About

The Department of Teaching & Learning is dedicated to preparing students to excel as Secondary teachers. Students who complete this program will earn a bachelor’s degree and be licensed as a grade 6-12 teacher by the State of Nevada. Students who already have a degree and want to become a Secondary teacher, need to take course work through the teacher licensure program. Every student who intends to receive a degree in Secondary Education from UNLV is required to meet course requirements for a First Teaching Field. Second Teaching fields are optional. Secondary Teaching fields include:

  • Art
  • Biological Science
  • Earth Science
  • English
  • General Science
  • Math
  • Physical Science
  • Social Studies

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

  • Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the subject matter that they teach as described in professional and institutional standards.
  • Effectively plan classroom-based instruction utilizing effective instructional practices.
  • Practice evidence-based decision-making through the use of formative and summative assessments as well as the critical interpretation of research and inquiry in order to improve educational practice.
  • Demonstrate understanding of learners and their social, cultural, and language contexts with a global perspective and intentional sensitivity to other cultures.
  • Integrate technology in instruction to support student learning and develop data-driven solutions for instructional and school improvement.

Career Possibilities

Possible career options after receiving this degree:

  • Teacher in a secondary school in public or private institutions
  • Educational content specialist

Requirements

Secondary Education (BSEd)

Completion of all program requirements will lead to eligibility for the Bachelor of Science degree in Education. To qualify for the Bachelor of Arts in Education, students must also complete two courses in the same foreign language. Secondary education majors must select a major (first) teaching field (approved area of concentration, e.g. English or mathematics) in which they wish to be licensed. A minor (second) teaching field is optional.

Please see the UNLV Department of Teaching and Learning web page at  www.unlv.edu/tl  for more information about department programs, faculty, and facilities. Degree worksheets and 4/5 year plan for the major are available at www.unlv.edu/degree/bsed-secondary-education.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Principle 1 (Content Knowledge): The COE graduate knows and understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline(s) and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of content meaningful. They are passionate about their subjects and their work.
  2. Principle 2 (Individual Development): The COE graduate knows and understands how individuals learn and can develop and provide opportunities that support intellectual, career, social, and personal development. They seek ways to enhance the success of their future students.
  3. Principle 3 (Diverse Learners): The COE graduate knows and understands how individuals differ in their approaches to learning and creates opportunities that are equitable and adaptable to the needs of diverse learners. They demonstrate an understanding of the role that both individual and group identities play in teaching and learning.*
  4. Principle 4 (Planning Processes): The COE graduate understands planning processes based upon knowledge of content, learner characteristics, the community, and curriculum goals and standards. They are active participants in the local k-12 education system.
  5. Principle 5 (Strategies and Methods): The COE graduate knows and understands and can employ a variety of strategies and methods and encourages the development of critical thinking, problem solving, decision-making, and performance skills. They create lessons that promote student achievement.
  6. Principle 6 (Learning Environments): The COE graduate knows and understands individual and group motivation and behavior and creates a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation. They create enriched learning environments.
  7. Principle 7 (Communication): The COE graduate knows and understands effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques and other forms of symbolic representation and can foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supporting interactions. They use technology to facilitate student learning.
  8. Principle 8 (Assessments): The COE graduate understands and promotes formal and informal assessment strategies and evaluates the learner's continuous intellectual, social, and physical development. They develop fair assessments of student achievement.
  9. Principle 9 (Collaboration, Ethics, and Relationships): The COE graduate understands and fosters ethical relationships with parents, school colleagues, and organizations in the larger community to support the individuals learning development. They build communication opportunities through trust and genuine regard for student personal and academic growth.
  10. Principle 10 (Reflection and Professional Development): The COE graduate is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of choices and actions on students, adults, parents, and other professionals in the learning community, and who actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally. They respond to the rapidly changing educational context of Southern Nevada in a thoughtful manner.

Student Teaching in Secondary Education Program

Applications for student teaching must be filed the semester preceding the student teaching semester. Approval for a student teaching placement is contingent upon:

  1. Admission to Teaching & Learning (T&L).
  2. Completion of at least 90 credits toward a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  3. Completion of all professional education course requirements, with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher.
  4. Completion of 75% of teaching field course work in which the student plans to student teach, with a grade point average of 2.75 or higher. The grade point average of 2.75 in the teaching field must be maintained through graduation.
  5. Filing of a completed T&L student teaching application by the announced deadline.
  6. Recommendation of the Department of Teaching & Learning.

