Education and Teaching Degree Programs at the University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha appears in our ranking of the 50 Most Affordable Online Masters in Special Education Degree Programs.
The College of Education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha offers programs for students with an interest in education and teaching. A Bachelor of Science in Education is available with concentrations in English as a second language, inclusion practices, science, mathematics, elementary education, and other areas. Students must maintain a grade point average of 2.75 or higher and take 120 credits of classes to graduate. Elementary education majors can also get endorsements in different fields, including family and community, inclusive practices and English as a second language.
A version of this program lets students focus on special education in elementary schools. It includes a special education endorsement that allows students to work with children in kindergarten through sixth-grade settings. Those who take sign language classes can get certified in sign language interpretation too. The university also offers a physical education program for undergrads who want to work as gym teachers and coaches. Several pre-professional programs are available too, which let students meet some of the requirements of an education degree program before they declare a major. Those programs allow them to study secondary, elementary and special education.
In the university’s elementary education graduate program, students can choose from nine concentrations that include instructional technology leadership, literacy, STEM and equity and social justice in education. Those who do not have teaching licenses in Nebraska and those who want a second endorsement can get endorsements in bilingual or early childhood education and in fields such as reading specialist and PK-12 technology. The university also offers a secondary education graduate program with concentrations in math, middle level, school library, teaching and learning, and other fields. Students can get education endorsements through this program too.
About the University of Nebraska at Omaha
The University of Nebraska at Omaha is a public university named after the city that surrounds its main campus: Omaha, Nebraska. Established in 1907 as Omaha University, it held classes in a mansion in the north area of the city for its 26 original students. The university added a few new buildings in the coming years but sold off the former mansion to raise funds for the new construction. Citing the need for more space, the university moved to its current location in 1938 and became a public university. After joining the University of Nebraska System, it adopted the name of the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Known today as both UNO and Omaha, the university offers on-campus and online degree programs. The general studies program available for undergrads now ranks as one of the best online bachelor’s degree programs. Washington Monthly ranks Omaha as the 163rd best university in the nation, while U.S. News and World Report ranks UNO among the nation’s best online campuses. Though Omaha is home to the university’s flagship campus, other campuses are in Dodge and Scott. Those campuses helped the university’s enrollment climb to more than 15,000.
The University of Nebraska at Omaha Accreditation Details
Omaha has accreditation for its teaching programs through the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). This covers all the required classes and electives that students take and the teaching fieldwork that they do too. UNO also has regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), which allows students to both transfer their credits and apply for financial aid. Any student attending Omaha or applying to the university can use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The University of Nebraska at Omaha Application Requirements
Incoming UNO freshmen must submit a transcript that shows they took the 16 units of high school classes that prepared them for college, including math and English classes. They can also apply with a home school transcript or with a GED score. Freshmen receive guaranteed acceptance if they finished in the top 50% of their classes or if they have a minimum ACT score of 20 or a similar score on the SAT. When applying, students can use the Omaha application and create an account that they will use to log in and complete/submit their applications. They can then provide UNO with their test scores and transcripts. The university may require that students take general education courses before they can declare an education major.
Graduate students will also need to create accounts and use those accounts to apply. Though UNO does not have a deadline for its education programs, it recommends that students submit their applications several weeks before the beginning of the semester and that they submit any required information at least a few weeks ahead of time. Omaha charges a $45 application fee for students unless they are veterans, in the military or the spouses/children of veterans/those in the military. Graduate students who want to study education also need to provide official college transcripts and a GRE score.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Nebraska undergrads pay $7,980 per year for housing and fees, while nonresidents pay $21,244 each year. Students who live in one of 11 different counties in Iowa qualify for the university’s Metropolitan Advantage Program (MAP), which reduces their costs to $11,092 per year. Undergrads also pay an average of $9,920 per year to live in one of the residence halls on the Omaha campus. Graduate students pay $7,138 per year as a Nebraska resident, $16,020 per year as a nonresident or $9,916 per year as a member of the MAP program.
Graduate assistantships provide graduate students with a convenient way to pay their costs. They work up to 20 hours a week and get assistance from the university in the form of tuition waivers and stipends. Undergrads can qualify for nearly 20 different types of scholarships. These programs give students money based on their test scores and high school grades but also provide them with funds based on their talents and skills. Some scholarships are available for graduate education majors too. Students who want to get government and university aid will need to file the FAFSA. Once they receive their award letters, they need to accept those awards and complete any other requirements such as the counseling that those who receive federal loans must go through. The University of Nebraska at Omaha offers full-tuition scholarships and other types of financial aid for all of its education majors.