Nevada State College

Carnegie Foundation Classification

Baccalaureate Colleges — Diverse Fields

General Characteristics

Highest offering	Bachelor's degree
Calendar System	Semester
Years of college work required	N/A
Variable Tuition

Special Learning Opportunities

Distance Learning
ROTC — Army / Navy / Air Force	— / /
Study Abroad
Weekend College
Teacher Certification

Nevada State College Introduction

Part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Nevada State College is the realization of results from a 1997 study by the Nevada Legislature that determined the educational needs of Southern Nevada residents were not being adequately met. By 2002 NSC had opened its doors under acting president Dr. Christine Chairsell to 177 students, with the first 13 students graduating in May of 2004. As Nevada’s first four-year public college, Nevada State College has experienced a great deal of growth in a relatively short amount of time with current enrolments of around 2,000 students per semester. In 2008 the opening of the Liberal Arts and Sciences building, Nevada State College’s first permanent building, was a meaningful milestone for the College. The 42,000-square-foot facility contains faculty offices, labs and classrooms.

Located just 15 miles from the famous Las Vegas Strip, Nevada State College’s 509-acre campus is nestled into the southern foothills of Henderson, Nevada. The campus is a portion of the Clark County Conservation of Public Land and Natural Resources Act of 2002, when the land was given by the US Congress to the Nevada System of Higher Education and the City of Henderson for the College’s creation. Henderson is a small, family-oriented, Mojave Desert community, with pleasant sunny weather 300 days a year and a cool average temperature of 66 degrees. Students enjoy a picturesque view of Las Vegas Valley while on campus, and can expect campus infrastructure to continue growing over the coming years to include not just the Liberal Arts & Sciences building, but student and faculty housing, a medical clinic, and retail and food vendors. Additionally, a Nevada State College satellite campus is located in downtown Henderson.

Nevada State College Academics

Within Nevada State College’s School of Education, School of Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of Nursing, and Business Administration Program, students have over 20 bachelor degree-granting majors to choose from. Many courses of study also offer areas of specialization, like the elementary education major which offers concentrations in bilingual education and special education, or the biology major which offers a specialization in integrated health promotion. Students may also combine major areas of study and specialization courses within the framework of the Integrated Studies degree, thereby creating a unique degree-granting program of study.

Nevada State College prides itself on emphasizing community-based learning by offering students a wide range of internships, senior capstone experiences, and student-teaching semester-long opportunities. Community learning is an opportunity extended to all students, whether studying nursing, business, education, or the liberal arts and sciences. As part of the Nevada System of Higher Education, Nevada State College works together with Nevada community colleges to offer students a variety of dual enrollment programs. With over 35 major and minor degrees to choose from, NSC strives to maintain small class sizes with an average of only 15 students. Academic resources include the NSC library, one-on-one academic advising, and experienced faculty who also serve as student mentors and guides.

Currently Nevada State College accreditation status is under “continued recognition” by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. When seeking Full Accreditation status, young institutions must undergo a 10-year application process, which Nevada State College has begun with assistance from its sponsoring institution, the University of Nevada Reno. Today NSC’s approval status stands as a “Candidate” for accreditation.

Nevada State College Admissions

Nevada State College maintains a rolling admissions policy, so students applying to begin their studies in a specific semester should contact the Office of Admissions directly about important dates and deadlines. With a relatively quick decision-making process prospective NSC students may receive a response to their application within a month.

Applications may be completed online, or in paper form then mailed to the NSC Office of Admissions with the non-refundable application fee, and any official high school or college transcripts. Keep in mind that special requirements will apply to freshman, transfer, re-admit, RN to BSN, and non-degree applicants. Any student not meeting the admissions requirements may enroll as non-degree seeking students and re-apply to NSC after successful completion of 12 college-level credits.

At this time Nevada State College cannot accept international student visas, however students with permanent resident status or dependents of persons with H or O visas MAY be admitted.

Graduates in good standing of a Nevada high school are guaranteed admission to Nevada State College. However, for some programs, like the Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the Teacher Preparation Program, amongst others, admissions are selective for all prospective students. Graduates from the Clark County School District for 2009 and after will be required to complete a specific core curriculum.

Nevada State College Financial Aid

Nevada State College prides itself on its “exceptionally reasonable” tuition prices, as one of the least expensive four-year colleges in the United States. However, financial assistance is available in various forms, including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs. There is a Financial Aid Office in place on campus dedicated to directing students through the process of seeking financial aid.

Nevada State College has handed out hundreds of scholarships in the past to students as young as middle-school aged under the Project Crossroads Program. The aim is to strengthen incentives amongst the state’s at-risk youth to attend college. As a Nevada public institution of higher education students are also able to take advantage of the Millennium Scholarship.

Nevada State College Students

With over 2,000 enrolled students any given semester, Nevada State College represents a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. With almost half the student body of non-Caucasian descent, and students ranging in age from recent high school grads to adult, there is certainly a broad spectrum of diversity on campus. To fully celebrate and embrace campus diversity NSC has created the Heritage Center, a campus and community venue dedicated to staging educational and cultural programs. With cultural heritage festivals and art exhibits to brown-bag discussions and debates it is where multiculturalism can be truly explored and appreciated on campus.

Currently the Nevada State College campus features the Great Hall student center, a coffee shop, and the Heritage Center, where both students and community members gather to enjoy multicultural and artistic events and exhibitions. Many students participate in student clubs and organizations, like the Student Government, the student newspaper, the American Sign Language Club, the Dead Poets’ Society, the Thespian Drama Club or the Paintball club, as a way to get involved on campus.

Around town students can enjoy the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the state’s largest outdoor amphitheater Henderson Pavilion, or shopping at the largest commercial corridor in the state featuring the Galleria at Sunset. For those looking for some nightlife, a short trip finds students in the heart of the Vegas Strip.

Nevada State College Athletics

While the Nevada State College black and gold Scorpions do not current offer any inter-collegiate athletic programs, the campus setting perfectly lends itself to outdoor sports like mountain biking and hiking. The City of Henderson also offers a range of adult sports teams through the Parks and Recreation Department like softball, basketball, flag football, soccer, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball.