The state's first public law school, the state's first physical therapy program, an elementary school located on campus, two new doctoral programs, and four new undergraduate degree offerings are among the changes students will find when they return to UNLV next week for the start of fall semester classes.

Aug. 31 is the first day of classes at UNLV.

"With so many exciting changes on campus, we're particularly eager for this school year to begin," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "To open one new professional school on a university campus would in itself be noteworthy. To have all of these things happening simultaneously is truly outstanding."

The William S. Boyd School of Law began classes Aug. 17 with an inaugural class of approximately 140.

The new Paradise Elementary School opened on the UNLV campus on Aug. 24, the first day of classes for the Clark County School District. It is a professional practice school for educating at-risk students, training current teachers, and developing future teachers.

In addition to the law and physical therapy programs, other new degree programs beginning at UNLV this fall are:
-- a doctoral program in geoscience.
-- a doctoral program in anthropology.
-- a bachelor's program in art history.
-- a bachelor's program in workforce education.
-- a bachelor's program in early childhood education.
-- a bachelor's program in senior adult theatre.