Secondary Education, M.Ed.

I. Contact Information

Margaret Ferrara, Secondary Program Coordinator
ferrara@unr.edu
(775) 682-7530

Mailing Address:
University of Nevada, Reno
College of Education, Mail Stop 0299
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0330

II. Brief Introduction

The Master’s Degrees in Secondary Education (M.Ed.) offers teacher candidates an opportunity to complete a course of study in secondary programs to become highly qualified in their licensure area.

For students who are not licensed Nevada teachers, licensure courses may be taken as part of a master’s degree. Several areas of emphasis are available within each.  Students enrolled in the Washoe County School District Alternative Route to Licensure (WCSD ARL) strand of this program must work toward licensure in a content area that is approved by the WCSD ARL at the time of their enrollment into the M.Ed. program.

It is possible, upon admission to a post-baccalaureate licensure program (in secondary education), to concurrently pursue a graduate certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language .

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

• The candidate understands the historical, philosophical, and social foundations of education and their relevance to current educational policy and practice.
• The candidate understands the theories that explain how students of diverse backgrounds develop and learn.
• The candidate is able to integrate knowledge of learning and curriculum theory with knowledge of instruction.
• The candidate understands and uses knowledge of methods of research and assessment to examine his/her professional practice in order to improve decisions and actions that impact students and their learning.
• The candidate demonstrates growth as a professional educator by engaging in thoughtful analysis, active inquiry, informed decision making, and goal setting for personal learning and development.

IV. Admission Requirements

Applicants need to meet and/or complete the following:

• Completion of the program application
• Completion of the Pre-Professional Skills Test or other basic competency exam at the level established by the Nevada Department of Education
• GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Prerequisite coursework
• A reflective essay, three to five pages in length, which discusses the candidate’s understanding of the purpose of public education and how the complex issues facing secondary educators are going to affect the candidate as a teacher
• 1-2 page resume
• Two professional letters of recommendation

In addition to admission requirements specified by each department, applicants must be qualified in the professional judgment of the College of Education faculty.

The specific curriculum requirements are adapted to the professional program and the needs of the student. Students should not enroll in any graduate-level course without first securing the approval of the department that such a course is acceptable toward a selected program of study.

V. Program Requirements

The M.Ed. program is divided into two parts:

1. Required course work that leads to a secondary teaching license in Nevada, and
2. Additional coursework beyond licensure to complete the requirements for a master’s degree.

Students enrolled in the non-WCSD ARL strand of this program must ultimately meet state licensure requirements in the field representing teaching majors that include:

art, biology, career and technical education, chemistry, earth science, English, foreign languages, general science, health, history, journalism, mathematics, music, physical education, physical science, physics, political science, social studies, speech, theater.  

Student’s enrolled in the WCSD ARL strand of this program must meet the expectations of the WCSD ARL program with regard to the content area in which they will seek licensure.

It should be noted that some teaching areas are in high demand and others are not.

A fast-track option is available in which students become licensed in two semesters: a fall semester followed by a spring semester. Students may move through the program at a slower pace. A full-semester Supervised Internship (student teaching) experience is required for licensure. No degree is awarded at the end of the licensure sequence. Additional units must be taken, including one educational research course, advanced curriculum development courses, and 1 to 3 units of comprehensive examination.

Generally, students are advised to enroll in improvement courses for in-service education at the graduate level. These courses are also offered in extension or branch centers, workshops, short conferences, evening schools and individual problem courses by arrangement. Inquiries are encouraged.

VI. Total Units (36 units)