WIXLIB

UNLVGraduateCatalog2020-2021

University of Nevada, Las Vegas   2020-2021 Graduate CatalogWelcome Letters from President and ProvostWelcome, and thank you for choosing UNLV for your graduate studies. At UNLV, you will discover a culture of innovationwhere students gain real world experiences and make an impact in our community and beyond. As you learn more aboutUNLV, I believe you’ll find we offer the opportunities you seek – to challenge yourself, to gain new skills, and to buildknowledge in a collaborative educational environment second to none.As a thriving Carnegie R1 research university, UNLV is committed to excellence in research, scholarship and creativeactivities, student achievement, and community partnerships. Our university reflects the audacity and entrepreneurialismfound in Las Vegas – a bold and innovative city like no other in the world.As a graduate student at UNLV, you will work with world class faculty and students at the top of their game, and industryand nonprofit partners committed to your success. With more than 150 graduate programs to choose from, UNLV offersyou a path to reach your personal and professional goals.Whether you want to advance professionally, pursue an academic passion, develop your talent, or engage in high-impactresearch, UNLV is dedicated to delivering an outstanding educational experience. I look forward to welcoming you to ourthriving community and being your partner for the next stage your educational journey.Sincerely,Keith E. Whitfield, Ph.D.PresidentWelcome to the UNLV Graduate College. Whether you are a continuing student or new to the campus, I encourage you toexplore the opportunities and experiences our university has to offer. Graduate school is a special time of intense learningand a time to fur- ther develop your intellectual passion.UNLV is designated an R1 “very high research activity” Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Thisrepresents the gold standard for university research, which puts UNLV in the top 3 percent of higher education institutionsin the country. As graduate students, you are a key aspect of our research success. You are making the transition frombeing a learner to being a creator of knowledge; it is a chance for you to add to what is known and to personally enrichhumanity through your efforts.As a comprehensive campus with many doctoral programs, more than 30,000 students, and a medical school, a dentalschool, and a law school, the possibilities of what you can do during your time at UNLV are practically endless. Add to ourclimate of innovation by producing high-quality, widely disseminated, and influential research, scholarship, and creativeactivities.I look forward to seeing you in person when this pandemic is over, and I wish you all the best with your academic pursuits.Warm wishes,Chris Heavey, Ph.D.Interim Executive Vice President and ProvostGraduate Catalog1

Table of Contents1Welcome Letters from President and Provost4753Graduate Student Handbook475Environmental andOccupational Health86Lee Business School86School of Public Health495Health Care Administrationand PolicyAccounting502School of Dental Medicine90Business AdministrationPrograms512School of Medicine523School of Nursing109Economics550William F. Harrah College of Hospitality116Finance566William S. Boyd School of Law577College of Liberal Arts119Management Entrepreneurshipand ge of Education656Philosophy133Counselor Education, SchoolPsychology, and HumanServices657Political Science673Psychology147Early Childhood, Multilingual,and Special Education692Sociology131Marketing and InternationalBusiness133174Educational Psychology andHigher Education212Teaching and Learning249Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering250Civil and EnvironmentalEngineering and Construction703Interdisciplinary Gender andEthnic Studies705World Languages andCultures711College of Sciences711Chemistry and Biochemistry725Geoscience733288Electrical and ComputerEngineering745School of Life Sciences337Physics and Astronomy272368Computer ScienceMechanical EngineeringCollege of Fine Arts368Architecture381Art386FilmSchool of Music389428Theatre439Division of Health Sciences774Water ResourcesManagement777Graduate CatalogGreenspun College of Urban Affairs777Communication Studies782Criminal Justice792Journalism and Media Studies795School of Public Policy andLeadership8222765Mathematical Sciences812School of Social WorkInterdisciplinary Programs

Graduate Student HandbookFebruary 2021Table of ContentsGreetings from the Dean of the Graduate College. 8About the Graduate Catalog. 9Disclaimer. 9Supplemental Resources. 9Program Handbooks. 9UNLV Degrees Directory. 10Inquiries. 10About the Graduate College. 10Our Academic Context: UNLV and NSHE. 10History of the Graduate College. 10The Organizational Structure of the Graduate College. 10Our Vision and Mission.11Our Guiding Principles and Core Values.11The Graduate College Brand Statement. 12Graduate College Location: 2nd Floor of the UniversityGateway Building. 12Spring 2021. 18Summer 2021 Session I. 19Summer 2021 Session II. 20Summer 2021 Session III. 20Office of the Registrar and Schedules. 21UNLV Calendars. 21Sports. 21Fine Arts Performances. 21Graduate College. 21The Grad Academy. 21Library. 21Student Governance. 21Graduate & Professional Student Association (GPSA). 21GPSA Research and Travel Sponsorship. 21Graduate & Professional Student Research Forum. 21Other GPSA Funding Opportunities and Resources. 22The GPSA Council. 22Student Organizations. 22Faculty governance. 22Graduate College Contact Information. 21The Graduate Council. 22Appointments and Tours with Graduate College TeamMembers. 13Graduate College Committees. 23Visit Us. 13Graduate College Strategic Goals. 13Equal Opportunity. 13Accreditation information. 14Academic Program Accreditations. 14UNLV Office of Postdoctoral Scholars. 15What is a Postdoctoral Scholar?. 15The Division of Research. 15Stay Connected and Informed. 15Other Ways to Stay Connected. 16Online Surveys, Annual Individual Development Plans,and Exit Survey. 16Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).36FERPA Protections. 16Calendars. 17Academic Calendar Fall 2020-Summer 2021. 17Fall 2020. 17Graduate Council Committees. 22The Graduate Faculty. 23The Role of Graduate Faculty. 23Graduate Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. 23Graduate Coordinator. 23Broad-Ranging Responsibilities to Graduate Students,Faculty, and Programs. 23Graduate Syllabi Policies. 24Graduate Faculty Status (GFS). 24GFS Privileges Table. 25Information About the Graduate Curriculum. 26Graduate School Experience. 26Curricular Terminology. 26Types Of Graduate Experiences - Academic ProgramOfferings. 26Academic Degree Program Types. 27Program Track Options. 27Accelerated Degree Programs. 27Traditional Master’s and Executive Master’s Programs.27Graduate Catalog Graduate Student Handbook3

