Educational Leadership Degrees in Colorado prepare students to assume the roles of administrators and policy-makers in higher education. Most of the degree programs listed here are at the graduate level, but there is one bachelor program included because it is paired with a non-credit course to provide the student with a master’s level foundation in special education and leadership. Students interested in educational leadership studies usually are preparing for positions as university or college administrators or as people in advisory and policy-forming positions and research. While some classes in these degree programs are offered online, all require campus attendance at some point in the program.

Colorado State University

School of Education

The School of Education is housed within the College of Health and Human Sciences. Its stated goal is to equip students to discover, research and engage in solving complex societal education issues. It stresses communication, leadership and facilitation skills. The school is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission of Colleges. Undergraduate programs are intended to lead to licensure as a teacher. The school has a collaboration with the School of Teacher Education and Principal Preparation in the delivery of both undergraduate and graduate programs. Graduate programs are aimed at students desiring leadership roles in education.

Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Studies—Higher Education Leadership Specialization

This degree program is offered in hybrid format. Some classes can be taken online but there is a required weekly audio conference that lasts two to two-and-a-half hours. In addition, one week and one extended weekend a year of campus residency are required. The sixty-credit degree program can be completed in five years. It is taught in the cohort model, which means students progress with a small group of their peers ( usually ten to twelve) through the degree courses. That practice allows them to gain support and network throughout their studies. The educational outcome of the degree course is that students would obtain the competencies to make them effective educational leaders in institutions of higher education. Tuition is $833 per credit.

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Contact 
Colorado State University
School of Education
209 Education Building
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1588
970-491-6317
Email through website
Website

Colorado Christian University

College of Adult and Graduate Studies

The College of Adult and Graduate Studies tailors associate, bachelor, master and doctoral degrees to meet the needs and learning styles of older learners. The school features online classes as well as weekend classes offered at satellite campuses. Classes are taught using the cohort model, which means that students are assigned to a small group of peers who begin the programs, progress and graduate together. The degrees conferred through the online component of the college are identical to the degrees achieved in traditional brick-and-mortar classroom study.

Master of Educational Leadership

This thirty-six credit-hour program can be finished in two years by full time students. It is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North central Association of Colleges and Schools. Students entering the degree path can transfer up to six credit hours of graduate-level classes. Classes stress research methods and education sciences. There is also a focuses internship under the mentorship of one or more faculty members. Most of the degree is taught online, but students are required to attend two annual national leadership sessions (three days each) on campus. In addition, students are expected to do research, attend and present at professional conferences and write for publication. Each class usually lasts seven weeks. Tuition for the program is $525 per credit hour.

Contact 
Colorado Christian University
8787 West Alameda Avenue
Lakewood, Colorado 80226
800-44-FAITH
303-963-3311
mol@ccu.edu
Website

University of Colorado

School of Education and Human Development

This is the largest school of education in Colorado. It houses several centers and programs that include research in learning issues and problems. It has formed many partnerships with mental health organizations, schools, foundations and non-profits to offer a wealth of educational experiences. Students’ practicum changes the lives of at-risk students who otherwise might not finish high school. One of its key values is diversity. US News and World report ranks the School of Education and Human Development as one of the Top Ed Schools in the country.

Doctor of Education Leadership for Educational Equity ( Ed.D)

This program is taught in a cohort model of twenty students. It is a hybrid class, which means most of it is available online, but part of it involves actual class attendance. The program can be completed in three consecutive years of full-time study. The school recommends students take a realistic look at their schedules because of the time demands of this course: there are fifteen hours a week outside class time. Toward the end of the program, students have an internship as well as a class in preparation for the dissertation required of graduates. The 54- credit hour course is planned for working adults and students can take two classes per semester.

Contact
CU Denver School of Education and Human Development
1380 Lawrence Street
Denver, Colorado 80204
303-315-6300
ed@ucdenver.edu
Website

University of Denver

Morgridge College of Education

This school was developed with the help of more than two hundred faculty, staff, students and community members. The stated goal is to be a force for positive change in individual lives as well as in organizations through education. Partnered with many other organizations, the school offers many opportunities for learning and for networking. It prides itself on the research done at its facility. There are military benefits and the school also gas access to many loans, grants and scholarships.

Master’s Degree in Educational; Leadership and Policy Studies

This degree is intended for students who want to nurture change in K-12 education as principals, administrators, researchers or policy-developers. It is based on the cohort model and is an integrated program of academic study and experience in real-world school environments. Recently, the school was named to the Alliance to Reform Education Leadership by the George W. Bush Foundation. This program also works on the college’s “In-Context” form of learning that focuses on experiential studies. It is taught usimg the cohort model. Most students will complete the thirty- to- thirty-two-credit degree in five years. This course is intended to follow the fifteen-credit principal preparation course to satisfy the continuation of curriculum for licensure. Tuition is $1104 per credit hour.

Contact 
Morgridge College of Education
Denver University
1999 East Evans Ave.
Denver, Colorado 80208
303-871-2509
edinfo@du.edu
Website

University of Northern Colorado

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

This school houses several graduate programs in different disciplines. It offers graduate-level instruction to education and other professionals. The courses are hybrid: they are taught principally online but there are some on-campus requirements an some classes are offered in the evenings or weekends at satellite campuses. The cohort model is used and students are assigned to the groups every two years. Tuition for full-time resident students ranges from $3459 to $3646. It is accredited by the Colorado Department of Higher Education, The Colorado Department of education and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Bachelor in Special Education: Early Childhood Special Education

This degree is included with the educational leadership programs because it can be combined with the non-degree course PTEP, a two-year master-level program in educational leadership. The classes prepare students at the undergraduate level to teach young children ( birth through eight years of age) who have learning disabilities. There are 123 credit hours and practicum in the degree path and students can access the university’s “Four-Year-Plan” to organize classes so that they can graduate in that time. The first two years of the degree are liberal arts classes; specializations only come in the junior and senior years. After applying for licensure, students may take the PTEP classes which equip them to serve in a leadership position in special education, whether that is in administration or in policy-making.

Master of Arts in Educational Leadership

The master’s degree program is nationally ranked by US News and World Report and is accredited at the national level by the Educational Leadership Constituent Council. It involves a minimum of thirty credit hours of graduate study, of which twelve credits are core leadership experiential classes. It equips graduates to assume leadership in P-12 education, community college, higher education or in other educational arenas. The goal of the course is to give students an in-depth understanding of leadership responsibilities and roles, education policy-making and current issues in education. This master’s –level program can only be earned during the summer semester. Graduates must display satisfactory performance on a “concluding activity” and exams. In-state undergraduate tuition for one year is $5748 plus fees and other expenses.

Contact 
University of Northern Colorado
Educational Leadership and Policy Studies
McKee Hall 418
Campus Box 103
Greeley, Colorado 80639
351-2861
elps@unco.edu
Website

Professionals intending to advance their careers or students who want careers in education research or policy need advanced degrees in education leadership studies. The informed use of organizational psychology and mediation plays an important part in the structure of higher education. People wanting to achieve more responsible roles in education will be interested in Educational Leadership Degrees in Colorado.