Real-world experiences in equity-focused leadership
Prepares you with the practical, applied leadership knowledge needed to transition into roles of increasing responsibility within the field of higher education. This fully online program has a strong focus on equity and social justice and a competitive online tuition rate.
Program at a Glance
Degree Program:
Master of Arts in Leadership for Educational Organizations, Leading Change for Student Success in Higher Education
Offered By:
School of Education and Human Development
Tuition:
Application Deadline:
Credit Hours:
30
Program Details
University of Colorado Denver’s MA in Leadership for Educational Organizations: Leading Change for Student Success in Higher Education program is designed for emerging to mid-level professionals from higher education institutions, policy and research organizations, and governmental and non-profit entities desiring to learn more about the overall connections of higher education to students, faculty, administration, other educational partners, and the community.
The program integrates current issues with historical, philosophical, theoretical, and equity-minded foundations as a basis to discover, explore and effect change in higher education or related organizations. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with some of the nation’s leading higher education experts and organizations through courses, engagements and case studies. All these experiences will help you evolve as an educational leader in times of disruption and change while achieving new performance levels.
Our program graduates are recognized for being strongly prepared and committed to providing culturally informed, equity focused leadership. Upon completing the degree, you’ll be positioned to pursue a wide range of roles within educational organizations, including student and academic affairs, admissions, academic advising, alumni relations, diversity and inclusion roles, and/or to pursue a doctoral degree.
Choose CU Denver's School of Education & Human Development
You can trust CU Denver to provide an education that will prepare you for excellence in your career as an educational leader. The university and school are recognized for preparing leaders of distinction who value educational excellence and social justice. Additionally, CU Denver’s School of Education & Human Development is counted among U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Graduate Schools,” making us one of the top schools in the country.
Ideal for working professionals, our program is designed to fit your schedule. You won’t have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. The 30-credit hour degree program is delivered in an 8-week online format with planned synchronous activities including a capstone course with an applied focus on learning. The program is designed to allow students to complete in two years.
I learned important concepts and theoretical approaches that I can implement in my current work as well as utilize in my future aspirations in becoming an administrator within higher education. I appreciated the vast hands-on opportunities we received to gain further insight into what we were learning in our coursework.
Sham Berhane | MA in Leadership for Organizations, Leading Change for Student Success in Higher Education
Tuition and Fees
Investing in your future is a big decision. However, becoming a fully online student at CU Denver is a high-quality and affordable option for learners of all types. Tuition and fees are based largely on the degree program you enroll in.
Tuition is determined based on which CU Denver program is chosen, undergraduate or graduate level, and finally your resident status. Visit our tuition and financial aid page for more information.
Financial aid and scholarships are available for those who qualify.
Admissions
Students may apply to this program in any semester. We encourage you to apply at least four months prior to the start of the semester for which you are seeking admission, or as early as possible. We provide rolling decisions and will communicate admissions decisions within two weeks of the submission of a complete application.
Learn more about the admissions process by filling out the form above or contacting our Enrollment Team today.
This program trains higher education professionals to understand and focus on the disruption and change that are constant in current higher education contexts. The courses on leadership and specific higher education topics are built on a foundation of equity and social justice. These concepts are woven throughout the entire curriculum, not just addressed in one class. Faculty are current or recent higher education leaders who provide scholar-practitioner perspectives on how to enact equity-minded, socially just leadership in these dynamic educational environments. Our students currently work as administrators and mid-level leaders in higher education. They can implement what they are learning immediately in their professional settings. This makes the learning more meaningful to them. The capstone project allows students to research a specific topic about higher education leadership that resonates with them, and which they are interested in investigating more in-depth. They then present what they learned, why it matters to higher education, and how they will implement that learning in their future work in higher education. It is always rewarding seeing how the students grow in their learning and leadership as they complete the program. This program is a great path to take if you are interested in advancing your higher education career, and if you are interested in someday pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education.
Elena Sandoval-Lucero, PhD | Assistant Teaching Professor | Leadership for Educational Organizations
Courses
Ideal for working professionals, our program is designed to fit your schedule. You won’t have to interrupt your career to earn your degree. The 30-hour degree program is delivered in an 8-week online format with planned synchronous activities including a capstone course with an applied focus on learning. The program is designed to allow students to complete in two years. The courses will be offered on a rotating schedule and not every course will be offered each term. Please use the courses listed in the student handbook to plan your program.
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EDUC 5060 - Higher Education for a Global World - 3 credits Examine the significant issues, practices, and research in higher education. Explore historical roots, evolutionary changes, and future trends for curriculum and learning modalities, organizational models, educational research, teaching and learning, equity in student outcomes, and campus environments in higher education. |
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EDUC 5500 - Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice in Higher Education: 3 credits An examination of society, media, and public and educational policy and their impact on higher education access and persistence for marginalized groups. Students are called to consider how student affairs professionals might promote social justice for marginalized student groups. |
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EDUC 5652 - Leadership for Equity and Social Justice: 3 credits Understand our own experiences and experiences of historically marginalized groups, with the historical and philosophical forces that have led to inequities, critically analyze current conditions and to work to develop school policies, curriculum and relationships to create access and opportunities. |
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EDUC 5653 - Leadership for Responsive Change Practices: 3 credits This course focuses on leadership and the change process of individual and organizational responsive change with opportunity for students to learn about/apply this learning to the process of leading responsive change in the context of an organization. |