About

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Policy & Leadership is a 36 semester hour program that prepares future school leaders to meet the challenges they will face in Southern Nevada PK-12 schools in the 21st century. Using a systems approach to understanding leadership, the curriculum combines rigorous and relevant coursework with real-world experiential learning.

The Educational Policy & Leadership program is designed to develop educational leaders who understand the urban environment and the community in which schools exist. Program participants receive a firm foundation of knowledge and skills in order to meet the demands and expectations of school administrators - all within a systems approach for transforming schools within an urban community.

The Educational Policy & Leadership program meets the requirements for Nevada School Administrator Endorsement and the Nevada Program Administrator Endorsement.

Accreditation

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

Learning Outcomes

  • Creating and Sustaining a Focus on Learning
    • Planning for school improvement
    • Monitoring student performance
    • Providing opportunities for teacher reflection
    • Short and long term planning to facilitate student achievement
  • Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Continuous Improvement
    • Setting expectations for teacher and student performance
    • Developing teachers through observation, feedback, and professional development
    • Gathering and analyzing data relative to student learning
    • Considering diversity of learners, e.g. ethnicity, abilities, and socioeconomic status
  • Creating and Sustaining Productive Relationships
    • Creating environment that respects all stakeholders
    • Establishing opportunities for discourse among stakeholders for decision making
    • Creating communication processes for partnering with teachers and students
  • Creating and Sustaining Structures to Support an Effective School
    • Aligning curriculum, instruction, and standards
    • Allocating resources and developing structures to support school goals for student learning
  • Managing Human Capital
    • Collecting data related to teacher performance
    • Using teacher performance data to support effective instruction
    • Developing leadership capacity among teachers
  • Self-Reflection and Professional Growth
    • Using feedback from various sources to improve leadership practices
    • Seeking opportunities for continuous growth in leadership
  • Professional Obligations
    • Modeling and advocating fair and equitable treatment of all students and their families
    • Modeling integrity and honesty while respecting confidentiality
  • Family and Community Engagement
    • Involving parents, families, and community in policy implementation and program planning
    • Involving parents, families, and community in school improvement efforts
    • Connecting students and families to other social service and community agencies as needed

Requirements

Master of Education - Educational Policy and Leadership

Plan Description

The primary purpose of the Educational Policy and Leadership program is to prepare educational leaders for leadership and administrative roles in K-12 schools in response to 21st century challenges. This program will encourage systematic research-based practices and evidence-based decision making, particularly focused on urban populations, and guided by state and national educational standards.

For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.

Plan Admission Requirements

Application deadlines

Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.

  1. An earned bachelor's degree in an acceptable field of undergraduate study;
  2. A GPA of at least 2.75 overall or 3.00 in the last 60 credits of undergraduate study;
  3. At least 3 years of professional experience

Individuals seeking a Nevada endorsement as an administrator of a school must hold a valid elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary or special teaching license.

In addition to the application and transcripts required by the Graduate College, applicants must submit the following documents to the program uploaded as part of the online application:

  1. Two letters of recommendation (one must be from current principal or district supervisor).
  2. A resume indicating educational and professional experience.
  3. Leadership statement.
  4. Summary of leadership experiences.
  5. Statement of support from applicant's current principal or district supervisor.
  6. A valid elementary, middle school/junior high, or secondary or special teaching license.

All applicants will be interviewed as part of the application process.

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.

Plan Requirements

Total Credits Required: 36

Course Requirements

Required Courses - Credits: 14

Complete 14 credits by completing all the following courses:

Research Core Courses – Credits: 6

Complete 6 credits by completing all the following courses:

Elective Courses – Credits: 8

Complete 8 credits from the following list of courses:

Internship and Capstone Courses – Credits: 8

Complete 6 credits of EPL 742, and 2 credits of EPL 780.

Degree Requirements

  1. Students must complete 36 credits of approved coursework:
  2. Students will meet with an academic advisor and complete a formal degree plan.
  3. Students must obtain a 3.0 GPA in order to graduate. A student can have no more than one grade less than B-.

Graduation Requirements

The student must successfully complete a culminating project.

Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.

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Contacts

Department of Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education

We provide instruction in and the delivery of innovative research to inform the educational process from early childhood through higher education via our master’s and doctoral degree programs as well as graduate certificates, including the Intercollegiate and Professional Sport Management program.

Website
https://www.unlv.edu/ephe
Email
eplhedept@unlv.edu
Phone
702-895-3253
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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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