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Admission Information

Admission Requirements for Master's Degree

Applicants for master’s studies must meet admission requirements for both the Graduate College and the C&I Department. Requirements are as follows:

  • An overall undergraduate GPA of 3.00 is required for full graduate status. Students with a GPA of less than 3.0 but greater than or equal to 2.75 may be admitted to graduate studies on a provisional status.
  • A minimum of 18 hours of coursework in professional education taken at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level. Applicants to Graduate Licensure, Postsecondary TESL, or other emphasis concentrations if approved by faculty are exempt from this requirement.
  • Fall Application to the Graduate College for M.Ed./M.S.
    Due on or before MARCH 15*
    Spring Application to the Graduate College for M.Ed./M.S.
    Due on or before November 1*
    *Transcripts, professional goals with references, immunizations, etc. will be accepted after this date.

Part One: Application for Admission to the Graduate College

1.    Read and complete the Graduate College Application Packet, then electronically submit the application to the Graduate College, along with the $60.00 application fee ($75.00 for international students). Letters of recommendation and GRE scores are not required for C&I applicants.

Notes for application - Program of Study: C&I (M.Ed. or M.S.)   Concentration: Emphasis Concentration
Elementary Education                         Elementary Mathematics Education
Secondary Education                          Secondary Mathematics Education
Literacy Education                              Elementary Science Education
Library Science                                  Secondary Science Education
Children’s & Young Adult Literature      Elementary Social Studies Education
Reading Specialist                              Secondary Social Studies Education   
English Education                               Multicultural Education
Teaching English Second Language      Technology Integration
Post-Secondary TESL                          Technology Leadership
Elementary Education Endorsement     Art Education

2.  One set of official transcript(s) from each university/college attended must be mailed directly to the Graduate College.  Hand-carried, photocopied, or "Issued to Student" transcripts will not be accepted. If the applicant has attended UNLV, he/she must go to the student life website to complete a transcript request form. All transcripts must be received directly from all schools attended.  Note: A second official set of transcript(s) must be mailed directly to the C&I Department.

Mail Information:

UNLV Graduate College
4505 Maryland Pkwy Box 451017
Las Vegas, NV  89154-1017

3.    Additional Information:

Part Two: Application for Admission to the C&I Department

1.    Write a one- to two-page statement of your professional goals and email it to the C&I Graduate Studies office via cigrad@unlv.nevada.edu.  Be specific as to your professional goals, include your proposed emphasis concentration, the names and contact information for two professional references, and, if applicable, will you be part of a cohort group or completing a teacher licensure program. It is not necessary to send letters of recommendation to either C&I or the Graduate College. 

2.    Remember, a second set of official transcript(s) must be mailed directly to the C&I Department.

Mail Info:

UNLV Curriculum & Instruction Department
ATTN: Graduate Coordinator
4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453005
Las Vegas, NV  89154-3005

3.    For additional information, including emphasis concentrations program of study requirements, visit the C&I Master's Website. 

Nevada state law requires all UNLV graduate students admitted officially to a program of study must submit proof of immunization to the graduate college before they may register for classes. For further information regarding the mandatory immunization requirement, contact the Student Health Center at (702) 895-3370.

Emphasis Concentrations

The Curriculum & Instruction (C&I) Department offers two master's degree programs: the Master's of Education (M.Ed.) and the Master's of Science (M.S.).  Within each master's program, emphasis concentrations have been designed to meet the students' professional goals and/or interests.  Detailed information regarding the emphases can be found on the C&I Master's Website.

Students seeking a M.Ed. or M.S. generally hold a bachelor's degree in education and have a teaching license within the K-12 range.  Students with a bachelor's degree in a non-education field are eligible for the Graduate Licensure Program (GLP) in elementary or secondary education offered only as M.Ed., the Postsecondary TESL program of study available as M.Ed. or M.S., or other emphasis concentrations if approved by faculty.

The M.Ed. requires a minimum of 37 semester hours of study.  Students in the M.Ed. program complete a one-semester hour culminating activity for the degree.  M.Ed. students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher during their program of study. 

The M.S. requires a minimum of 39 semester hours of study.  Students in the M.S. program complete a six-semester hour thesis and oral defense as the culminating activity for the degree.  M.S. students must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher during their program of study.

Admission Process for M.Ed. and M.S.

Applications are processed when all materials required by both the Graduate College and C&I Department have been received. The materials are then forwarded to the Graduate Coordinator who evaluates the applicant's credentials and recommends either: 1) full or provisional admission to the program, depending on the strength of the applicant's academic credentials, or 2) denial.  Students are admitted to the C&I Department twice each year, Fall and Spring.

Students are not admitted to the Graduate College during the summer; however, potential candidates may enroll in selected courses, as non-degree seeking, special graduate students while waiting completion of the admission process.  Or, students who wish to begin studies, but who missed the application deadline for Fall or Spring semesters, may enroll as a non-degree seeking, special graduate student. Visit <http://graduatecollege.unlv.edu/admissions/> for the non-degree application form. Caution: 1) a maximum of 15 semester hours completed prior to the semester of matriculation (admission) may be used to meet master’s degree requirements, and 2) there is no guarantee that courses completed as a special graduate student will apply to a graduate program of study.  Therefore, it is recommended that special graduate students enroll in the core classes listed for the intended area of emphasis.  For specific course listings and emphasis areas visit <http://ci.unlv.edu> with links to Programs and then Masters.

Transfer Courses

Transfer courses and courses taken at UNLV before admission may be accepted in a program of study.    
A maximum of 15 graduate level semester hours may be transferred and must:
a.    fall within the six (6) year limit for completion of the degree (the six (6) year limit begins with the oldest course listed on a program of study);
b.    be evaluated by the advisor as meeting program emphasis concentration requirements (the advisor may communicate with other faculty who teach similar courses, but there are no forms requiring approval) and approved by the Graduate Coordinator;
c.    be completed with a grade of “B” or better (no grades of “B-” or lower or pass/fail are transferable); and
d.    be limited to 12 semester hours if the student was enrolled in a courses at another accredited institution (these hours are considered part of the 15 hour transfer limit); and
e.    not be part of another program of study culminating in a degree posted on transcripts.

Provisional Status

If a student is admitted on provisional status, nine (9) semester hours of designated coursework must be completed     during the first year of study and grades of “B” or better must be earned.  These courses appear on the Certificate of Admission and are usually core requirements.

Advisor Assignment and Program of Study Forms

Upon acceptance, official written notification of will be forwarded by the Graduate College.  In addition, you will receive an email from the C&I Department, identifying your advisor.  In consultation with the advisor, students are responsible for filing program of study forms within the first 16 hours of coursework. For additional information regarding the Proposed Graduate Degree Program, visit < http://ci.unlv.edu> with links to Programs and then Masters.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Programs

For further information contact the C&I Professional Development Office.
• Graduate Licensure Program (GLP), Carlson Education Building 354, call (702) 895-1536, or email <professionaldevelopmentoffice@unlv.edu> or visit < http://ci.unlv.edu> with links to Programs and then Licensure.

• Initial Licensure Program (ILP), CEB 354, call (702) 895-1536, or email <professionaldevelopmentoffice@unlv.edu> or visit < http://ci.unlv.edu> with links to Programs and then Licensure.

Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Licensure Emphases Concentrations

• Graduate Licensure Program (GLP) - Elementary & Secondary (leads to licensure and a master's degree)
• Initial Licensure Program (ILP) - Elementary & Secondary (leads to licensure only)