Educational Leadership Principal Licensure;
Master of Arts | Educational Specialist –
Online Programs for Rural School Leadership

Educational Leadership Online Programs for Rural Dists.—Academic Program Coordinator

Spencer Weiler, Ph.D.
spencer.weiler@unco.edu
(970) 351-1016

Principal Licensure Only

The Principal Licensure program is 27 credit hours.

Educational Leadership Master of Arts (M.A.) with Principal Licensure

The M.A. degree is 30 credit hours (1 more course than licensure-only).

Educational Leadership Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) with Principal Licensure

The Ed.S. degree is 30 credit hours (1 more course than licensure-only).

Courses and Requirements

Each course will include synchronous learning sessions where the professor and students meet online at the same time. These sessions are tentatively planned for most Mondays and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. MT. Students will have input on session scheduling.

The ELPS 606 internship course credits are shown spread out evenly across each semester. You can personalize when you take your internship credits.

All students will need to come to campus (Greeley, CO) during the Spring of year two to complete their comprehensive exam.

*MA-only = Required for M.A. program only
**EdS-only = Required for Ed.S. program only

	Fall	Spring	Summer
Year 1	ELPS 601 Leadership Development through Inquiry (3)	ELPS 654 Instructional Leadership and Supervision (3)	Research course for MA and EdS students: MA Students: *SRM 600 Introduction to Graduate Research (3) – Offered every odd-numbered summer EdS Students: (3 options): **SRM 670 Evaluation: Models and Designs (3) – Offered every odd-numbered summer OR **SRM 602 Statistical Methods I (3) OR **SRM 680 Introduction to Qualitative Research (3) – Both offered every even numbered summer
	ELPS 603 Shaping Organizations: Management and Leadership in Education (3)	ELPS 604 Understanding People: Professional Development and Educational Leadership (3)
	ELPS 606 Internship in Educational Leadership (2)	ELPS 606 Internship in Educational Leadership (2)
Year 2	ELPS 605 External Environments: Social, Political, and Economic Influences in Educational Leadership (3)	ELPS 670 The Principalship: Leadership at the School Site Level (3)
	ELPS 660 Law and the Administrator (3)	Comprehensive Exam (on-campus) & Graduation!
	ELPS 606 Internship in Educational Leadership (2)

Admission Requirements

M.A. and/or Principal Licensure Programs
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and a 3.0 grade point average or better (4.0 scale) to be eligible for regular admission.

Ed.S./Principal Licensure Program
Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and a 3.0 grade point average or better (4.0 scale) on the prior degree to be eligible for regular admission. In addition, applicants must have adequate academic background and two years of experience related to educational leadership.

Eligibility by State

UNC has secured approval from almost every state, as required by new federal regulations, so that students are eligible to apply to online programs at UNC. However we are unable to accept applications at this time for our online programs from students residing in a few select states because their requirements, particularly application fees, for such approval are prohibitive. Please verify your Eligibility by State before applying.

Note: All international students residing outside of the United States are eligible to apply to our online programs. Students attending online while residing outside of the United States do not need student visas for admission.

Transferring Credit

Applicable graduate credit may be applied towards this academic program. In order for credits to be accepted toward a degree they must be graduate level credits, be approved by the Academic Advisor, and have a grade of A or B. Once approved by the advisor, students must complete a Petition to Count Work in a Degree Program to have the credit approved by the Grad School. Master's and specialist degree students must complete a minimum of 24 credits at the University of Northern Colorado. All work counted in a degree program must be within five years for a master's degree and six years for a specialist degree. The time limit is calculated from the beginning of the first class transferred in and counted in the degree program.

Tuition

This program is offered through the UNC Office of Extended Studies, which means a flat per-credit tuition rate for all students in the program. There are no student fees.  Certain courses may carry specific course fees for additional services and materials.

Tuition rates are set each academic year (which begin each Fall semester). The tuition rate for the 2011-12 school year for this program is $485 per credit hour.

Financial Aid—Licensure-only

Principal Licensure-only program students (non-degree seeking) aren't eligible for aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Details about the federal aid program are available at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Your program coordinator may be aware of your eligibility for any discipline or campus-based aid if available.

Extended Studies students may contact Nancy Gray in Financial Aid for more specific help at (970) 351-2502 or visit UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also  find information in the Guide to Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

Financial Aid—Master of Arts and Educational Specialist Degree Students

Students who cannot pay for tuition alone are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid. Students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA priority filing date for each academic year (which begins each August) is March 1. Late submissions of the FAFSA are still accepted but may not be considered for the maximum amount of aid.

Master’s and specialist degree students require a minimum of 5 credits per academic term for financial aid eligibility. Full time enrollment is based on 9 credits.

To apply for federal financial aid assistance
Fill out the FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Extended Studies degree seeking students may contact Nancy Gray in Financial Aid for more specific help at (970) 351-2502 or visit UNC Financial Aid website.

Students can also find information in the Guide to Federal Student Aid at studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/index.html

The Educational Leadership Online program for rural districts begins each Fall term. Applications are accepted all year, but his online program will be capped at 15-20 students each year.

To begin the application process, you will apply to the UNC Graduate School and also submit application materials to the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies (ELPS) department (see links below). Once your application submission is complete, it will be reviewed by the graduate school and ELPS for an admission decision. A completed application typically takes four to six weeks to process.

Take the Next Step—Begin the Application Process

Apply to the Graduate School

Also submit ELPS application materials – choose your degree/licensure option, then choose Application Requirements