The School of Music at UNLV has just declared music education to be a 5 year major. Obviously this comes with significant changes to the curriculum. Unfortunately for everyone involved, the school has opted to make these changes effective immediately. The changes will not only affect incoming freshman, but also those already in the program. While admitting that the program was already essentially a 5 year degree, UNLV has added 17 credits while only making minimal changes to reduce the already overwhelming load. Although they have cut out about 7 credits, the majority of the classes remain the same (just worth less credits). To make things worse, these changes have come in the middle of the semester (past the add/drop deadline). Students in the music education are now stuck taking classes like Intro to Music Technology which are no longer required in the 152 credit degree (previously 135 credits). For out of state students this technology class (3 credits) will not only cost their time but also $1049.25 for tuition as well as the music fee's (about $530) associated with it. While resident students will still be out $531.75 in tuition, again adding in the course fee. Other classes in the same situation include Nevada Law (replaced by a mere $80 test, previously a 2 credit class), Introduction to music education (reduced from 2 credits to 1), Counseling skills (1 credit), etc. Although the changes, according to UNLV, will be beneficial for the students in the long run, they are being implanted at a very poor time causing sever detriment to many students already in the program who are now forced to waste their time and tuition on classes that will serve no purpose in their already overbearing degree. Please join us in signing this petition to protect the UNLV Music Education Majors.