Education Degree Programs at the University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is also featured in our ranking of the Top 20 Best Master’s in Reading and Literacy Online.
The University of Nevada, Reno offers a number of options for future teachers through a special program called NevadaTeach. These programs allow students to major in either science or math and complete a bachelor’s degree in teaching too. They can also specialize their degrees to teach chemistry, biology, math, physics, geography and different types of sciences to secondary school students. PackTeach includes similar programs for those who want to teach history or social science. There are also general bachelor’s degree programs in secondary education and integrated elementary school teaching.
Both a Master of Education and a Master of Science in Elementary Education is available too. Students in both programs will take courses that include practical teaching experiences and classroom work. In the equity and diversity program, students look at how they can work with and teach students from different cultures and diverse groups. The university offers both special education and secondary education degree programs as well as majors in literacy studies and counseling for graduate students.
The nine doctoral programs in education available from the University of Nevada, Reno allow students to do research work and gain a better understanding of education subjects as they complete their dissertations. Equity and diversity in education, information technology in education and counselor education and supervision are some of the majors available. The University of Nevada, Reno also offers education certificate programs for students who need to meet the requirements to get their teaching licenses and those who want to add a second endorsement to the licenses they already have. Those certificates include focus areas in gifted and talented education, secondary education and teaching English to speakers of other languages.
About the University of Nevada, Reno
The University of Nevada, Reno is one of the largest public university campuses in Nevada. Established in 1874 as the State University of Nevada, it would become Nevada State University just seven years later. It kept this name until 1906, which was when it became the University of Nevada, Reno. This name change occurred as more campuses in the University of Nevada system opened across the state. As the flagship campus in the system, it sometimes uses the name Nevada but most refer to the campus as UNR.
UNR now consists of eight colleges, including the College of Education and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, which offers practical experiences and fieldwork opportunities for students. The Graduate School is one of the nine schools that operate as part of the university too. Washington Monthly is just one publication that ranks UNR on the national level at number 40. UNR, which has an enrollment of more than 21,000 students, also appeared on the global college and university rankings released by ARWU and US News and World Report.
University of Nevada, Reno Accreditation Details
Accreditation is something that students tend to overlook when comparing colleges, but it’s important because it allows those with any type of financial need to use the Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA). This helps them qualify for the government programs available at the state and federal levels. UNR has regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), which is also why it can give students who submit their college transcripts credit for the work they already did. The university also has specialty accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) too for its bachelor’s and graduate programs in education.
University of Nevada, Reno Application Requirements
The UNR freshman application goes live near the end of September every year. Students can apply by November 15, which is the priority deadline to ensure that the university considers them for any available scholarships. The final deadline is July first, but UNR encourages students who want to live on its Reno campus to apply earlier. They will need to take three years of social studies, life science and math classes and four years of English courses and submit transcripts that show they took all those classes. UNR requires a high school GPA of at least 3.0 and asks for both a test score and an application. There is also a $65 application fee.
Those applying to one of the UNR graduate programs in education need to use a special application that they download from the university’s website. Once they complete the application, they can mail it back to the campus with all their other required information. This application asks students which professors they want to work with based on what they teach or want to teach and asks them to sign and date a box that states they were never convicted of any serious crimes. They also need to complete an assessment form that asks them about their experiences and skills and a second form that states that will behave in a professional manner while in the program. UNR asks that students applying to a doctoral program complete and submit these same forms.
Tuition and Financial Aid
UNR estimates its overall cost of attendance of Nevada undergrads at $8,034 per year for tuition and fees. Undergrads not from Nevada pay $23,086 per year for their fees and tuition. All on-campus students pay at least $11,960 each year for room and board, though they can change to a different room type or meal plan, which will change this rate. Both resident and non-resident graduate students pay $285.75 per credit hour for their tuition and various fees based on the type of classes they take. Those who do not have health insurance need to purchase a plan from the university for $1,427 each year.
One type of financial aid given to graduate students is an assistantship. They can work 10 to 20 hours a week in a position such as a research or a teaching assistant and get a stipend that significantly drops the cost of their tuition. Some of these positions will also cover the cost of their health insurance. Graduate students who use the FAFSA can get unsubsidized loans too. Undergrads qualify for subsidized loans and can get loans designed for their parents as well as grants and on-campus jobs through the FAFSA. The University of Nevada, Reno will evaluate the transcripts and applications submitted by students to see if they qualify for education scholarships too.