Overview
The Master of Education in Secondary Education with Nevada Licensure is designed for students who are committed to being instructional leaders in the 7-12 setting. Courses for this degree meet the Nevada Department of Education requirements for an initial teaching license. They also meet requirements for a master's degree from National University that inter-relates theory and practice and promotes lifelong learning. The program is intended for students who want to obtain an initial teaching license and master's degree at the same time.
The student teaching courses are required for the initial teaching license. Students must have met subject matter competency prior to student teaching. Elementary and Secondary Education teacher candidates meet subject matter competence by passing the appropriate PRAXIS II examinations. Candidates must meet all state requirements for the Secondary Education Teaching License to apply to the Nevada Department of Education for licensure.
An electronic portfolio is required for the assessment of all teacher licensure candidates. The purpose of the portfolio is for candidates to show how their work in teacher education is linked to their own competency in the Domains of Professional Competence. The portfolio must be reviewed and approved by a National University faculty member prior to exiting the licensure program.
Program Outcomes
- Upon completion of the program, the student will be able to:
- Apply educational research, practitioner inquiry and academic writing.
- Understand and apply learner qualities and experiences of Nevada's diverse school populations.
- Apply Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs) and subject-specific pedagogical competencies.
- Design and assess developmentally appropriate and subject specific pedagogy.
- Examine and apply historical, philosophical, cultural, political, and social issues influencing K12 education.
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to connect instructional planning to learner characteristics.
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to assess student learning of academic goals based on learner characteristics.
To receive a Master of Education in Secondary Education with Nevada Licensure, students must complete at least 57 quarter units of graduate work, 43.5 of which must be taken in residence at National University. Students enrolled in the joint degree-licensure program will not be awarded the master's degree until they complete all graduate and licensure coursework, including student teaching.
Requirements
(12 courses; 57 quarter units)
TED 615 Foundations of Education
TED 605 The Diverse Classroom
EXC 625 Children w/Excep. in class
TED 623 Lang. Dev. Methods: Secondary
TED 624 Literacy for Content Areas
TED 625A Curriculum Design Sec. Learner
TED 625B Instruction and Classroom Management for Secondary and Middle Schools
TED 640A Student Teaching I (6 quarter units)
TED 640B Student Teaching II (6 quarter units)
TED 649 Student Teaching Seminar
MAT 643 Models of Teaching
MAT 640 Applications of Research
Course of Study
National University's Professional Teacher Preparation program is structured around courses grouped into intra-related and inter-related family courses focused on themes of foundations, education methods and student teaching. Theory and practice as well as coursework and field experiences are developmental as candidates move from the foundation family courses to the method family courses and into student teaching. Candidates who successfully complete the Professional Teacher Preparation program are eligible for a teaching license; those who choose to earn a Master in Education degree must complete two additional courses.
Foundation Courses
The three foundation courses are considered the foundation course family because all the courses build upon each other in terms of conceptual knowledge and skill, field experiences, and assessments. Furthermore, two of the three courses share all three required textbooks so that teacher candidates can integrate foundational perspectives into an on-going and ever developing professional educator philosophical statement. The foundation course family is the theoretical basis for skill development and acquisition in the method courses. The courses that comprise this family are:
TED 615 Foundations of Education
TED 605 The Diverse Classroom.
EXC 625 Children w/Excep. in class
Methods Courses
As are the foundations courses, the pedagogy courses are formed around adult learning theory and fieldwork. So that each candidate gains a clear understanding of the realities of public education, the program's coursework and field experiences are interrelated to form a cohesive set of learning experiences. Teacher Performance Expectations (TPEs) inherent in the Domains of Professional Competence are highlighted throughout each course syllabus and course outline, and must be highlighted in each lesson plan developed by candidates so that each candidate will have extensive opportunities to learn and to teach.
