs are based on essential knowledge, established and current research findings, and sound professional practice.
The Master of Arts in Teaching Secondary Education provides a pathway into teaching for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree outside of education. These comprehensive programs offer the ability to receive a conditional teaching license in the state of Nevada after one semester (based on successful completion of licensing requirements) and continue through the Nevada standard licensing requirements and master’s degree. Teaching licenses are issued by the Nevada Department of Education and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all state licensure requirements are met. Program concentration areas include: Arts Education, English/Language Arts Education, Health/Physical Education, Mathematics Education, Science Education, and Social Studies Education.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
(a) Graduate College Admission Requirements
- Completed application in the Application Portal and non-refundable application fee.
- Bachelor’s Degree – You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
- Grade Point Average – You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor’s degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
- All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
- Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.
(b) Department Admission Requirements
Admission requirements for this degree include:
1. A one-to two-page letter of intent of professional goals and rationale for pursuing the degree.
2. The names and contact information of two professional references are required in the online application. The professional references will be contacted to submit a letter of recommendation.
3. Unofficial or official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities will need to be submitted in the online application. Official transcripts are required once given an offer of admission into the program.
4. General Knowledge Exams. A pdf copy of testing results demonstrating core knowledge by meeting Nevada Department of Education passing scores on one of the following:
- Praxis Core
- CBEST
- GRE scores - GRE scores are only accepted if the applicant has completed a master’s or more advanced degree within the past 5 years.
OR
D. ACT/SAT
All test scores must have been completed within ten years immediately preceding application date. If you are submitting CBEST or GRE scores, please email tl.arl@unlv.edu to request a Praxis Core Waiver form. Test requirements can be found at the ETS PRAXIS website.
5. Passing Praxis II Content Knowledge Exam in either Art, English, Mathematics, Physical Education (or Health), Social Studies, or Science (Biological Science, General Science or Physical Science) demonstrated by a PDF of passing score results. Test scores need to be no older than ten years. Test requirements can be found at the ETS PRAXIS website.
Applications are processed when all credentials required by both the Graduate College and the Teaching and Learning department have been received. Once received, materials are forwarded to the Graduate Coordinator and the Teaching and Learning Master’s Admission Committee to evaluate the applicant’s credentials and recommend acceptance or denial into the program.
The Graduate College will send official notification regarding the status of applications through the Grad Rebel Gateway. In addition, an email will be sent from the department of Teaching and Learning identifying an academic advisor. Students are responsible for contacting their advisors upon admission to the program. All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.