Later this month, the latest cohort of local public school teachers enrolled in a new UNLV economic microcredential program will gather virtually and in-person to shore up their skills in delivering economics concepts in the classroom.
The eight-week course – which runs from April 15 to June 15 – was created in 2022 by UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) following a bill passed by the Nevada Legislature requiring Nevada public high schools to teach financial literacy and economics in the classroom. The course is primarily online, with one in-person class that focuses on in-classroom activities and offers an opportunity to practice teaching concepts as a group.
This course is designed for current teachers licensed to teach social studies in Nevada and counts toward continuing education units. It’s also open to educators wanting to learn more about economics but it does not count toward a license in social studies.
"This was a great course to cover the basics [of economics]," said Machelle Rasmussen, a CCSD high school teacher who has taken the course. "I could see myself using this course content as a unit to introduce economics and then have a unit on personal finance. In the past, there has been a focus only on personal finance in the economics semester, so I really like the modules and resources presented here as a way to incorporate more economics."
Teachers interested in the Economics Microcredential can register on the CBER website. The cost is $35, and the course is recognized by the Nevada Department of Education and funded in part by a grant from the Engelstad Foundation. Because the majority of the course is asynchronous, teachers have until May 15, 2023 to register for the latest cohort. For more information, contact CK Miller in the Lee Business School at crystal.miller@unlv.edu.
About the UNLV Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER)
Located within the UNLV Lee Business School, the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) has been Nevada’s premier economic research center for nearly 50 years. CBER conducts applied and data-driven research to assist business, government, and the community at large. CBER is a public resource that seeks to extend the benefits of UNLV’s expertise in research throughout Nevada and nationwide.