TED 623 Lang. Dev. Methods: Secondary
TED 624 Literacy for Content Areas
TED 625A Curriculum Design Sec. Learner
TED 625B Instruction and Classroom Management for Secondary and Middle Schools
Student Teaching
TED 649 Student Teaching Seminar
TED 640A Student Teaching I (6 quarter units)
TED 640B Student Teaching II (6 quarter units)
Master in Education
MAT 643 Models of Teaching
MAT 640 Applications of Research
Nevada Licensing Programs
Certain licensing programs may require enrollment into an
electronic portfolio. Please see your faculty advisor for further
information.
Admission Requirements
Students seeking a Nevada Teachers License at the graduate level at National University must possess a conferred or completed bachelor's degree, with a minimum 2.5 GPA from a regionally accredited U.S. university. Students with international degrees who do not hold a U.S.A. approved bachelor's degree must receive an evaluation from an approved international evaluation agency before being admitted to the University and starting the first course.
Admission Process
In addition to the admission requirements listed in the "General Admission Procedures" section of this catalog, applicants to all of National University's licensing programs must proceed through the following admissions procedure:
Stage 1: Students meet with an admission advisor and complete an admissions packet. Students who meet the listed criteria are admitted on a "provisional" basis with an estimated program of study.
Graduate students, see "Graduate Admission Standards."
Stage 2: All graduate level licensure students must attend a Faculty Advisement orientation seminar and complete a candidate statement within 30 days of starting their first course or prerequisite course. The candidate statement must be reviewed and signed by the faculty advisor for admission to the School of Education.
Stage 3: Students must complete the licensure packet and return this to the faculty advisor within 30 days to avoid evaluation or scheduling errors. Candidates enrolled in both master's degree and licensure programs are evaluated after the licensure packet is returned to the faculty advisor.
Students are not eligible for financial aid until the evaluation is complete.
Students transferring from a teacher education program at another university must provide a letter of good standing. A maximum of 13.5 quarter units may be accepted for unit credit and/or course content.
Students who are absent for a period of 12 months or more must reenroll and reevaluate under a new catalog.
All licensing courses are valid for seven years.
Student Assistance, Notice of Need to Improve, and Dismissal from School of Education Programs
National University is committed to maintaining quality standards throughout its licensure and masters programs and to graduating competent professional educators. National University identifies and assists students who need special assistance, and retains in its programs only those students who are suited for entry to or advancement in the education profession.
If a student is identified as being deficient or needing assistance to meet program standards at any point during his or her program, the student's instructor of record during coursework or University supervisor during a fieldwork assignment will issue the student a Professional growth and development plan form. The form will indicate one of three possible actions that the instructor/supervisor intends to recommend to the lead faculty in the program:
1. The student is identified as needing improvement in designated areas. A plan of improvement, with an expected date of completion, is attached to the form. The student will be permitted to continue taking classes or continue in his/her fieldwork assignment while completing the plan.
2. The student is identified as needing improvement in designated areas. A plan of improvement, with an expected date of completion, is attached to the form. The student receives a failing grade in the class or an unsatisfactory grade in the fieldwork assignment. The student will not be permitted to continue taking classes or continue in his/her fieldwork assignment until the plan is completed and the class or fieldwork assignment is re-taken, at the student's expense.
3. The student is identified as being unsuited for the education profession and is recommended for dismissal from the program. Upon receiving a Professional growth and development plan form, the student will meet with his/her instructor of record or University supervisor, along with the regional lead faculty and/or the lead supervisor. This Faculty Assistance Team will discuss any recommended plan of improvement with the student and will later meet with the student to evaluate the student's performance of the expectations listed on the plan. If the candidate is allowed to continue in the program and receives a second unsatisfactory grade in a practicum or student teaching assignment, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program. The process for a hearing and appeal, upon recommendation for dismissal from a program, is outlined in the Academic Dismissal Procedure under the Academic Information for Graduate Degrees section of this catalog.
Program Advisement
Every licensure program has an assigned Faculty Advisor who is available to provide program specific advisement related to a specific program field. The Faculty Advisor name and contact information is listed in the catalog under the heading of the specific program you enrolled in and these advisors are a resource for specific questions you may have about classes, curriculum and instructors.