Bachelor’s-to-Doctoral Programs. 27FAFSA and Alternate Need Determination Form. 34Post-Master’s Doctoral Programs. 27Federal Loan Programs. 34Credential Types. 28Unsubsidized Loans. 34Professional Master’s Programs. 28Graduate PLUS Loans. 34Research Master’s Programs. 28On-Campus Employment. 34Professional Doctoral Programs. 28Job Location and Development. 34Research Doctoral Programs. 28Federal Work Study. 34Artist Diploma Programs. 28Graduate Financial Services. 34Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Programs. 28Recruitment Awards. 34Simultaneous Enrollment In Multiple Graduate Programs/Certificates. 28Emergency Retention Grants. 34Dual Degree Programs. 28Concurrent Degrees. 29Graduate Certificates for Graduate Minors (PostBachelor’s and Post-Master’s). 29Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (IDGPs). 29Non-degree-seeking Status. 29Graduate Students In Undergraduate-Level Courses. 29Academic Certificate and Degree Programs. 30Degree Programs. 30Academic Certificate Programs. 30Time-to-Degree: Timelines for Completing Degrees andCertificates. 31Graduate Financial Services. 31Financial Information. 31Tuition and Fees. 31Graduate Tuition and Fees. 31Policy and Fee Information. 31Student Fees and Charges. 31Graduate Access Scholarships. 35Graduate Award Opportunities. 35Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) Award. 35The Grad Academy Professional DevelopmentScholarships. 36Other Funding Opportunities. 36Graduate Assistantship (Ga) Program. 36Graduate Assistantships. 36GA Recruitment. 37Minimum GA Packages. 37Stipends. 37Resources and Related Links. 38Scholarships and Fellowships. 38Admission and Matriculation Info. 38About Graduate Admissions. 38Statement of Commitment to the Recruitment of DiverseStudents at UNLV. 39Title IX Statement. 39Student Health Fee and CAPS - Counseling andPsychological Services Fee. 32Overview of the Admissions Process. 39Grant-in-Aid. 32Graduate Non-Degree-Seeking Status. 39Delinquent Accounts. 32Deferred Payment Option. 32Refund of Fees. 33Graduate Non-Degree-Seeking Information. 39Graduate Non-Degree-Seeking Application Process. 39Graduate Non-Degree-Seeking Enrollment. 40Room and Board Refund. 33Graduate Degree- and Certificate-SeekingApplication Information. 40Tuition and Fee Appeals. 33Graduate College Admissions Standards. 40Tuition, Fees, And Financial Aid. 33Degree- and Certificate-Seeking Application Deadlines.40Grad Student Health Insurance Information. 33Mandatory Graduate and Professional Student HealthInsurance. 334Graduate Catalog Graduate Student HandbookGraduate Degree- and Certificate-Seeking AdmissionsRequirements. 40Submission of Admission Materials. 42

DepartmentalDegreeandCertificate-SeekingAdmissions Requirements. 42Admissions Requirements and Procedures forInternational Students. 42New International Graduate Student AdmissionsRequirements. 42Enrollment Policy for International Students. 42Admission Status and Classification of Students. 43Full Graduate Standing. 43Provisional Graduate Standing. 43Conditional Admission. 43Incomplete Grades or “I”. . 49Graduate Credit. 49Office of the Registrar and Schedules. 50Pass/Fail Grades. 50Transcripts of Credit. 50Undergraduates Taking Graduate-Level Courses. 50Unit of Credit. 50The Graduate Student Lifecycle. 50Admissions Policies (Listed Alphabetically). 44Graduate Student Success Through the GraduateLifecycle. 50Admission Acceptance. 44Retention, Progression, & Completion (RPC) Team. 50Application Fraud and Revocation of Admission. 44The Grad Academy: Innovative Leadership, Professional,and Career Development. 51Change of Program, Plan, or Subplan. 44Deferrals. 44Enrollment in Terms of Admission. 44Immunization Records. 44Incomplete Applications. 44Nevada Residency for Tuition Purposes. 44Graduate College Co-Curricular Certifications. 51Grad Rebel Programs. 51Early-Career Students. 52Initial Steps for New Graduate Students. 52Progression, Forms, and Milestones. 52Readmission to the Graduate College. 45Engagement Opportunities. 52Rebelmail. 45Mid-Career Students. 52Transfer Credit Policy. 45Successful Student Progression. 52Withdrawal of Application/Admission. 46Forms and Milestones. 52Registration, Enrollment and Curricular Policies(Listed Alphabetically). 46Engagement Opportunities. 53Adding or Dropping Classes. 46Cancellation of Registration. 47Combined/Cross-listed Sections. 47Cross-listed Sections. 47Same-as Courses. 47Combined. 48Cross Schedule. 48Course Credit Expiration. 48Course Repeat Policy. 48Credit by Examination. 48Credit Load Limitations. 48Enrollment Verification. 48Full- and Part-Time Enrollment. 48Grade Point Average. 48Late-Career Students. 53Successful Student Progression.

As a graduate student at UNLV, you will work with world class faculty and students at the top of their game, and industry and nonprofit partners committed to your success. With more than 150 graduate programs to choose from, UNLV offers you a path to reach your personal and professional goals.