Program Overview
College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
Program Coordinator: Michael Cohen, Ed.D.
Location: McKee 418A
Telephone: 970-351-2119
Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/leadership-policy-development-higher-education-p12-education/educational-leadership-policy-development/
The Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration Ed.S. – Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration prepares candidates to become effective leaders and managers of educational programs and services at the school and district levels of impact. This concentration is designed for students who are seeking three licenses/endorsements: Special Education Director, Principal, and Administrator (district-level).
Candidates for this degree complete coursework in applied research/evaluation, special education district leadership, principal (school-level) leadership, administration (district-level leadership), foundations of educational leadership, contextual understanding of systems, policy/legal/procedural information, program planning and organization, budget and resources, and parent/community engagement. The program provides opportunities for students to develop in-depth understanding about leadership roles and responsibilities, working with external environments, policy development, organizational behavior, and contemporary educational issues. The program prepares graduates to assume roles in both school- and district-level positions as special education directors, principals, and central office administrators, including superintendent.
Students who complete the Educational Leadership and Special Education Administration Ed.S. – Dual Principal and Administrator Licensure Concentration and meet the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) requirements listed under 1 CCR 301-101 § 3.03(1), 3.04(1), and 3.04(5) will be eligible for the Principal License, the Administrator License, and the Special Education Director Endorsement.
Students completing this degree concentration will take 3 credits of EDSE 697 and complete 135 clock hours of activities at the district SE director level correlated to the Colorado Special Education Director Standards, 3 credits of ELPS 606 and complete 360 clock hours of activities at the school level correlated to the Colorado Principal Standards, and 3 additional credits of ELPS 606 to complete 180 clock hours of activities at the district level correlated to the Colorado Administrator Standards.
Admission
Location: Online
Start Term: Fall, Spring and Summer
General Specialist Degree Admission Requirements
Admission Deadline
For the best possible admission, enrollment and orientation experience, we recommend that you complete your application by these dates, which are approximately 60 days before the start of each term:
- Summer term: March 15
- Fall term: June 15
- Spring term: Nov. 15
You can still apply after these dates, but if the date has passed please contact the Admissions Coach for support to apply and begin classes in the upcoming term. View the UNC Academic Calendar for the start dates for upcoming terms.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must apply to the Graduate School at the University of Northern Colorado before the program area reviews the applicant’s request for admission. Failure to submit all required materials will delay the evaluation and screening of your application.
Each applicant must:
- Possess a master’s degree from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned.
- Meet the requirements for Option 1, 2, or 3:
- Option 1
- Possess a degree in special education (baccalaureate or higher) from an Institutionally Accredited college or university or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
- Have a minimum of two years' full-time experience as a fully-licensed teacher in an elementary or secondary school working with students with special needs. (Note: for Principal Licensure, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will ask for verification of three or more years of full-time experience as a fully-licensed teacher. It is assumed that the candidate will have at least three years of such experience by the time they complete this degree program.)
- Option 2
- Hold a professional special services license with endorsement as a speech-language pathologist or school psychologist.
- Have a minimum of two years' full-time experience as a fully-licensed speech-language pathologist or school psychologist in an elementary or secondary school working with students with special needs. (Note: for Principal Licensure, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) will ask for verification of three or more years of full-time experience as a fully-licensed special services provider. It is assumed that the candidate will have at least three years of such experience by the time they complete this degree program.)
- Option 3
- Hold a professional special services license with an endorsement as a school audiologist, counselor, nurse, occupational therapist, orientation and mobility specialist, physical therapist or social worker.
- Have five years’ full-time experience under the professional license in their specialty in an elementary or secondary school.
- Have three years’ full-time experience as a special education administrator (such as a special education coordinator), which included supervision and evaluation of special education teachers and special service providers. (Note: for licensure, the Colorado Department of Education will ask for verified experience, supervision and execution of responsibilities for special education administration as required by IDEA.)
This interdisciplinary program includes the coursework for licensure as Special Education Director, Principal, and Administrator (district-level).
If you have any questions about the program or eligibility, please contact Michael Cohen, Ed.D. at michael.cohen@unco.edu
Take the following steps to be considered for admission:
Step 1: Complete the Application
Complete the online application.
- Answer the application questions.
- Send your requests for letters of recommendation.
- Request three (3) academic or professional letters of recommendation from those who can attest to your academic potential and abilities. You will be asked to supply information for your recommenders in the application.
- Submit the application and pay the non-refundable application fee.
- Domestic Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- International Students: $50 non-refundable application fee
- The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni! (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
Once you submit your application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to upload supplemental items, as listed below, and track your application through the admissions process.
Step 2: Request Transcripts
Request one official transcript from any Institutionally Accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. The Office of Admissions reserves the right to request that applicants provide official transcripts from other colleges or universities as needed. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree (e.g., PharmD) may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exceptions: If an applicant intends to use Veteran’s Education Benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended will be required in order to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
Official transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope or through an electronically secure digital program from the issuing institution.
Mailed transcripts should be sent to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
Electronic transcripts from U.S. institutions should be sent directly from the educational institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu
The Office of Admissions does not accept email, scanned or PDF transcripts directly from applicants. All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students.
UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
Step 3: Note About the GRE
This program does not require GRE scores.
Step 4: Supplemental Items
Log back into the Admissions Portal to submit the following:
- Detailed statement of goals which describes your:
- Demonstrated commitment to education
- Contributions to professional education
- Immediate and long-range personal, professional, and academic goals
- Rationale for pursuing the Ed.S. degree
- Strengths and weaknesses as they apply to educational leadership
- Current vita or resume which documents professional experiences in education.
- A copy of K-12 related license(s).
Background Information Sheet
Submit the Background Information Sheet by clicking on the "Background Information Sheet" link in your Admissions Portal.
Once you apply to the UNC Graduate School and your application packet is complete, your application will be reviewed by the Graduate School and then sent to the faculty/program for an admission recommendation. The timing of the admission decision depends on each individual program’s deadline and review process.
International Applicants
International applicants are not eligible to apply for this program.
For More Information
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.