Student Teaching Requirements
Applicable to all Elementary, Secondary, and Special Education Licensure Students:
Before beginning any part of student teaching, candidates must:
- Return the completed licensure packet within 30 days of admission and orientation
- Provide proof of passage of the PRAXIS I and II
- Provide verification of a negative tuberculin examination within four years (must be current through student teaching)
- Attend student teacher interview and orientation with School of Education faculty
- Complete the prerequisite coursework with a 3.0 GPA; "D" and "F" grades are not accepted
- Complete a minimum of 40.5 quarter units for elementary and 31.5 quarter units for secondary in residence.
- Have a zero account balance.
- See a faculty advisor or placement specialist for specific information regarding any of these requirements.
Elementary and Secondary Student Teaching Placements
Candidates are placed in their student teaching assignment by the
University.
Detailed requirements for student teaching are listed in the Student
Teaching Handbook for Elementary/Secondary and in the OR1 for Teacher Education
Note: Teacher Education Candidates may apply for equivalency (see form in Student Teaching Handbook) of one half of this requirement if they can document appropriate experience and meet other specified criteria.
Candidates will be placed:
- By the University in their student teaching school under the supervision of a University Supervisor and Cooperative Teacher(s).
- For at least one-half of their student teaching, in approved public, charter or private schools that implement state adopted core curriculum content standards within the state of Nevada. Summer school, after-school programs, and outdoor education programs will be reviewed to determine if they meet criteria for a student teaching assignment. Court schools or community alternative schools may be acceptable placements for one-half of the student teaching experience.
- Out-of-state courtesy placements in state-accredited schools outside Nevada may be considered if the candidate moves out of state. Prior approval must be given by the field experience coordinator in San Diego.
- In a supervised full-time student teaching assignment within the appropriate licensing area for 16 weeks.
- In two different teaching settings.
- In two different grade spans.
- Elementary Education Candidates will be placed:
- In classrooms to observe and participate at two or more of the following grade spans: K-2, 3-5, and 6-8. A K-2 class experience is required unless there is documented fieldwork experience with beginning readers.
Secondary Education Candidates will be placed:
- In two or more subject-specific teaching assignments that differ in content and/or grade level.
- In a teaching experience of a minimum of four academic periods a day in two classroom settings.
Licensure Candidates Teaching Under Contract
National University provides a program whereby actively employed teachers can complete the requirements for their teaching license while employed. All of the student teaching may be conducted in the candidate's classroom, assuming that the contract position is a match for the license sought. Licensure candidates teaching under contract:
- In an approved elementary education assignment can complete the assignment in their own classroom. There must be documented experience with K-2 or beginning readers, otherwise candidates must complete four weeks in an alternate setting with a certified teacher.
- In an approved secondary education assignment (within the license area) can complete the full semester in their own assignment provided that they are teaching four periods in two grade levels, or can document prior experience at other grade levels.
- In a regionally accredited and approved non-public school setting must complete a minimum of 4 weeks student teaching in a public school.
- Teach under the supervision of a University Supervisor and Cooperative Teacher who model effective teaching, implement state-adopted academic core curriculum, mentor the candidate, and work with the University Supervisor.
Application for a Nevada Teacher License
- Successful completion of the coursework with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for graduate coursework. (Grades of "D" and "F" are not accepted.) All coursework must be completed within seven years to be accepted.
- Fulfillment of all financial obligations to the University before applying for the credential.
- Passing a portfolio review that covers the objectives of the particular program pursued. Contact your local faculty advisor for deadline and review dates.
Each candidate must have on file:
- A zero account balance
- Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
- Passing score in PRAXIS I
- Verification of subject matter competency with score reports or cards from PRAXIS II.
- Proof of passing with a grade of "C" or better coursework or an examination covering the U.S. Constitution, Nevada Constitution, and Nevada School Law.
- Written evaluations of performance in field experiences, internships, educational projects, student teaching and other practica
- All candidates are expected to participate in the evaluation of programs including follow-up studies after being employed in the field.
| Degree Program Locations | |
|---|---|
| Henderson Campus | |