    Student teaching is a full-time, full-semester experience in a secondary classroom. It involves a mandatory, on-campus orientation; observation and supervised teaching, during which the student gradually assumes classroom teaching responsibilities; regularly scheduled observations and evaluations by the classroom teacher who serves as a preservice mentor teacher and by the assigned university site facilitator; and weekly student teaching seminar sessions. Because student teaching is a full-time responsibility, outside employment during that time is strongly discouraged, and the student may enroll in no courses other than
    EDSC 482
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      and
    EDSC 481
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     ,
    EDSC 483
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     , or
    EDSC 485
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      without department approval.

 (see note 1 below)

Career Possibilities

Possible career options after receiving this degree:

  • Teacher in a secondary school in public or private institutions
  • Educational content specialist

Advising

Please see advising information at the UNLV College of Education Student Services Center.

Accreditation

For information regarding accreditation at UNLV, please head over to Academic Program Accreditations.

University Graduation Requirements

Please see 

Graduation Policies
 for complete information.

Secondary Education [Grades 7-12] (BSEd) Degree Requirements - Total: 120-134 Credits

 

 

General Education Requirements - Subtotal: 36-40 Credits

First-Year Seminar - Credits: 2-3

English Composition - Credits: 6

Second-Year Seminar - Credits: 3

Constitutions - Credits: 4-6

HIST 100 - Historical Issues and Contemporary Society
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  or 
PSC 101 - Introduction to American Politics
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Mathematics - Credits: 3

Distribution Requirements - Credits: 18-19

Please see 

Distribution Requirements
 for more information.

Dependent on Teaching Field-see notes (2 and 3 below)

Multicultural and International

Multicultural, one 3 credit course required
International, one 3 credit course required

These courses may overlap with general education and major requirements.  A single course may not meet the multicultural and international requirements simultaneously. For the list of approved multicultural and international courses, go to: www.unlv.edu/provost/multicultural-requirements.

Major Degree Requirements - BSEd in Secondary Education - Subtotal: 84-94 Credits

Education Core Requirements - Credits: 9

Secondary Program Requirements - Credits: 15

Field Experiences - Credits: 18

First Teaching Field - Credits: 37-52

All secondary education students must fulfill requirements for a first teaching field.

Select any of the approved teaching field concentration areas - see Advising Center for a list of all approved teaching field concentration areas.

For music education, contact the Music Department.

Second Teaching Field (Optional)

(see note 4 below)

Approved areas of concentration - see Advising Center for a list of required courses for each area:

Biological Science                      27 Credits
Earth Science                              27 Credits
General Science                          28 Credits
Mathematics                               29 Credits
Physical Science                         27 Credits
Sports and Physical Activity     50 Credits

General Electives - Credits: 0-5

Additional credit in order to satisfy the minimum 120 credits.

Total Credits: 120-134

 (see note 1 below)

Notes

  1. The minimum credits required to earn this degree is 120. Total credits depend upon the student's teaching field and choice of first year experience course.
  2. Secondary Education majors pursuing the following first teaching fields fall under the Life and Physical Sciences and Analytical Thinking Distribution Area (must complete 9 credits of Social Sciences and 9 credits of Humanities & Fine Arts): Biology, Earth Science, General Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, and Sports and Physical Activity.
  3. Secondary Education majors pursuing the following first teaching fields fall under the Humanities and Fine Arts Distribution Area (must complete 10 credits of Life & Physical Sciences & Analytical Thinking and 9 credits of Social Sciences): English Comprehensive.
  4. Students pursuing more than one teaching field may need to take additional subject methods course (s).
  5. EDSC 311
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     is a Milestone Experience course for Secondary Education B.S.
  6. EDSC 481
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     is a Culminating Experience course for Secondary Education B.S.

Approved First Teaching Fields

Select any of the approved teaching field concentration areas - see Advising Center for a list of all approved teaching field concentration areas.

Art - 39 Credits

Biological Science - 42 Credits

English - 42 Credits

General Science - 42 Credits

Mathematics - 42 Credits

Physical Science - 39 Credits

Social Studies - 40 Credits

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Department of Teaching and Learning

We are focused on educational research and the preparation of educators at all levels. In addition to our bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, our professional education programs focus on essential knowledge, established and current research findings, and sound professional practice.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/tl
Email
tlgrad@unlv.nevada.edu
Phone
702-895-1540
More

College of Education

The College of Education creates an intellectual environment that promotes quality instruction, significant research, and professional service. With four unique departments, graduates receive the necessary tools and experiences to make an impact on local, national, and global scales.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/education
Email
education@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-3375
More
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