The education program enables students to develop a strong foundation of knowledge about teaching and learning, display a love of learning, value democracy and pluralism, and engage in reflective practice about one’s growth as a teacher. Students will gain knowledge in several key areas: academic disciplines (content-area knowledge), foundations of elementary education, management of classroom learning environments, methods of teaching various subjects in elementary school classrooms, educational psychology and human development, and education of culturally diverse and special-needs populations. As students complete requirements for the bachelor’s degree, they are also eligible for a teaching credential for grades K-8.
The Elementary Education/Special Education program is designed for students who wish to complete Nevada teacher licensure requirements in both elementary education (K-8) and special education (K-12). Students in the Integrated Dual program complete 20 weeks internship (student teaching) during their last semester in the program. Upon program completion, they are eligible for dual license in both Elementary K-8 and Special Education K-12.
The Secondary Education Program is committed to preparing teachers who are able to meet the challenges of today’s classrooms from grades 7-12 in a specific subject. The teacher education faculty provides an educational program that enables students to: develop a strong foundation of knowledge about teaching and learning; display a love of learning; value democracy and pluralism; and engage in reflective practice about one’s growth as a teacher. To accomplish this, the program offers students: A strong liberal arts education with emphasis in the particular academic discipline in which the student will be teaching; background in the foundations of secondary education; methods for instruction in the academic disciplines; background in educational psychology and human development; methods for educating culturally diverse and special needs populations; methods for effective use of technology in instructional settings; and experience teaching in public schools.
The program is designed for students who wish to teach students with mild disabilities in grades K-12 in Nevada. The required internship semester is completed as part of the bachelor’s degree.
Human Development and Family Studies
This major prepares students to work with individuals of all ages and their families. The study of theory and research findings is coordinated with a variety of supervised field experiences. Students investigate the ways individuals interact within the family system and with the larger socio-economic environment. Students select an area of concentration in adult development and aging, child and adolescent development or family studies. The program prepares students for careers as administrators of child development or family services programs, child development specialists, school age program coordinators, youth program specialists, community education instructors, parent educators, senior center coordinators, family financial planners, consumer advocates and family public policy advocates.
Early Childhood Education
The early childhood education major is an interdisciplinary undergraduate program within the Department of Human Development and Family Studies and the Department of Educational Specialties. With a major in early childhood education, graduates are eligible to apply for a Nevada Early Childhood Education teaching license from the Nevada Department of Education. This license allows graduates to teach in pre-kindergarten programs up through grade two in Nevada public schools.